IMSA Sebring 12 Hours
BMW's Andreas Roos cautious of IMSA's expanded planned testing in 2027
Andreas Roos, Head of BMW M Motorsport, has a few concerns on the impact of increased testing
Joey Barnes
Edited: Mar 20, 2026, 2:06 AM
Copy link
Share on Viber
#24 BMW M Team WRT BMW M Hybrid V8: Dries Vanthoor, Sheldon van der Linde, Robin Frijns
Photo by: Jake Galstad / Lumen via Getty Images
IMSA’s plan for expanded series-sanctioned testing in 2027 has given Head of BMW M Motorsport’s Andreas Roos some concerns.
On Thursday afternoon, IMSA revealed next year’s relatively unchanged schedule for its WeatherTech SportsCar Championship. One of the notable items that is different, though, is a plan to have sanctioned testing at all five tracks that host endurance rounds.
IMSA already has an annual series-wide sanctioned test at Daytona with the Roar Before the Rolex 24, which will take place January 22-24 next season. The series has also sorted an offseason test at Daytona the past few years, which has taken place in either November or December. Additionally, there was a sanctioned test at Sebring International Raceway in February of 2025. The 'planned tests' are eligible to WeatherTech Championship teams only, but not mandatory.
With more details over information and specific dates to be announced later, there remains a level of uncertainty.
Read Also:
Considering there are a number of complexities that vary from Balance of Performance (BoP), learning Michelin’s new Pilot Sport Endurance GTP tire, among other things, Roos weighed in with his thoughts to Motorsport.com.
“This has to be clearly looked at what makes sense and what does not,” Roos said. “Because at the end, we have a very strict testing regulation in terms of amount of testing, and this is also to keep the costs under control. The more you go testing, the more expensive it gets.
“There are topics, which always the more you run, the better it is, the more knowledge you create, the more data you create.”
And even though BMW M Motorsport pivoted its IMSA program from Rahal Letterman Lanigan Racing to Team WRT over the offseason, Roos believes testing would still present minimal learnings since the BMW M Hybrid V8 has been a player since the GTP class developed in 2023.
“On the other hand, we run now, more or less the same car since 2023, so there are only small things which are adjusted left and right, now with the new tire or things like this,” Roos said. “But this doesn't mean that the field is completely mixed up.
“So we have to clearly see what is needed and what we have to do, and the main thing is to keep the costs under control. Because when you look outside and read the news every day, I think it's not also the best time to spend more money than what is needed.”
Photos from Sebring 12 Hours - Thursday
Sebring - Thursday, in photos
Sebring - Thursday, in photos
Sebring - Thursday, in photos
Sebring - Thursday, in photos
Sebring - Thursday, in photos
Sebring - Thursday, in photos
Sebring - Thursday, in photos
Sebring - Thursday, in photos
Sebring - Thursday, in photos
Sebring - Thursday, in photos
Sebring - Thursday, in photos
Sebring - Thursday, in photos
Sebring - Thursday, in photos
Sebring - Thursday, in photos
Sebring - Thursday, in photos
Sebring - Thursday, in photos
Sebring - Thursday, in photos
Sebring - Thursday, in photos
Sebring - Thursday, in photos
Sebring - Thursday, in photos
Sebring - Thursday, in photos
Sebring - Thursday, in photos
Sebring - Thursday, in photos
Sebring - Thursday, in photos
Sebring - Thursday, in photos
Sebring - Thursday, in photos
Sebring - Thursday, in photos
Sebring - Thursday, in photos
Sebring - Thursday, in photos
Sebring - Thursday, in photos
Sebring - Thursday, in photos
Sebring - Thursday, in photos
Sebring - Thursday, in photos
Sebring - Thursday, in photos
Sebring - Thursday, in photos
Sebring - Thursday, in photos
Sebring - Thursday, in photos
Sebring - Thursday, in photos
Sebring - Thursday, in photos
Sebring - Thursday, in photos
IMSA
40
Read Also:
We want your opinion!
What would you like to see on Motorsport.com?
Take our 5 minute survey.
- The Motorsport.com Team
Read and post comments
Read also :
Share Or Save This Story
Copy link
Share on Viber
Previous article Colin Braun “sharper than ever” going into this weekend's 12 Hours of Sebring
Next article Lamborghini signs ex-Ferrari man Andrea Reggiani as head of motorsport
Top Comments
There are no comments at the moment. Would you like to write one?
View More & Comment
More from
Joey Barnes
Niels Koolen makes switch to Abel Motorsports ahead of 2027 Indy NXT campaign
Indy NXT
Indy NXT 5 h
Niels Koolen makes switch to Abel Motorsports ahead of 2027 Indy NXT campaign
13 Autosport retains unchanged lineup for 2027 IMSA campaign, eyes global expansion
IMSA
IMSA 6 h
13 Autosport retains unchanged lineup for 2027 IMSA campaign, eyes global expansion
Inside AJ Foyt Racing’s transition: Hauger’s arrival, Ferrucci’s future, and the Pierson waiting game
Feature
IndyCar
Feature
IndyCar
Inside AJ Foyt Racing’s transition: Hauger’s arrival, Ferrucci’s future, and the Pierson waiting game
More from
BMW Motorsport
Toyota: BMW has advantage in Barcelona WEC after private test
WEC
WEC
Barcelona
11 h
Toyota: BMW has advantage in Barcelona WEC after private test
#20 BMW’s title bid derailed by two Ferrari clashes at Fuji: “It’s s**t”
WEC
WEC
Fuji
#20 BMW’s title bid derailed by two Ferrari clashes at Fuji: “It’s s**t”
BMW explains why it’s not interested in F1 entry
Formula 1
Formula 1
Dutch GP
BMW explains why it’s not interested in F1 entry
Latest news
Daniel Suarez confirms Spire return for 2027 NASCAR Cup season
NASCAR Cup
NAS NASCAR Cup
Charlotte II
2 min
Daniel Suarez confirms Spire return for 2027 NASCAR Cup season
Spy shots of 2027 NASCAR Ford Mustang testing at Charlotte, but what's different?
NASCAR Cup
NAS NASCAR Cup
Charlotte II
3 h
Spy shots of 2027 NASCAR Ford Mustang testing at Charlotte, but what's different?
Five key takeaways from F1's big African Grand Prix reveal in Rwanda
Formula 1
F1 Formula 1 3 h
Five key takeaways from F1's big African Grand Prix reveal in Rwanda
Niels Koolen makes switch to Abel Motorsports ahead of 2027 Indy NXT campaign
Indy NXT
IndL Indy NXT 5 h
Niels Koolen makes switch to Abel Motorsports ahead of 2027 Indy NXT campaign
Subscribe and access Motorsport.com with your ad-blocker.
From Formula 1 to MotoGP we report straight from the paddock because we love our sport, just like you. In order to keep delivering our expert journalism, our website uses advertising. Still, we want to give you the opportunity to enjoy an ad-free and tracker-free website and to continue using your adblocker.
You have 2 options:
- Become a subscriber.
- Disable your adblocker.
Subscribe now Already subscribed? Sign in here
Already disabled your adblocker?
Reload page
Manage Alerts
Subscribe