BMW M Team WRT Grabs 5th Place at Bathurst 12 Hour

At Bathurst’s Mount Panorama Circuit, BMW M Team WRT had a rollercoaster ride. Despite the impressive speed, mishaps and erratic weather caused setbacks. The team’s #32 BMW M4 GT3, driven by Sheldon van der Linde, Charles Weerts, and Dries Vanthoor, retired early after starting from pole position due to an accident. Their teammates in the #46 BMW M4 GT3, with Valentino Rossi, Maxime Martin, and Raffaele Marciello, were strong contenders for the podium until the last lap but settled for fifth place.

The race saw numerous challenges, prompting appearances by the BMW XM Safety Car due to crashes. Particularly in the last 40 minutes, creating intense competition for the podium. Unfortunately, a slight braking error on the damp track hindered Maxime Martin from securing third place. This added to the drama of the day, which also featured a downpour towards the end of the race.

Van der Linde’s pole position for the #32 vehicle kicked off an exciting weekend for BMW M Team WRT. The race started early Sunday morning, with both BMW M4 GT3s quickly establishing themselves as leaders. However, their campaign was abruptly halted when the #32 car collided with a lapped car five hours into the race.

The #46 squad persevered in the face of the setback, battling for the lead despite the rain and a brief setback caused by a drive-through penalty. Team Manthey EMA with their Porsche 992 GT3R, took first place, with SunEnergy1’s Mercedes-AMG GT3 and Wash It Team MPC’s Audi R8 LMS Evo II following closely after.