All 34 cars in the two GTE classes at this year’s 24 Hours of Le Mans will race with Michelin. Michelin Racing USA will take a look at all six manufacturers entered and their lineups. Here is a look at BMW, which signs off its two-year run in the FIA World Endurance Championship this week.

BMW

Quick overview: A year ago, BMW was preparing for its Le Mans return for the first time in seven years. Now, the manufacturer has announced plans to leave the WEC when the checkered flag drops on this year’s race as it reorganizes its motorsport strategy. A single podium at Sebring is all the BMW Team MTEK squad has to show results-wise in the first year for the M8 GTE in WEC.

Changes from 2018: The car that became an internet meme last year as “the big M8” when battling the shorter Ford GT will run slightly heavier in 2019. There’s also one change in the driver lineup with BMW Team RLL IMSA driver Jesse Krohn set for his Le Mans debut, replacing BMW Formula E driver Alexander Sims.

Test day recap: The two BMW M8 GTEs ended 16th and 17th on the day, with 172 laps completed between them.

Quotes of note:

Jens Marquardt, BMW Group Motorsport Director: “We will not compete in WEC going forward. Therefore, the 24 Hours of Le Mans in June will be another highlight for us in drawing to a close – just like in 2018, when we celebrated the successful world premiere of the BMW 8 Series Coupe there.”

2019 LINEUP

81 Martin Tomczyk/Nick Catsburg/Philipp Eng
82 Antonio Felix da Costa/Augusto Farfus/Jesse Krohn

2018 GTE-PRO RESULTS

81 Martin Tomczyk/Nick Catsburg/Philipp Eng, 11th GTE Pro
82 Antonio Felix da Costa/Augusto Farfus/Alexander Sims, 16th GTE Pro