BMW reveals tweaked LMDh car for 2026 WEC, IMSA campaigns

BMW has unveiled revised aerodynamics for its M Hybrid V8 LMDh ahead of its campaigns in next year’s World Endurance Championship and IMSA SportsCar Championship.

The revisions, which include a significantly smaller version of the marque’s signature ‘kidney’ grille, are designed to improve the consistency of the car’s performance across the range of circuits on which it races and to improve cooling efficiency.

Head of BMW M Motorsport Andreas Roos said: “Since we began racing in the IMSA series in 2023 and the FIA WEC in 2024, we have learned a great deal about our BMW M Hybrid V8.

“After optimising the brakes for the current season, it is now time for an aerodynamically improved version of the car.

“With these updates, we are responding to the insights gained from our previous race outings.

“Following the tests we’ve already conducted, we are confident that the changes to the BMW M Hybrid V8 will allow us to compete more consistently at the front on all types of tracks, taking another step toward the top.”

The latest developments on the M Hybrid have been undertaken in conjunction with Dallara Automobili, which supplied the chassis spine around which the M Hybrid was developed.

The official shots of the upgraded car testing in a camouflage livery were taken at Paul Ricard earlier this month.

It will make a semi-public debut when it takes part in a group test at Austin straight after the next WEC round at the US circuit on 7 September.

BMW did not confirm whether it had taken one of the limited number of evo joker upgrades allowed to manufacturers competing in Hypercar in WEC or GTP in IMSA with the aero changes.

The brake upgrades for this year, it confirmed ahead of the season, did count as one.

Subject to the final homologation, the revised M Hybrid will make its debut at next January’s Daytona 24 Hours, the opening round of the IMSA series. It will then come on stream in the WEC in Qatar at the end of March.

BMW has stressed its commitment to IMSA’s GTP class after the confirmation of its split with long-term partner Rahal, which races under the BMW M Team RLL banner.

WRT, which masterminds the M Hybrid campaign in the WEC, has confirmed that it is talking with BMW about expanding its programme into North America.