Home game for Augusto Farfus in São Paulo, Brazil.

WECHyperCar

Jul 11

Following the mega-event of the 24 Hours of Le Mans, BMW M Team WRT heads to Brazil for the 6 Hours of São Paulo with 4 cars: two BMW M Hybrid V8 in Hypercar class and two BMW M4 GT3 in LMGT3 class.

Farfus in LMGT3 class

It has been 14 years since Augusto Farfus last competed in races for BMW in his home country of Brazil – in 2010 in the FIA World Touring Car Championship (FIA WTCC). Now he returns with his fellow drivers in the #31 BMW M4 GT3 to fight for the World Endurance Championship lead in the LMGT3 class. The trio is just two points behind the leaders with 73 points.

First WEC win for Augusto Farfus at Imola — 📷 © Luc Warnotte: **First WEC win for Augusto Farfus** at Imola

Augusto Farfus (Team WRT, #31 BMW M4 GT3): “This is a very eventful and emotional race week for me. I am extremely excited to race in my home country in front of my fans, friends, and family. The FIA WEC is currently very popular – also in Brazil. From a sporting perspective, we hope to maintain our strong momentum from our very strong race at Le Mans (P2) and to be able to achieve a similar – or even better – result. After all, we are fully involved in the fight for the World Championship title.”

In the #46 BMW M4 GT3, Maxime Martin (BEL), Valentino Rossi (ITA), and Ahmad Al Harthy (OMA) will take turns.

📷 © Luc Warnotte: Ahmad Al Harthy in #46 BMW M4 GT3 leads the BMW M Team WRT BMW M4 GT3 duo at Imola… but not for long.

Both BMW M Hybrid V8 aim good positions

In the Hypercar class, Raffaele Marciello, Dries Vanthoor, and Marco Wittmann in the #15 BMW M Hybrid V8, as well as Robin Frijns, René Rast, and Sheldon van der Linde in the #20 BMW M Hybrid V8, aim to achieve good positions after disappointing results at Le Mans. With the fastest qualifying time at Le Mans, the car has proved it can keep up with the best, and now the team aims to regain the consistency in the race that was lacking last time.

📷 © Luc Warnotte at Lusail 2024. With 8 points earned at Lusail and 2 at Imola, the #20 BMW M Hybrid V8 trio (**Robin Frijns, René Rast, and Sheldon van der Linde)** is 16th in the World Endurance Drivers Championship.

René Rast (BMW M Team WRT, #20 BMW M Hybrid V8): “A new track for me, which I only know from the gaming console. I am very excited to drive it now in the BMW M Hybrid V8, because for me personally, the layout is one of the best in the FIA WEC calendar. It is hard to assess where we stand sportingly. Le Mans was a setback, and it is supposed to rain next weekend. Therefore, the first thing will be to learn as much as possible under these new conditions. We will see what result we can achieve.”

The #15 trio at the TotalEnergies 6 Hours of Spa-Francorchamps 2024. — 📷 © Luc Warnotte at the TotalEnergies **6 Hours of Spa-Francorchamps** 2024. The #15 trio of haven’t earned a single point in the World Endurance Drivers Championship so far.

Raffaele Marciello (BMW M Team WRT, #15 BMW M Hybrid V8): “I am very much looking forward to racing at Interlagos for the first time. I have been there twice before, but as a reserve driver. The layout of the track is great, and I expect an interesting race. The weather conditions, which are predicted to be difficult, can also contribute to this. After the disappointing result at Le Mans, our goal is to have a solid race and score points.”

📷 © Luc Warnotte at Le Mans 2024. #46 BMW M4 GT3 at Lusail 1812; #15 BMW M Hybrid V8 clinching pole, #31 BMW M4 GT3, and #20 BMW M Hybrid V8 at the 92nd 24 Hours of Le Mans.

Vincent Vosse (Team Principal BMW M Team WRT): “The entire WRT team is very much looking forward to competing in South America for the first time – and at such an iconic place as Interlagos. With the BMW M Hybrid V8, it's about using the second half of the season for further progress and turning the significant performance improvements achieved since Qatar into results. From now on, our focus is also on the 2025 season. In the LMGT3 class, the mission for number 31 is clear: to win the World Championship title. For the #46 BMW M4 GT3, the goal is to achieve the first victory in the FIA WEC. The crew has not had the necessary racing luck so far this season. Hopefully, we can change that.” Source: BMW Group

Schedule

Track action begins on Friday 12 July with two 90-minute free practice sessions. The starting grid will be decided on Saturday from 3.10pm local time (8.10pm CEST) with qualifying and Hyperpole while the race begins at 11.30am (4.30pm CEST) on Sunday 14 July.