WRT Remains at the Wheel as BMW M Motorsport Confirms IMSA GTP Lineup
When you’ve got a good thing going, you don’t mess with it. That’s the old saying, and it’s a tune BMW M Motorsport is singing loud and proud as they head into the 2026 IMSA WeatherTech SportsCar Championship season. While there’s a major shake-up behind the scenes, with the celebrated WRT team taking over North American operations, the faces behind the wheel of the BMW M Hybrid V8s will be reassuringly familiar.
In a move that screams confidence, BMW is keeping its eight-man factory driver team intact across its global Hypercar programs in both IMSA and the FIA World Endurance Championship (WEC). For American sports car fans, this means the same cast of world-class talent will be battling for glory on tracks like Daytona, Sebring, and Road Atlanta.
The lineup reads like a who’s who of motorsport royalty: Philipp Eng, Robin Frijns, Kevin Magnussen, Raffaele Marciello, René Rast, Sheldon van der Linde, Dries Vanthoor, and Marco Wittmann. These guys know how to win, and BMW is betting on their collective experience to push the LMDh project to the next level.
What’s New for the BMW IMSA Lineup?
While the names are the same, the playbook is getting a slight rewrite. BMW is shuffling the deck on its full-time driver pairings for the two-car IMSA effort, a strategic move likely aimed at optimizing chemistry and performance. The No. 24 BMW M Hybrid V8 becomes a powerhouse of young, aggressive talent. Sheldon van der Linde and Dries Vanthoor will team up for the full season.
These two are already slated for double duty, racing in WEC as well, so they’ll have more seat time in the Hybrid V8 than anyone else at BMW, a scary thought for the competition. For the long-haul endurance classics, they’ll be bolstered by the formidable duo of Robin Frijns and the multi-talented René Rast, with Rast specifically joining for the Rolex 24 at Daytona. Over in the No. 25 garage, it’s a German-Austrian alliance as Marco Wittmann and Philipp Eng join forces for the full championship hunt.
This pairing combines years of DTM success and prototype experience. When the races get longer, they’ll get a massive boost from current Haas F1 driver Kevin Magnussen and the blistering pace of Raffaele “Lello” Marciello. Magnussen will handle the endurance cup races, while Marciello is locked in for the season-opening Rolex 24. It’s a murderer’s row of talent, plain and simple.
Why Stability is BMW’s Winning Strategy
Andreas Roos, the Head of BMW M Motorsport, made the team’s philosophy crystal clear. “Consistency was our priority,” he stated. “We are very satisfied with the performance of all eight drivers, and there is no reason to make major changes.”It’s a smart play. The GTP class is arguably the most competitive form of sports car racing on the planet.
The cars are complex, the margins are razor-thin, and experience is worth its weight in gold. By keeping the drivers, BMW eliminates a massive variable. These drivers know the BMW M Hybrid V8 inside and out. They’ve lived through its growing pains and celebrated its successes. That deep well of knowledge is irreplaceable, especially with an updated car on the horizon for 2026 and a new team, WRT, learning the ropes of the IMSA-specific calendar and competition. Roos added, “
“The key is that everyone works well as a team, pulls together, and advances our LMDh project. That’s exactly what’s happening.” It’s that human element, that team chemistry, that often separates the winners from the rest of the pack in endurance racing. BMW has it, and they’re not letting it go,” he concluded.
Final Thoughts
As the 2026 season inches closer, the message from Munich is one of strength and stability. While rivals might be scrambling to piece together their driver lineups, BMW has its aces in place, ready to go to war. With a proven roster, a legendary team in WRT, and an updated machine, BMW isn’t just showing up to compete. They’re aiming for the crown.
