Chandler Hull Uninjured In VIR Test Crash; No. 36 BimmerWorld M4 GT3 Written Off

BimmerWorld Racing’s test at Virginia International Raceway on Thursday took a frightening turn when driver Chandler Hull suffered a heavy crash at the wheel of the team’s new number 36 BMW M4 GT3. Hull was not injured in the accident.

However, the number 36 M4 GT3 – one of two planned GT World Challenge America entries for the Virginia-based organisation – “will not be campaigned” this season after the car was written off, and the team were not able to secure a replacement vehicle citing ongoing global supply shortages.

In a statement released Friday, the team wrote: “During pre-season testing yesterday at Virginia International Raceway the No. 36 BimmerWorld / Optima Batteries M4 GT3 was involved in a heavy impact with the tyrewall on the outside of Turn 10. While the driver, Chandler Hull, managed to exit the car under his own power and was checked and cleared by the medical team, the car was extensively damaged and has been deemed unrepairable and therefore will not be campaigned in the upcoming 2022 SRO Fanatec GT World Challenge America powered by AWS season.”

“While this is a crushing blow to the team and everyone involved who have been working long hours since this M4 GT3 arrived to get up to speed with this new challenge, this is not the end of the road for our latest chapter for BimmerWorld Racing. In our almost 20 years of professional racing, we’ve certainly had similar days before, and while it hurts right now, the path to success is always defined by keeping our eyes up, looking through the corner, and keeping the goal in sight. With the ongoing global supply shortages there are no BMW M4 GT3s readily available for replacement and we currently have many questions that we don’t have answers for – but rest assured we are doing everything we can to bring two M4 GT3s to race in 2022 as planned.”

“We cannot thank our amazing team at BimmerWorld Racing enough for their dedication to this new racing programme. We’ll overcome this obstacle, and appreciate tremendously both everyone that has put in the work to get us to this point, as well as the coming work as we continue on our path in this new GT3 venture. Chandler and the team also extend an enormous debt of gratitude to BMW Motorsport and the incredible machine they have created. They not only built a fast machine, but most importantly a safe one. In the end, equipment is replaceable and the safety of our BimmerWorld Racing family will always be our top priority.”

The number 36 car was due to be driven by BimmerWorld team principal Henry Clay and Ari Balogh, while Hull and BMW factory ace Bill Auberlen – who also tested with the team at VIR yesterday – were due to drive the number 94 M4 GT3.

Images courtesy of BimmerWorld Racing