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What looked like a tough weekend for BMW M Motorsport ended in celebration as the #46 BMW M4 GT3 EVO of Ahmad Al Harthy, Valentino Rossi, and Kelvin van der Linde claimed second place at the Lone Star Le Mans, the sixth round of the FIA World Endurance Championship in Austin. The final laps transformed the race into a comeback story, with the BMW crew making the most of drying track conditions to climb through the field and secure a spot on the podium.
For the Hypercar programme, fortunes were less favourable. The #15 BMW M Hybrid V8 never found grip on wet tyres and faded to twelfth, while the #20 car was forced out early with a technical issue. Despite showing potential earlier in the weekend, both Hypercars left Texas without the results to match their pace.
The GT3 entries, however, carried the BMW banner. Starting from mid-grid and battling heavy rain, both M4 GT3 EVOs surged forward when the track switched to slicks. Van der Linde’s charge in the closing minutes delivered the #46 to second, while Augusto Farfus fought hard in the #31 before a penalty relegated his car to ninth.
The contrasting outcomes reflected both the challenges and promise of BMW’s endurance campaign. For Team WRT, the podium proved the strength of strategy, determination, and a car that thrives when conditions turn. The sight of the #46 BMW M4 GT3 EVO crossing the line in the top three gave the team and its fans a reason to celebrate, even as lessons from the Hypercar setbacks shift focus to the next round in Fuji.
