BMW’s Unlucky 2024 IMSA Season EXPLAINED

BMW have been enduring a difficult 2024 season in IMSA GTP. Together with Team RLL, the German auto-manufacturer has struggled to achieve successful results with the M Hybrid V8. 7 rounds into the season, BMW has yet to secure a podium finish and compared to last year things haven't gone great. So in this video I will analyze BMW's unlucky 2024 season and breakdown each race to determine their struggles.
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[@GamezGuru1]

more than bad luck, their drivers haven't performed, making multiple errors - the 'cars' don't go off or crash, the drivers are crashing them! I wanna support them being such a big BMW fan, but their driver lineup is just inadequate for a works outfit... Even the Le Mans entry was partly Vanthoor's fault, for trying so hard not to be lapped.

[@FormulaJonah]

I do agree. Unfortunately there has been a lot of driver mistakes this season as I pointed out in the Laguna Seca, Detroit, Watkins Glen, and so on subjects. Hopefully things only go uphill from here when it comes to BMW’s GTP results

[@Coporfo]

I disagree with you. This is mainly a car issue. Even the very best drivers are making mistakes because the car is so unpredictable to drive closer to its limit. You will never convince me that Nick Yelloly, Dries Vanthoor, Robin Frinjs or Marco Witmann are bad drivers. If you're a driver, you either drive at a reduced pace, or push a bit more. M Hybrid clearly doesn't like to be pushed hard. We already heard some drivers complaining about the driveability, but BMW's attitude is to sit down and wait for BoP miracles. That's basically what the head of BMW Motorsport (Andreas Roos) said in a recent interview. They don't want to develop the car. Clearly that's not working and never will. As things stand, you can put Kobayashi in that car and nothing is gonna change.

[@SultanNizi3000GT]

​@@FormulaJonahBMW's Hypercar programme was straight up depressing. At least their M4 LMGT3 programme gave Manthey Racing a run for their money.

[@kevinwho.]

……Or maybe that is happening because they are pushing the limit to try and be competitive? You can’t convince me all these drivers, across the 2 championships, with all their accomplishments and experiences are all of a sudden bad when the common denominator is the lmdh they share

[@markhunt7434]

Hell frinjs & wittman spun at leman from a simple brake balance change that's how unstable the car is

[@azura_2437]

I hope next year's campaign for BMW goes well, we all win when every manufacturer is fighting for top step, keep up the great work.

[@FormulaJonah]

Can BMW find success by achieving a podium position in either of the final two IMSA rounds at Indianapolis or Road Atlanta? I for sure want the M Hybrid V8 to be on the podium both times!!

[@DustySticks]

I just don't know if they have the consistency with their drivers and the car while fast also seems very edgy.

[@offintheesses]

Feel like BMW's results haven't necessarily stemmed from bad luck but instead as a result of them not taking the same step forward and finding the performance gains that the other manufacturers have. Acura, Cadillac and Porsche (especially Porsche) have made huge strides from where they were performance wise at this point last year and it just doesn't look like BMW has improved at the same rate.

[@FormulaJonah]

I agree with you Stu!!

[@cascito]

Man I really want BMW M Hybrid V8s to finish podiums in both IMSA and WEC , this year has not been great for this car, I am hoping they will make a great comeback. I just don't want another Glickenhaus, quitting racing

[@koraxi8958]

Yes that is a reality that's never far off, for all teams. For BMW to pull out of GTP/LMH altogether would hurt IMSA more than it would WEC.

[@tespenkr9924]

Porsche: That one friend you can never beat in Mario Kart.

[@richleineweber7279]

Good video Jonah thank you. Ultimately I think the problems at BMW are Susanne Klatten and Stefan Quandt not caring about or willing to spend money on the program. I fear the BMW'S are going to be missing from the prototype grid soon, most likely end of 2025 season. If it's not a money investment in program issue, I would expect to see a IMSA team, driver changes and car updates for next year.

[@DeskRacerAlex]

This is a hard one to pinpoint. I'm leaning towards driver error but I can't ignore that the BMW is also struggling in WEC this year. The common denominator is the car.

[@koraxi8958]

I would agree. I'd also dare say because of the cars lack of performance, it means the drivers have to push even harder, to get some kind of modicum of competitiveness out of it. Which means more prone to making mistakes, perhaps the likes of which we've seen already.

[@Charles-jk5px]

Jonah, something tells me that this will require all interested parties to get together and sus these issues out. It will have to happen face to face in Munich at the end of the season. Both hypercar teams, management, drivers, engineers and mechanics... Everyone.

[@EdwinWhite-wz7kn]

The BMW Hybrid V8 needs more updates from mechanical to electronics. The drivers need to be more consistent as well.

[@BeauAckx]

Aside from everything mentioned in the video. The BMW seems to have great speed but it looks spiky which makes it easier to make a mistake

[@TheMrFishnDucks]

Very good video. Thank you for making more analysis and opinion style content. Looking forward to the next video. Keep up the good work.

[@chifurbr]

9:53 can't really say "through no fault of driver" when Dries tried his hardest to wreck the car twice before the contact with the Ferrari

[@FormulaJonah]

That particular incident though was deemed to be caused more by the 83 AF Corse Ferrari more so then the 15 WRT BMW

[@mattwhorlow9900]

Just speculation - but looks to me like the BMW's are slightly behind the other cars on pace - the drivers can make up the difference if they really push - but driving every lap like its a quali lap leads to more errors - hence all the crashes.

[@brucewayne1894]

I've said it before and I'll say it again, BMW seem to have a target painted on their back, or magnetic attraction towards the barriers. These cars have been rammed and/or crashed more times than I can remember. Too unlucky!

[@muhammadf1671]

We need more deep dive videos and driver ratings and team ratings

[@albertomegapro]

They're also being unlucky in the GTWC Endurance -Paul Ricard: They won with the #998, but the #32 and the #98 were in good positions when they had trouble, the #32 made contact with the #51 and they had to retire and the #98 had a mechanical issue -Spa: The #98 retired, the #998 had to pit in the last minutes while going P2 and the #46 just killed everyone, at least the #32 finished 3rd. -Nürburgring: The #46 received a penalty for an unsafe release in the qualy that ruined the #51, the #32 went to the pits while making contact with the #51 again and the #998 crashed at the start and finished 11th.

[@phantomracer7216]

It's been a terrible year so far!! I has been tough to watch as BMW fan. I will be attending LoneStar LeMans & 6hr of Indy. Let's hope for a good result during those events.

[@koraxi8958]

As much as I expect a bit more from the prestigious brand, team/drivers/car. Find it hard to scold BMW. Both entries compete in extremely competitve classes and demand high levels of professionalism and performance from all involved than I tend to give credit for. Like FJ said, this is simply an unlucky season. I we could see them potentially bounce back next year. No one is above making mistakes no matter how experienced.

[@Eagleracer38x]

The BMW really hasn't done well in WEC either... I know it's the first year in WEC with WRT. I'm hoping they figure things out soon.

[@Smoked_Cheddar]

I'm of the opinion the drivers are overdriving the car due lack of pace. Like there's not enough car, and they're trying to compensate through risky setup, risky moves or driving styles. Some of it is luck, but they were flat out left behind at Road America. I hope a review from top down is done. In the RACER mailbag, Marshall Pruett pointed out they had a change in team principle as well, so there's probably more than one thing going on.

[@effisjens1776]

What really rubs me as a fellow BMW fan is that the M hybrid's only win is via a technicality because of the Penske 963 having marginally more plank wear. Still, we've seen the car *can* do well. I'm sure there's driver error somewhere in all of this but maybe BMW's lack of prototype development experience has some impact ? The only "high downforce" machinery they were making before were the Class 1 cars. The rest is GT3 or GT4. As far as i am aware of/know from my memory, only Frijns, Dries, Maxime Martin, SVL, Witmann, sprengler and maybe marciello have had some racing experience in a high downforce car (Class 1 or LMP2). I think this really comes down to BMW and the teams more. Look at WRT especially where after their learning year with the M4 in '23, they're still behind the Rowe M4s whenever they race against them (allthough Rowe has 1 extra year of experience over them), and their 3 years of LMP2 experience doesn't seem to do much favors either... I genuinly hope the quirks get ironed out soon. I love the brand (even more as i supply parts for BMW dealers and WRT sometimes, in Belgium... Kinda fanboyed when i found out the latter 😅), i love the car and i know, and want, to see it do well! Not sure what it will take but i really hope we'll get there!

[@RConmyMind]

The car seems to be difficult to drive. Unusual that these expierienced drivers make so many errors.

[@kingjulian420]

Cadillac's unlucky hypercar program next? :P

[@cascito]

@@kingjulian420 Cadillac is doing great in IMSA , in WEC they are finishing in Top 5 , not in all the races , last year podium in 24 hours of Le Mans.

[@logannguyen1343]

BMW have also not have the best of luck on the WEC as well

[@mattylatvala43]

Crashing and having a bad car=unlucky

[@CobraFerrariFth]

It would be nice if they wins the 24h of Daytona next year

[@bjoerndn2]

Bad luck asides. The car has not the pace to fight for a podium finish on a regular basis. Especially in WEC.

[@Chemzborgor]

What's funny is BMW's m4 gt3 has been a very successful car, but their prototype drivers are having a hard time

[@markhunt7434]

Funnily enough the gt drivers are the same prototype drivers

[@camp9092]

Can racing team wrt entry to IMSA and replace racing team RLL?

[@asymsolutions]

TL;DR, BMW doesn't want to put the time and money in on development. My money is on their LMDh being the first LMDh to die out over the lifespan of GTP/LMH.

[@moraagp]

BMW have a great car, but I do believe that it’s the drivers that are constantly underperforming… Krohn, De Philippi… Come on, there are MANY good drivers in the market at the moment that could well make of that BMW a force to be reckoned with.

[@markhunt7434]

The car isn't that great(hell, even WRT is struggling with car)

[@moraagp]

@@markhunt7434 the last 2 races show how WRT have finally understood the car and that it can be decent, on the other hand, RLL is just not performing

[@markhunt7434]

​@moraagp yeah decent not great like u originally stated

[@dul.6281]

I love your channel, but i can't agree with le mans crash. It wasn't Ferraris fault. BMW didnt respect blue flags and pushed Kubica into GT car earlier.

[@danmaina7047]

[TLDR] Fix the M Hybrid V8 engine. [Long Post Alert] BMW put in a lackluster effort in building the M Hybrid V8. The Engine has a stroke of 73.6 mm but only revs to ~8k rpm which is on the lower side for that stroke in a race car. The other engine with a short stroke is the Lamborghini Hybrid V8 in WEC which is also struggling. The RPM limit is probably because of the hybrid IDK 🤷‍♂. BMW say they developed this engine from a DTM series Engine the P66, instead of developing a modern Engine like in the M4 GT3 which has always been competitive and very fast no matter the race track or luck. The M4 GT3 uses a P58 engine derived from an S58 with a stroke of 90mm which makes it one of the faster cars on the straights. In the cited Nürburgring 24 hours, despite the bad luck for the #99 ROWE Racing BMW, the #72 BMW was fighting for the lead with the winning Audi up until the red flag (That Battle Was Epic 😄) and ended up in P3 only because they had fewer pit stops than the Grello Porsche in P2. For most races the BMW M Hybrid V8 corner exit speed is greatly hampered as compared to other race cars which leaves drivers with only one option of overtaking, which is under braking as the car is inadequate in a straight line. Either rev this engine higher or change the internals. So the problem cannot be the drivers as some of them drive both race cars. Give the drivers a good car and a chance. If they still don't perform we can blame them. Sorry but the BMW M Hybrid V8 here is the problem.

[@JustmaybeIguess-ki9hs]

I got signatures from all four drivers to only see them kind suck. Still cheering for them but I ain’t surprised if they finish kinda poorly.

[@MotocrossRacingOnline]

WEC hasn't been that great either so far for them, sadly

[@albertomegapro]

Paw Patrol will be so happy (If you know what I mean)

[@user-xn3vj4eu8l]

I feel like RLL is not even a good team instead of bad luck

[@JOHANNESwhoelse]

Perhaps BMW performs better at home. It's time to resurrect the DRM!

[@EliasGydesen]

Hi

[@joesanchez979]

😢

[@samuelgt2811]

Their car has potential, but is being let down by both reliability and the drivers. While the reliability has been improved by rivals, BMW still has had problems that in the second year of the current regulations, is a setback. Should they be in the hunt for wins in future races (WEC included), one does have to wonder if the M Hybrid V8 will make it in one piece or falter. Of all the factory teams currently competing in IMSA's top class, Team RLL has the weakest driver line-up. Yes there's some quality drivers they have, but something just isn't clicking. For instance, all their drivers don't have that much prototype experience compared to rivals as aside from the WEC drivers who served as the endurance drivers this year. Their drivers have spent more time in GT machinery compared to prototypes and the driver errors that's been seen are reflected in that area. Had their drivers gotten experience of racing prototypes prior to last year, then the driver errors wouldn't be happening often. Should somebody like Jarvis and Derani be in the M Hybrid V8, then that would solve driving errors. Qualifying pace however, has improved compared to last year, but is still lacking in race trim. I can't see either car finishing on the podium in the final 2 rounds this year and it wouldn't be surprising that Proton beats one of the RLL cars in the final standings. As sportscar365 has reported, someone is getting dropped from the lineup after this season although if I were to guess who it would be, De Phillippi could be the one to be dropped as he's had the most driver errors in the lineup since the start of last year. You also have to ponder if Team RLL is the right team to lead the program for BMW based on the current situation going on. Should next year be just as embarrassing as this year is, BMW could replace RLL with a different team like Ganasi to run the program. Mazda did something similar 7 years ago when their poor 2017 campaign saw them replace Speedsource with Joest to run their DPi program for 2018. Results improved although reliability was still bad during that season, but the work Joest did turned Mazda's fortunes around and the final 3 seasons of the RT24-P reflected that. Ganassi could be a step up although should they go to the GT categories or pick up the rumored Hyundai program, BMW could be forced to stay with RLL or reconsider their options and have WRT run the IMSA cars instead.

[@bcsa]

BMW biggest issue is de Philippi. He crashes all the time.

[@MarTimator]

The car seems good, but the drivers need to stop driving like BMW road car drivers and it will get better

[@alexeiwheel4859]

well they won a 1-2 at Imola WEC race... jsut saying

[@ryanb9749]

Lol. BMW hasn't been lucky since 1999.

[@user-swvn3ti2d]

The BoP is also the problem

[@markhunt7434]

Ffs they had the best bop all year

[@user-swvn3ti2d]

@@markhunt7434 No Porsche get ever the best BoP

[@markhunt7434]

​@user-swvn3ti2d no porsche dont & u would know that if u weren't blinded by hate