[WEC] BMW confirmed in GTE in 2018

[bentley speed 8]

Looks like there is sizable diffuser at the rear

[Mike E]

Originally Posted by rich07

Many thanks.

I think it looks too much like something out of DTM from that angle, even the M6 looks more 'GT' then that. What I would give for another Z4....Looks aside its fantastic to have BMW back in GTE again, cant wait til next year to see how they go against the establishment.

DTM cars are a mess. This looks much better.

BMW also tweeted a pic of the other side of the car which shows the exhaust exiting on the right hand side of the car only, ahead of the rear wheel, NASCAR-style. This is distinctly different from the M6 set up, which has two side pipes ahead of the doors. I wonder if they will keep this set up. It will make it sound different from two side pipes.

[Mike E]

http://sportscar365.com/lemans/wec/bmw-m8-gte-revealed/

[Scorchess]

Does it really matter much what they do to it? GTE is a pure BoP class anyway so as long as it's slightly faster than a GT3 car what does it matter?

I'm still extremely disappointed the promised speed increase and more extreme aero of the 2016 regulations never materialized.

[Mike E]

Originally Posted by Scorchess

Does it really matter much what they do to it? GTE is a pure BoP class anyway so as long as it's slightly faster than a GT3 car what does it matter?

I'm still extremely disappointed the promised speed increase and more extreme aero of the 2016 regulations never materialized.

GT3 is a pure BoP formula. GTE at least starts with a technical specification, and a long one at that. The cheating comes later. Be fair.

[Scorchess]

That technical specification is a relic of times gone by I'm afraid. The only classes not brought down by the scourge of BoP are LMP1, LMP2, F1 and GT500. Maybe DTM too?

[S griffin]

Looks good so far, hope all this preparation pays off for them

[hondafan37]

Originally Posted by Scorchess

I'm still extremely disappointed the promised speed increase and more extreme aero of the 2016 regulations never materialized.

I'm still disappointed too. I remember Jens Marquardt talking about 600 hp in a report from a few years ago.
AkioAsakura95 say, according to BOB Suzuki blog the engine could be a V12 turbo. will be real?

[Victor_RO]

Originally Posted by hondafan37

I'm still disappointed too. I remember Jens Marquardt talking about 600 hp in a report from a few years ago.
AkioAsakura95 say, according to BOB Suzuki blog the engine could be a V12 turbo. will be real?

Can't be right, 4-liter limit on turbo engines. Under 4 liters in a GT car a V12 makes no sense.

[AkioAsakura95]

Originally Posted by hondafan37

I'm still disappointed too. I remember Jens Marquardt talking about 600 hp in a report from a few years ago.
AkioAsakura95 say, according to BOB Suzuki blog the engine could be a V12 turbo. will be real?

@hondafan37

Me too, By the way how do you get this information for BOB Suzuki blog????

By the way , you can check the FIA LM-GTE technical regulation by visiting the website and
download the file name: FIA WEC-2017 Technical Regulation for Grand Touring Cars LMGTE Homologated From 2016

in page 10 for the engine displacement regulation.

For my opinion via the technical regulation , they can't used V12 twin turbo because that engine is exceeding the cylinder capacity and they are not able to use BMW 4.4 V8 twin turbo due to the technical regulation so that BMW M6 GTLM cannot be raced in Le Mans for this year.

http://www.fia.com/regulation/category/118

[hondafan37]

Originally Posted by Victor_RO

Can't be right, 4-liter limit on turbo engines. Under 4 liters in a GT car a V12 makes no sense.

If the ACO wants the limits can be broken, the Viper used a V10 8 liters (the limit was 5.5) . Maybe the new Aston Martin will use the V12 5.2 turbo too.

[tux]

Originally Posted by hondafan37

If the ACO wants the limits can be broken, the Viper used a V10 8 liters (the limit was 5.5) . Maybe the new Aston Martin will use the V12 5.2 turbo too.

Pretty sure the new aston will use the Mercedes 4.0L V8 turbo.

[deggis]

Hi-res photos:

https://i.imgur.com/95s4vGM.jpg

https://i.imgur.com/3W8hg0I.jpg

https://i.imgur.com/ytQQhc9.jpg

[joeb]

Does anybody else see humor in testing in camo but releasing the pics?

[deggis]

I wonder if the camouflage (and especially those less useful "dazzle ship" liveries) is really even intended to hide anything for race cars, it has just become a cool thing to do in recent years and has just replaced the carbon black. For test-mule road car spy shots it is different because the intention is to hide the design from the press, not hiding aero pieces from competitors.

[joeb]

Originally Posted by deggis

I wonder if the camouflage (and especially those less useful "dazzle ship" liveries) is really even intended to hide anything for race cars, it has just become a cool thing to do in recent years and has just replaced the carbon black. For test-mule road car spy shots it is different because the intention is to hide the design from the press, not hiding aero pieces from competitors.

Good point, and I'm not complaining about it, I quite like the camo liveries. Just think how much nicer this would have been as the art car instead of "FAST"

[TF110]

I don't think that's the final body shape either, so not much use to camo it, but it does look 'stealthy' imo!

[Articus]

Driver lineups?

I think BMW would like to have Sims in both IMSA and WEC. Sims has been the quickest driver on the track the last two races. Ignore the BOP between cars, he's been quicker than his teammates at tracks he has never raced before.

I also threw out the Toni Vilander switch from Ferrari.

[Starfish Primer]

They have a lot of drivers to choose from the current DTM, IMSA and Blancpain lineups. Farfus, Spengler, Tomczyk, Sims, Eng, Palttala, Da Costa, Krohn, Catsburg, Basseng and they can still get drivers from other teams like Vilander or Balzan.

[AkioAsakura95]

Originally Posted by Starfish Primer

They have a lot of drivers to choose from the current DTM, IMSA and Blancpain lineups. Farfus, Spengler, Tomczyk, Sims, Eng, Palttala, Da Costa, Krohn, Catsburg, Basseng and they can still get drivers from other teams like Vilander or Balzan.

@Starfish Primer

Thanks you for your information!!!!

Speaking about the driver prediction for the BMW Team MTEK which participate GTE-Pro in WEC . I think Krohn might not be able to participate because he is the Silver driver categorization. And I usually prefer All Platinum driver categorization to drive BMW M8 GTE in WEC race.

There are:

MTEK M8 GTE:
#1：Farfus , Blomqvist , Vilander
#2: Spengler , Da Costa , Westbrook(possible，because he also drive ROWE BMW in Nur 24 hours)

I didn't choose Tomczyk and Sims because they are driving in IMSA race by using M8 GTE as well as this list is included in 24 Hours of Daytona race(possible) as well.

For Eng, Palttala they wil focus on Blancpain GT Racing with ROWE RACING by using BMW M6 GT3. While Catsburg schedule is always busy.

Then you can check the driver categorization list by clicking the website as shown as below.


http://www.fia.com/fia-driver-categorisation

[Articus]

Sims said in a very recent interview that his dream is to race Le Mans with BMW. I think he's going to get a seat for WEC. Or third driver at LM

[hondafan37]

Video BMW M8 GTE in test

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=kln6vwMoHO8

[gustavobamba]

Originally Posted by hondafan37

Video BMW M8 GTE in test

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=kln6vwMoHO8

This is a typical: How to show something without showing anything...

[Scorchess]

Turbo engine confirmed then, at least. Or was that already known?

[rich07]

Originally Posted by Articus

Sims said in a very recent interview that his dream is to race Le Mans with BMW. I think he's going to get a seat for WEC. Or third driver at LM

Sims is one of their best drivers, he'd be a shoe in for the WEC program, in fact I'd be surprised if he didn't get a seat