As we head north to Elkhart Lake and the storied tarmac of Street America, BMW’s racing story is poised to take a pointy flip. For followers, this weekend isn’t simply one other chapter in IMSA’s 2025 season, it’s one of many final occasions we’ll see BMW Staff RLL take to the observe below the Rahal Letterman Lanigan Racing banner. After almost 20 years collectively, BMW and RLL are parting methods on the finish of this season, marking the tip of one of the crucial profitable and enduring relationships in American motorsport.
RLL’s reference to BMW started again in 2009 and shortly grew to become synonymous with each success and consistency within the American Le Mans Collection, and later IMSA. From the screaming M3 GT2s of the early 2010s to the fire-breathing M8 GTE and now the hybrid M Hybrid V8 prototype, RLL has been the face of BMW Motorsport in North America. Collectively, they’ve racked up wins at legendary venues like Sebring, Daytona, and Laguna Seca. However extra than simply wins, RLL helped solidify BMW’s identification in North American endurance racing, bringing precision, efficiency, and a little bit of Bavarian perspective to each paddock they entered.
However occasions are altering, and so is BMW’s international motorsport technique. Whereas nothing has been formally confirmed, Belgian powerhouse WRT is anticipated to broaden its racing program to incorporate IMSA subsequent yr by way of a brand new partnership with BMW in North America. WRT already runs BMW’s FIA World Endurance Championship (WEC) marketing campaign, together with the current return to Le Mans, and this potential transfer would align BMW’s manufacturing facility racing efforts below a single crew on either side of the Atlantic.
From a strategic standpoint, unifying operations below WRT is sensible. It permits BMW to streamline growth, pool assets, and leverage information throughout WEC and IMSA, arguably accelerating efficiency features and giving the M Hybrid V8 a aggressive edge in each collection. However it additionally means the tip of an period for American BMW followers, who’ve grown accustomed to the acquainted faces and method of Bobby Rahal’s crew.
Within the official assertion, BMW Motorsport head Andreas Roos praised RLL’s long-standing partnership and their position in shaping BMW’s racing legacy stateside. “The collaboration has been marked by great successes and iconic moments,” Roos stated. “We’re grateful to RLL for his or her ardour and professionalism.”
RLL, for its half, isn’t going anyplace. The crew has expressed curiosity in exploring different producer partnerships and presumably shifting focus to totally different collection. Given their pedigree and expertise, it’s laborious to think about them not being a pressure wherever they go.
Street America
August 3 – 6, 2023
In order we prep for a weekend at Street America, a observe that looks like house turf for BMW within the Midwest, the temper is a mixture of anticipation and nostalgia. We’ll be watching the M Hybrid V8 race down the Kettle Bottoms and into Canada Nook, realizing that this chapter is closing. But when BMW and WRT’s WEC marketing campaign is any indication, there’s loads of pleasure forward.
For now, although, we’re savoring the tip of an period. See you at Street America.
