Successful weekend for the BMW M8 GTE on two continents: Second position at Fuji, third place at Road Atlanta.

Munich. Two continents, two race series, two podiums: BMW M
Motorsport can look back on a successful weekend with the new BMW M8
GTE. António Félix da Costa (POR) and Tom Blomqvist (GBR) finished
second for BMW Team MTEK in the FIA World Endurance Championship
(WEC) round at Fuji (JPN) driving the #82 BMW M8 GTE in the LM GTE
Pro class. At the IMSA WeatherTech SportsCar Championship season
finale at Road Atlanta (USA), BMW Team RLL’s John Edwards (USA),
Jesse Krohn (FIN) and Chaz Mostert (AUS) came third in the GTLM
category and were also celebrating on the podium.

 

BMW Team MTEK delivered a strong performance over the course of the
Fuji weekend. In qualifying, the #82 car had clocked the
second-fastest time. In the race, Félix da Costa and Blomqvist managed
to record the same result and the fastest lap. The #81 sister car,
driven by Martin Tomczyk (GER) and Nick Catsburg (NED), crossed the
line in eighth.

 

BMW Team RLL had every reason to be happy about another impressive
team result at Petit Le Mans: after Edwards claimed pole position on
Friday, the #24 car then finished third in the ten-hour race.
Alexander Sims (GBR), Connor de Phillippi (USA) and Bill Auberlen
(USA) finished fourth.

 

Jens Marquardt (BMW Motorsport Director):

“This has been a really strong weekend for our BMW M8 GTE – and we
scored podiums on two continents. BMW Team MTEK managed to score its
maiden WEC top-three finish at Fuji. Meanwhile, BMW Team RLL recorded
another great result at the IMSA series’ finale at Road Atlanta with
pole and race positions three and four. It’s great to see that we can
battle for victories in North America as well as in WEC. Our teams and
our BMW M Motorsport crew in Munich have worked extremely hard for
this over the past months. We are definitely moving in the right
direction with the BMW M8 GTE.”

 

Rudolf Dittrich (General Manager BMW Motorsport Vehicle
Development):
“We saw an exciting WEC race with lots of
position changes across the entire GTE class at Fuji where the BMW M8
GTE spent a good deal of time in the lead. It is still our first
season in WEC with this car and team so for many it was the first time
at Fuji. Despite the difficult weather conditions throughout the
weekend the car worked flawlessly and the team did a very good job and
well deserve the first podium result. Congratulations to the Porsche
#92 crew.“

 

Ernest Knoors (Team Principal, BMW Team MTEK): “I
think we’ve again built on the solid performances we’ve had throughout
the season and we’re happy to come to Fuji and fight at the sharp end.
The team works very well with strategy calls, pit stops and
engineering and it’s a result of better understanding of our car. The
drivers must also be commended, as always. They had the car in the
right place for us to capitalise and the result reflects this full teamwork.”

 

Tom Blomqvist (BMW Team MTEK, #82 BMW M8 GTE, 2nd
place):
“I think we have to be happy with that. We thought we
would be a bit more competitive here but you never know until you
arrive. In practice, we struggled but we made good progress and then
qualified on front row. Ultimately, the win was out of reach today so
we have to be happy with P2.”

 

António Félix da Costa (BMW Team MTEK, #82 BMW M8 GTE,
2nd place):
“We’re really happy with second
place. The team put in another great performance – the strategy was
really good, we made zero mistakes and the pitstops were great. The
BMW M8 GTE was totally flawless. To finish within ten seconds of the
lead after six hours is frustrating but shows how closely competitive
it was this weekend.”

 

Bobby Rahal (Team Principal, BMW Team RLL): “Both
crews did great job today. In the end we did not have quite enough for
a win, but P3 and P4 is an excellent result. Our enthusiasm for this
BMW M8 GTE continues to grow every race.”

 

John Edwards (BMW Team RLL, #24 BMW M8 GTE, 3rd
place):
“A podium is a great way to end the season. The team
has done a great job. We’ve really started to figure out the car. Our
results speak for all the work that went into the car this time last
year by the guys back at the shop. All that work really started to pay
off towards the end of this year and I’m sure that will continue next year.”

 

Jesse Krohn (BMW Team RLL, #24 BMW M8 GTE, 3rd
place):
“Overall a really amazing job from the team all
weekend. I don’t know what more we could have done to secure the win
today. The BMW M8 GTE is really a different beast now from what it was
in the beginning of the year. The development of this car has been
nothing short of incredible, the two race wins speak for themselves.
It’s been a close to perfect year in a progression sense and I’m
really looking forward to next year.”

 

Chaz Mostert (BMW Team RLL, #24 BMW M8 GTE, 3rd
place):
“I really didn’t expect this kind of weekend. I just
wanted to get in the car and do a good job. I got carried today by
John and Jesse; those guys are superstars. I was just along for the
ride. I’m very grateful to BMW Motorsport and BMW Team RLL for giving
me the opportunity to be a part of this race.”