Breaking news
WEC
BMW M8 GTE completes three-day Lausitz test
The BMW M8 GTE completed its first proper track test at the Lausitzring last week, the German marque revealing the first images of its 2018 FIA World Endurance Championship contender in action.
Jamie Klein
Edited: Jul 20, 2017, 9:51 AM
Copy link
Share on Viber
It was announced in May that the 'M' version of the upcoming 8-Series road car would form the basis for BMW's new GTE challenger, which will race in the IMSA WeatherTech SportsCar Championship as well as WEC next season.
Following an initial roll-out on July 1 at BMW's Dingolfing plant near Munich, factory drivers Martin Tomczyk and Maxime Martin shared driving duties during last week's Lausitz test.
Former DTM racer Tomczyk was full of praise for the M8, describing it as "great fun" to drive.
“Firstly, I feel very honoured to have been able to drive at the first real test of the BMW M8 GTE on the racetrack,” said the German. “I had great fun with the car.
"The BMW M8 GTE is good to drive from the outset, and it is easy for us drivers to work out the way it handles, which is important. We got a lot of kilometres under our belt, and gathered a lot of data.
"We also took our first steps with regard to performance, which is by no means a given at a first test.
"We will obviously work more intensively on that at the coming tests, and will build on the strong basis we established here at the Lausitzring.”
The M8 GTE is scheduled to make its race debut in the 2018 Daytona 24 Hours, and will undergo more tests in both Europe and North America throughout the remainder of 2017.
BMW motorsport boss Jens Marquardt said: “To see the BMW M8 GTE on the racetrack makes me very proud. Everyone involved has done a magnificent job in recent months to allow us to reach this milestone in the development of our new flagship for the GT racing scene.
“In the first instance, the purpose of a test like this is obviously to get to know the car. In this regard, greater emphasis is placed on the safety aspect than performance.
"However, the first impression of the BMW M8 GTE out on the track is a very positive one.”
Martin Tomczyk, BMW M8 GTE
Photo by: BMW AG
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 Toyota bullish on WEC title chances despite Nurburgring defeat
Next article Aston Martin keeps Vantage name for 2018 GTE car
Top Comments
There are no comments at the moment. Would you like to write one?
View More & Comment
More from
Jamie Klein
Super Formula Fuji: Ayumu Iwasa wins as Kakunoshin Ohta misses chance to seal title
Super Formula
Super Formula
Fuji II
Super Formula Fuji: Ayumu Iwasa wins as Kakunoshin Ohta misses chance to seal title
Super Formula Fuji: Igor Fraga wins while Kakunoshin Ohta closes on title
Super Formula
Super Formula
Fuji II
Super Formula Fuji: Igor Fraga wins while Kakunoshin Ohta closes on title
More from
Maxime Martin
Rossi team-mate Maxime Martin leaves BMW for new challenges
WEC
WEC
Rossi team-mate Maxime Martin leaves BMW for new challenges
Valentino Rossi's team-mates revealed for BMW WEC and GTWCE campaigns
WEC
WEC
Losail
Valentino Rossi's team-mates revealed for BMW WEC and GTWCE campaigns
"Perfect job" from Rossi secured first GTWCE podium - Martin
GT World Challenge Europe Sprint
GT World Challenge Europe Sprint
Brands Hatch
"Perfect job" from Rossi secured first GTWCE podium - Martin
More from
BMW Team MTEK
BoP change meant Aston Martin was just "driving round"
WEC
WEC
24 Hours of Le Mans
BoP change meant Aston Martin was just "driving round"
MTEK expects new project from BMW after WEC exit
WEC
WEC
MTEK expects new project from BMW after WEC exit
BMW leaving WEC after one season would be "a shame"
WEC
WEC
BMW leaving WEC after one season would be "a shame"
Latest news
WEC: Barcelona 6 Hours schedule and TV times
WEC
WEC WEC
Barcelona
11 min
WEC: Barcelona 6 Hours schedule and TV times
Brennan Poole joins Jordan Anderson Racing for 2027 NASCAR O'Reilly season
NASCAR O'Reilly
NOAP NASCAR O'Reilly
Phoenix II
1 h
Brennan Poole joins Jordan Anderson Racing for 2027 NASCAR O'Reilly season
Kaden Honeycutt wins incident-free Phoenix NASCAR Truck race, extends points lead
NASCAR Truck
NSTR NASCAR Truck
Phoenix
5 h
Kaden Honeycutt wins incident-free Phoenix NASCAR Truck race, extends points lead
GTA VI 'Vice City' blimp to appear at NASCAR championship weekend
NASCAR Cup
NAS NASCAR Cup
Phoenix II
10 h
GTA VI 'Vice City' blimp to appear at NASCAR championship weekend
Feature
Discover prime content
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