BMW M’s LMDh racing ambitions continue, and today’s teaser reveals a June 6th, 2022 launch date. A fresh design feature is seen in the frontal view. For example, we instantly observed the driver’s tiny greenhouse with the conventional air intake resting on top. Of course, the vertical light strips, as well as the enormous racing wing, stand out in the teaser photo. The double kidney grille stretches over the whole front end, giving the automobile a powerful appearance.
Former BMW Motorsport chief Mike Krack revealed last year in an interview with German media that the new BMW LMDh project would likely not begin at the 24 Hours of Le Mans in 2023. Instead, the emphasis is totally on North American events such as Daytona; after all, the U.S. market is much more vital for the BMW M than the European market. Krack argues that the new crew will be unable to completely concentrate on all races at first.
BMW Team RLL will compete two prototypes, with the racing vehicles’ backbone being a chassis produced by partner Dallara. The Le Mans Daytona hybrid prototypes, as the name indicates, will have an electrified powertrain that combines a gasoline engine and an electric motor. The combustion engine will produce at least 470 kilowatts (630 horsepower), while the Bosch-supplied hybrid system will be limited to 50 kilowatts (67 hp). The overall hybrid system will not produce more than 500 kW. (670 hp).
Williams Advanced Engineering will supply the battery pack, while Xtrac will build the gearbox for prototypes weighing at least 1,030 kilos (2,271 pounds). The LMDh racing vehicles will be imposingly long, measuring up to 5,100 millimeters (201 inches) in length and 2,000 millimeters (78.7 inches) in width, with a set wheelbase of 3,150 millimeters (124 inches).
According to the requirements for LMDh prototypes, the cost maximum will be €1,000,000 minus the engine. BMW will develop the first test vehicle in Italy in collaboration with Dallara engineers, with the objective of hitting the track in 2022 at the Varano circuit in Parma. The new racing vehicle will face fierce competition from Porsche, Audi, Acura, Cadillac, Ferrari, Toyota, and Peugeot, with Alpine joining the fray in 2024. The premiere is set for January 2023 at the legendary 24 Hours of Daytona.
[Photo courtesy of BMW Motorsport]
