BMW Team WRT Confirm Plans For Dubai 24H, Bathurst 12H and GT World Challenge Europe

BMW M Team WRT have announced the line-ups for a number of its planned 2023 programmes with the BMW M4 GT3.

Dubai 24 Hours

Team WRT will race for the first time with the BMW on 13-15 January at the Dubai 24 Hours, a race the Belgian squad has won twice, in 2016 and this year, where it claimed a one-two.

Car #7 will be entrusted to Mohammed Al Saud and Dries Vanthoor, already part of the winning crew in 2022, and Jean-Baptiste Simmenauer. The other two drivers will be announced in due course.

In car #46, Valentino Rossi will be accompanied by Maxime Martin, Sean Gelael, who races for Team WRT in LMP2, and recruit Tim Whale from Britain, who joins from the GT4 scene. A fifth driver will be named in due course.

WRT team principal and CEO Vincent Vosse: “Our first race in Dubai is basically around the corner, shortly followed by our debut as BMW M Team WRT at Bathurst. We are terribly excited at what is ahead of us and can’t wait to be hitting the track!”

Bathurst 12 Hours

The first outing of the BMW M4 GT3 of the Belgian squad under the BMW M Team WRT banner is scheduled on 4-5 February at the Bathurst 12 Hours, which will serve as the first round of the 2023 Intercontinental GT Challenge powered by Pirelli.

In Australia, where Team WRT won in 2018, two cars will be entered, #32 for Dries Vanthoor-Charles Weerts-Sheldon van der Linde and #46 for Valentino Rossi-Maxime Martin-Augusto Farfus Jr.

“It is fantastic to return to this legendary motorsport venue with BMW M Motorsport for the first time since 2020, and to see the BMW M4 GT3 in action for the first time at the Mount Panorama Circuit at Bathurst,” said Andreas Roos, Head of BMW M Motorsport.

“There is something magical about the event, and we hope to be able to convey that magic on the track. We feel the prospects of a strong debut from the BMW M4 GT3 and BMW M Team WRT are very good. The combination of a strong team and equally strong drivers means we can approach the 12 hours of racing with confidence and hope for good results. I am particularly pleased, on the driver side, to see some new faces in our cockpits, coupled with the proven class of Augusto Farfus and Sheldon van der Linde. The race in Bathurst forms the start of an intensive and, hopefully, successful season with BMW M Team WRT, which continues with the Kyalami 9 Hour in February and then in the GT World Challenge Europe.”

GT World Challenge Europe

The team has also confirmed the line-ups for the first two of its BMW M4 GT3 that will contest the Fanatec GT World Challenge Europe powered by AWS in 2023.

In car #32, Team WRT’s home boys’ Dries Vanthoor and Charles Weerts, recently announced as BMW M Motorsport works drivers, will defend the Sprint Cup crown conquered for three years in a row. In the Endurance Cup, they will be joined by South African Sheldon van der Linde, a long-time BMW driver. While taking the helm from his brother Kelvin, Sheldon is not new to Team WRT, for which he raced in the then Blancpain GT Series in 2018.

In car #46, whose livery is sported by the BMW M4 GT3 on display at tonight’s event, after an excellent first season at the highest level, Valentino Rossi will continue his GT3 career and will be associated with Maxime Martin. A well-established star in GT racing, with wins at the 24 Hours of Spa and the Le Mans 24 Hours, the Belgian will be making his debut with Team WRT and a come-back to BMW M Motorsport. In the Endurance Cup, the duo will be joined by another great name, Brazilian Augusto Farfus Jr.

“I am delighted to have such strong driver line-ups for our programmes in the GT World Challenge Europe and the Intercontinental GT Challenge. Thank you to BMW M Motorsport for this fantastic opportunity,” said WRT team principal and CEO Vincent Vosse.

“I have been trying for a long time to work together with Maxime Martin in my team. It is awesome that this is now possible. I would also like to welcome Sheldon van der Linde back to the team having raced together a few years ago. He knows Dries Vanthoor and Charles Weerts well and I am sure they will form a strong team. Having Augusto Farfus, with all his know-how and experience, and Maxime alongside Valentino Rossi is also a fantastic combination. I can hardly wait for the 2023 season and to fight to bring trophies to Munich.”