The Bavarian producer returns to the WEC for the primary time since its single-season assault on the GTE Professional class with the M8 with MTEK in 2018-19, as associate workforce WRT fields a two-pronged effort in Hypercar with the M Hybrid V8 and M4 in LMGT3.
The Dallara-based LMDh contender has had a yr of competitors within the IMSA SportsCar Championship with Group RLL, taking a maiden win at Watkins Glen, however van der Linde says BMW’s outlook is cautious because it turns attentions to the WEC in opposition to Le Mans Hypercar contenders Toyota and Ferrari that swept the board in 2023.
Requested by Motorsport.com how BMW is setting its targets for 2024 with one yr much less expertise within the Hypercar class than fellow LMDh entrants Porsche and Cadillac, 2022 DTM champion van der Linde replied: “We should be lifelike with our objectives.
“We are able to’t anticipate to go there and begin beating Ferrari or Toyota or no matter, we have to actually construct the automobile step-by-step, ensure that it’s acquired a very good platform to start with in Qatar.
“We’ve got a really driver lineup this yr, we’ve some actually good skilled guys with myself, Robin [Frijns] and Rene [Rast], to actually push that programme ahead and make it possible for the automobile just isn’t solely quick however dependable.
“It’s one factor to work on the automobile’s velocity however it’s essential make it possible for the automobile will get to the top as nicely, particularly to start with phases of the automobile.
“For us an important factor is that we get to the flag to start with, make it possible for we’ve a dependable automobile after which we beginning work on the velocity event-by-event.”
Photograph by: BMW AG
BMW M Hybrid V8
Van der Linde has a very good baseline data of the M Hybrid V8 from contesting the lengthy distance races in IMSA with Group RLL final yr, and mentioned he is “actually happy with the progress” that the programme has made having loved a a lot shorter growth interval than its rivals.
“We clearly began on the again foot originally of final yr, the automobile had a good distance to enhance,” he remarked.
“However we’ve made some actually good steps within the low season with WRT, they’ve been doing a very good job and as everybody is aware of it’s among the finest groups you may have on this enterprise.”
The South African added that RLL had been open in sharing knowledge with its Belgian-based associate squad.
“It’s no secret that we get just about all the pieces from them,” he famous.
“It’s been a sluggish begin in IMSA, however the growth of the automobile over the season has been actually robust, it’s been an upward development to date.
“From that perspective I consider that we’ve a powerful automobile to compete and the sharing has been open between each groups.
“So that ought to clearly velocity up the method of studying and actually attending to grips with a brand new automobile that we haven’t had for Group WRT.”
