BMW is the latest marque to announce that it’s making a Le Mans prototype return for the LMDh/Le Mans Hypercar era. It’ll be the first time the marque has contested the world’s most famous endurance race since its win with the V12 LMR in 1999.
BMW to make prototype return in 2023
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The announcement came via an Instagram post by one Markus Flasch, boss of the BMW M brand, which featured the winning V12 LMR of 1999 and the caption “We are back! Daytona 2023”. There’s our first clue, if it were needed, that BMW are leaning toward the spec chassis LMDh formula, which will first see action officially at Daytona in 2023. The invitation is open from the FIA for Dh cars to join the Hypercars at Le Mans in 2022 but Daytona will serve as the official introduction of the class in the American IMSA series.
LMDh is certainly panning out to be the popular option in terms of low costs, given the spec chassis and hybrid system that’s provided. To that, manufacturers add their own bodywork, styling and internal combustion engine to ‘make it their own’. So far, Porsche, Audi and Acura are fully on board. Meanwhile, in the Hypercar class, Toyota, SCG, Peugeot and Ferrari are confirmed.
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