BMW To Start Testing The M Hybrid V8 In The United States

BMW is continuing the rigorous testing schedule of its new M Hybrid V8 endurance racer and bringing it to the United States.

Development and testing of the BMW M Hybrid V8 has primarily taken place at racetracks throughout Europe, primarily at circuits in Italy and Spain. BMW M works drivers Connor De Phillippi, Sheldon van der Linde, Marco Wittmann, Augusto Farfus, Nick Yelloly, Philipp Eng, Dan Harper, Max Hesse, Neil Verhagen, and Rene Rast have all had the opportunity to drive the car at pace.

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Starting in September, the test schedule will move to various racetracks throughout the United States ahead of the car’s competitive debut at the 24 Hours of Daytona in January 2023.

“The first weeks of testing with the BMW M Hybrid V8 went well,” head of BMW M Motorsport Andreas Roos described. “We have completed a lot of kilometers, during which we uncovered the first weaknesses, which are totally normal with a new car, and have solved some of them already. Furthermore, it was important to get feedback from as many drivers as possible, in order to get a good early impression of how our prototype handles. Their response has been very positive in this early stage – everyone is impressed by the potential that our LMDh car is already showing. That will follow in the coming months. We laid a good foundation during the tests in Europe. Now we enter the next development stage in the USA.”

The BMW M Hybrid V8 has so far only been showcased with a unique camouflage wrap but the completed race livery will be presented on September 22 at the Peterson Museum in Los Angeles.

As a reminder, the M Hybrid V8 features a twin-turbocharged 4.0-liter V8 that produces 631 hp and 479 lb-ft (650 Nm) of torque and is supplemented by a hybrid system with an electric motor, inverter, and a high-voltage battery.