Daytona. The new BMW M8 GTE has completed more test drives at
the setting for its race debut in January 2018: BMW Motorsport and
BMW Team RLL were on the Daytona (USA) track this week as part of
official testing for the IMSA WeatherTech SportsCar Championship
(IWSC). This was the first time that the new GT flagship race car
from BMW Motorsport had shared the circuit with its future North
America competitors. The first competitive appearance for the BMW M8
GTE will be at the 24 Hours of Daytona on
27th/28th January.
A private test had already taken place at Homestead (USA) last week
ahead of official testing in Daytona. On both occasions, the car was
supervised by BMW Team RLL, which will be competing next season with
the new BMW M8 GTE in the IMSA series. John Edwards and Connor De
Phillippi (both USA) shared driving duties. Martin Tomczyk (GER) was
also in action at Homestead. At the tests, BMW Motorsport and the BMW
Team RLL completed a comprehensive programme. This included further
endurance tests for the latest developments in the areas of
performance, aerodynamics and electronics.
BMW Motorsport looks back on intensive months. Over the course of
just half a year since the first test in July, the car has been
continually updated. The BMW engineers made gradual changes to the
aerodynamics and worked on the front, the chassis and the cooling
system. All components were made suitable for endurance driving and so
BMW Motorsport was able to successfully complete a 24-hour distance
last month. The feedback from the drivers helped to optimise the
cockpit ergonomics.
Preparations are now hotting up as the new BMW M8 GTE approaches the
24 Hours of Daytona. The data gathered in the USA will be used to work
on fine-tuning in Munich before more tests take place in the USA
before Christmas. “The Roar before the 24 Hours”, the official IMSA
preparatory test for the 24-hour race, is scheduled to take place in
four weeks.
Reactions from the drivers after the test in Daytona.
John Edwards: “These were the first tests with the
BMW M8 GTE here in the USA and it was also my first time driving the
new car. It is exciting to be part of the development work. We went
through a comprehensive list of tests. The team learned a lot about
the new car and we can build on this to continue with our preparations
for the season.”
Connor De Phillippi: “We were able to test a lot of
different things and we made more progress with development. We still
have to change things here and there, but we are headed in the right
direction. This test was a good and important preparation for
everything that awaits us in January.”