BMW M Team WRT’s #15 BMW M Hybrid V8 climbed from 16th on the grid to seventh at the penultimate round of the FIA World Endurance Championship in Barcelona. A tyre-pressure problem and a penalty left the sister #20 car down in 14th. Toyota finished one-two and clinched both the manufacturers’ and drivers’ titles. In LMGT3, Dan Harper took his third podium of the season with Team WRT.

A climb through the field in changing conditions

The weekend at the Circuit de Barcelona-Catalunya started badly for BMW’s Hypercar programme. Both BMW M Hybrid V8 cars lacked pace in qualifying. The #20 Shell BMW M Hybrid V8 started the “6 Hours of Barcelona” from 13th, and the #15 car started three places further back in 16th.

Once the race began on a wet track, Kevin Magnussen (DEN) moved quickly through the order in the #15 car. A ten-second time penalty for contact with a rival meant he handed over to Dries Vanthoor (BEL) in 13th. As the track dried, Vanthoor worked his way up to fifth. A short refuelling stop a few laps from the end cost the car ground, and Raffaele Marciello (SUI) brought it home in seventh.

Tyre pressure and a penalty sink the #20 car

René Rast (GER), Sheldon van der Linde (RSA) and Robin Frijns (NED) had a much harder race. Shortly after a Safety Car period in the first hour, the #20 car had to pit because its tyre pressure was too low. It was later given a 20-second time penalty as well. That dropped the crew well down the order early on, and they finished no higher than 14th.

“We already noticed during free practice that we were lacking grip and pace. That was confirmed in the race. Unfortunately, our tyre pressure was too low, so we had to pit and were penalised, which put us a lap down.” — René Rast

Toyota takes the titles before the finale

Toyota finished first and second in Barcelona and clinched both the manufacturers’ and drivers’ world championships with one round still to run. BMW M Motorsport stays second in the manufacturers’ standings, 24 points clear of third place going into the final round in Monza.

In the drivers’ standings, Magnussen and Marciello moved up to third, while Rast and Frijns are tied on points in fourth. Team Principal Vincent Vosse said the team is “still fighting for the second position, but it is going to be tough with one race to go in Monza.”

Andreas Roos, Head of BMW M Motorsport, said the team had hoped to take the title fight to Monza. “Naturally, we had hoped to still be in contention for the title in Monza, but unfortunately, we were unable to score enough points to keep the championship battle alive. Congratulations to Toyota on its well-deserved titles in both championships.”

Podium for the #69 BMW M4 GT3 EVO

The LMGT3 class went better for BMW. The #69 BMW M4 GT3 EVO of Dan Harper (GBR), Parker Thompson (CAN) and Anthony McIntosh (USA) started 15th. McIntosh and Thompson moved Team WRT into the podium places, and BMW M works driver Harper held on to finish third. It is the trio’s third podium of the season, after Imola (ITA) and São Paulo (BRA).

“It was very close and very tricky, especially when it came to managing tyre pressures and energy towards the end, but I’m absolutely delighted to have secured a podium!” — Dan Harper

The sister #32 BMW M4 GT3 EVO of BMW M works driver Augusto Farfus (BRA), Sean Gelael (IND) and Darren Leung (GBR) started sixth. A series of penalties pushed it gradually down the order, and it finished 12th in class, three weeks after the same crew won in Fuji.

What it means

The Barcelona result ends BMW’s chance of a world title this year. There is still something to race for at Monza: BMW is defending second place in the manufacturers’ standings, and its #15 crew is chasing runner-up spot in the drivers’ standings. Vanthoor said the team had made “a big step forward” compared with last season.

The season finale of the FIA World Endurance Championship takes place in Monza.

Source: www.press.bmwgroup.com