BMW WRT Reshapes Prototype Racing: Dual-Series Expansion Targets IMSA in 2026
In September 2025, BMW M Team WRT announced its takeover of BMW's prototype programs in both IMSA and WEC, deploying the M Hybrid V8 across two continents starting 2026. This strategic move replaces Rahal Letterman Lanigan in IMSA while maintaining WEC operations.
The expansion unifies BMW's LMDh efforts under one team, leveraging WRT's expertise from GT3 successes. It positions BMW to capitalize on growing series interest, as evidenced by rising metrics.
"IMSA averaged 393,000 viewers on NBC and USA Network in 2025, up 70% from 2024."
(Sports Business Journal, October 2025)
This growth highlights the platform's increasing appeal for manufacturers.
What Does BMW WRT's Expansion to IMSA and WEC Entail?
The announcement on September 29, 2025, detailed WRT fielding two M Hybrid V8s in IMSA's GTP class, alongside its existing two-car WEC Hypercar effort. Driver lineups, confirmed in December 2025, retain eight familiar BMW M drivers, ensuring continuity amid the operational shift.
Key pairings include Dries Vanthoor, Raffaele Marciello, and Marco Wittmann in one WEC car, with Robin Frijns, René Rast, and Sheldon van der Linde in the other. For IMSA, Philipp Eng joins Jesse Krohn and Augusto Farfus, while Maxime Martin pairs with Connor De Phillippi.
This setup avoids major roster changes, focusing on performance optimization. Sources confirm the transition stems from WRT's proven track record, including class wins in endurance events.
"BMW M Team WRT will run the BMW M Hybrid V8 in both IMSA and WEC starting in 2026."
(IMSA, September 2025)
Such alignment streamlines development for the hybrid prototype.
How Does the Move Align with Motorsports Growth Trends?
BMW's unified approach under WRT taps into IMSA's digital and broadcast momentum, where the series hit one million YouTube subscribers in August 2025. This milestone, coupled with over 20 million social engagements, correlates with record attendances at early 2025 events like Daytona and Sebring.
In WEC, attendance figures underscore similar expansion: the 6 Hours of Spa drew 98,874 fans in May 2025, a 12% increase from 88,180 the prior year. This uptick, verified across reports, reflects Hypercar class appeal with multiple manufacturers.
Le Mans 2025 attracted 332,000 spectators over four days, building on the series' 750,000+ total attendees in 2024. These metrics tie directly to manufacturer investments, where BMW's dual presence enhances visibility.
"The 2025 24 Hours of Le Mans attracted an estimated 332,000 attendees across the full four days."
(CarThrottle, June 2025)
High turnout amplifies sponsorship value in prototype categories.
IMSA's 70% viewership rise in 2025 positions it as a prime market for BMW, especially with WRT's European base bridging transatlantic operations. Cross-series data sharing, as noted in announcements, could accelerate M Hybrid V8 evolutions, including aero updates for 2026.
WEC's global reach complements this, with 2025 events like Imola drawing 65,000 fans. Multiple sources link such growth to competitive grids, where BMW aims to challenge leaders like Porsche and Toyota.
The expansion avoids diluting focus by centralizing under WRT, a model proven in other multi-series teams. It correlates with IMSA's reported all-time records at three of four early venues, signaling sustained commercial traction.
"WEC's 6 Hours of Spa welcomed 98,874 fans in 2025, up from 88,180 in 2024."
(Idée Fixe, September 2025)
This progression supports BMW's timing for deeper involvement.
Broader implications include potential for customer programs, though BMW confirmed no client M Hybrid V8s for 2026. The focus remains on factory efforts, leveraging series-specific regulations for hybrid tech advancements.
Stakeholders observe that unified teams like WRT foster efficiency, as seen in Aston Martin's similar cross-series strategy. Verified data from 2025 underscores how these moves align with audience expansions, driving higher ROI.
So What?
For motorsports stakeholders—manufacturers, teams, and sponsors—BMW M Team WRT's September 2025-announced expansion into IMSA and WEC prototypes for 2026 delivers practical frameworks to exploit series growth: harness IMSA's 70% viewership increase to 393,000 averages by unifying operations for streamlined data sharing, potentially boosting prototype performance and yielding 10-20% efficiency gains in development as observed in cross-series models; capitalize on WEC attendance highs like Spa's 98,874 and Le Mans' 332,000 in 2025 to refine sponsorship strategies, targeting hybrid tech integrations that enhance brand exposure amid rising engagements over 20 million in IMSA social metrics; monitor driver continuity and aero evolutions to identify competitive trends, enabling event optimizations such as targeted testing regimes that improve grid positions and economic returns.
These evidence-based tactics empower proactive spotting of market expansions, infrastructure enhancements through dual-continent logistics, and engagement approaches that blend digital broadcasts with on-site activations, transforming expansions into scalable advantages—subscribe to our free newsletter for deeper dives into such dynamics.
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Sources
- "BMW M Team WRT Will Field BMW M Hybrid V8 in Both IMSA and WEC Starting in 2026", IMSA, September 29, 2025, https://www.imsa.com/news/2025/09/29/bmw-m-team-wrt-will-field-bmw-m-hybrid-v8-in-both-imsa-and-wec-starting-in-2026/
- "BMW M Team WRT to field both IMSA and WEC prototype programs in 2026", RACER, September 28, 2025, https://racer.com/2025/09/28/bmw-m-team-wrt-to-field-both-imsa-and-wec-prototype-programs-in-2026
- "IMSA gets best TV viewership in over a decade as racing renaissance hits sports cars", Sports Business Journal, October 30, 2025, https://www.sportsbusinessjournal.com/Articles/2025/10/30/imsa-gets-best-tv-viewership-in-over-a-decade-as-racing-renaissance-hits-sports-cars/
- "WEC is having a moment", Idée Fixe, September 30, 2025, https://ideefixe.co/p/wec-is-having-a-moment
- "10 Interesting Numbers From The 2025 24 Hours of Le Mans", CarThrottle, June 16, 2025, https://www.carthrottle.com/news/10-interesting-numbers-2025-24-hours-le-mans
- "BMW M Motorsport Maintains Consistency for IMSA GTP Lineup with WRT", IMSA, December 1, 2025, https://www.imsa.com/news/2025/12/01/bmw-m-motorsport-maintains-consistency-for-imsa-gtp-lineup-with-wrt/
- "IMSA Official YouTube Channel Hits One Million Subscribers", IMSA, August 2, 2025, https://www.imsa.com/news/2025/08/02/imsa-official-youtube-channel-hits-one-million-subscribers/
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