BMW M Motorsport is gearing up for another chapter in its history at the Nürburgring 24 Hours. The legendary event, set to take place this weekend, will see a number of BMW race cars (notably the BMW M4 GT3) hit the track in the renowned “Green Hell.” With a formidable presence in the top SP9 Pro category, BMW teams including ROWE Racing, BMW M Team RMG, and Walkenhorst Motorsport, along with 14 BMW M works drivers, are aiming to secure the brand’s 21st overall victory.

Having attended last year’s 24 Hours of the Nurburgring we validate that this is the single most intense motorsport event we’ve ever seen. Even if you can’t make it, we’d highly recommend finding the live stream and buckling up.

The driver line-up is impressive and features a couple US based drivers. Representing BMW M Team RMG are members of the BMW Junior Team: Dan Harper from the UK, Max Hesse from Germany, and Neil Verhagen from the USA. The experienced ROWE Racing, winners at the Nürburgring in 2020, will deploy two BMW M4 GT3s manned by a lineup of eight BMW M works drivers, including Connor De Phillippi (USA), Philipp Eng (Austria), Augusto Farfus (Brazil), Maxime Martin (Belgium), Sheldon van der Linde (South Africa), Dries Vanthoor (Belgium), Marco Wittmann (Germany), and Nick Yelloly (UK). Walkenhorst Motorsport, with its two cars in the SP9 Pro class and one in SP9 Pro-Am, will feature BMW M works drivers Jake Dennis (UK), Jens Klingmann (Germany), and Jesse Krohn (Finland) among its roster.

In its debut, the new BMW M4 GT4 will also grace the 24-hour race this year, competing in the SP10 and SP8T classes. Six cars, including entries from FK Performance Motorsport, Walkenhorst Motorsport, and Giti Tire Motorsport by WS Racing, will showcase the capabilities of this exceptional vehicle. Notably, the #73 BMW M4 GT4, serving as the media car in the SP10 class, will be driven by BMW M test and development engineer Jörg Weidinger (Germany) and three renowned motorsport journalists: Jethro Bovingdon (UK), Christian Gebhardt, and Guido Naumann (both Germany). The entire BMW M lineup at the Nürburgring this weekend comprises over 30 race cars, ranging from the BMW M4 GT3 and BMW M4 GT4 to various models assembled by customer teams.

BMW’s rich history at the Nürburgring 24 Hours is unrivaled, with an impressive 20 overall victories, more than any other manufacturer. The journey began in 1970, with Hans-Joachim Stuck and Clemens Schickentanz clinching the first triumph in a BMW 2002 Ti. The most recent victory came in 2020 when ROWE Racing conquered the race with the BMW M6 GT3. Additionally, BMW boasts a staggering 210 class wins, more than twice the number of its competitors. The brand also leads in pole positions, having secured 15 to date. In 2021, Nick Yelloly added to this record by claiming the latest pole position for ROWE Racing with the BMW M6 GT3.

The Nürburgring holds a special place for BMW M, serving as a testing ground for its production cars. As a result, BMW M has long been an integral part of the 24-hour race’s fringe program. At the M Showroom on the ring°boulevard, fans can immerse themselves in the world of BMW M, marvel at vintage race cars, and enjoy an array of engaging activities. A hospitality is available for guests in the T14 area. As is tradition, there will again be an M Corso parade of production vehicles before the start of the race on Saturday.