Now that our leftover turkey supply has been depleted, it’s time to start mentioning Speed Weeks in Daytona. One of the biggest races of the year is the Rolex 24, and BMW says the new M8 GTE will dominate. In a press release earlier this morning, Director of BMW Motorsport Jens Marquardt said: “The various departments have also worked hand in hand in the area of aerodynamics. We have benefitted greatly from the intense cooperation with central prototype assembly and the BMW Group’s Aero Lab. During development, this allowed us to work even more efficiently on the aero components, which have been designed specifically for long-distance racing. At the same time, our colleagues in production development have received information that is valuable in the field of high-performance automobiles.”
BMW M8 Prototype Preview
It is a bold move to build the race car before the street versions, so the popularity of the new 8 Series coupes seems to be hinged on being a success in its first outing. Growing up not far from Daytona, you learn several truths about the 24-hour race. First is that weather will be a factor. Second is that even the best-prepared team can fall victim to the track. The M8 GTE will be fielded in the World Endurance Championship and the IMSA WeatherTech SportsCar Championship, to compete against the likes of Cadillac and Team Corvette, both of which have several titles under their belt. We have no doubt that engineers in Munich have some potent tricks up their sleeve; so stay with us for complete coverage of the upcoming season.
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