The 2024 24 Hours promises to be a nail-biter! BMW is back, and we have not seen the head category this packed in 25 years. The German marque has developed a new prototype, the M Hybrid V8, with the goal of repeating its 1999 triumph over Toyota, Mercedes, Nissan, Chrysler and Audi. Yannick Dalmas/Joachim Winkelhock/Pierluigi Martini won the unforgettable race at the wheel of the #15 BMW V12 LMR.

BMW has joined forces with Belgian outfit Team WRT owned by Vincent Vosse: We were in contact quite early on, but they didn't yet know if they were going to enter two cars in the World Championship. It's good for us to be associated with a manufacturer involved in both the Hypercar and LMGT3 categories. Team WRT has committed to the FIA WEC through 2026.

Is the German carmaker prepared to go the distance? Pierre Dieudonné (Team WRT): Absolutely. It's BMW's goal to return to the forefront. That's the plan for the coming years. We know the first year at Le Mans is always experimental. There are plenty of lessons to be learned from the unique nature of the 24 Hours of Le Mans circuit, and then return with higher ambitions.

BMW is placing its trust in young drivers. Dieudonné: As in all sports, tomorrow belongs to the youth. These drivers have extraordinary speed. Sure, there is a relative lack of experience, and though they've made a few mistakes this season, they will have matured by 2025 and will be very strong within two or three years. When you build a team with the objective of winning the 24 Hours of Le Mans, you have to make smart and bold choices like this.

Robin Frijns (#20 BMW M Hybrid V8): For me personally, I'm here to win as the whole team is here to win. We're not here to finish P7 or P12. But we need to be realistic of where we are. We have improved a lot. We have been quite strong, especially in the wet. The Dutch driver intends to take advantage of favourable conditions and seize the slightest opportunity to fight for the lead. We have a competitive car, so we can fight at the front.

The BMW Has Difficulty Getting Its Tyres to Warm Up. A Defect To Be Corrected.

Team WRT is getting to know the German prototype over the course of the season, focusing first on addressing weak points. For example, the team feels that after a long neutralisation under the safety car, it loses too much at the relaunch, and isn't as successful as fellow competitors at warming its tyres, particularly Porsche and Ferrari. The problem is not an easy fix.

Highly anticipated MotoGP star Valentino Rossi was given a hero's welcome at Scrutineering: I've always wanted to compete on four wheels after doing moto. We hope to be fast with the #46. Nighttime and the forest are going to be magical and new to me. Everyone has been mentioning the Parade, so that will also be a highlight. I hope to run the BMW Hypercar as fast as possible, but that probably won't happen until the end of the season at Bahrain.

Vosse: This is [Rossi's] third season with the team, so we know each other very well. He is an extraordinary person. A true GOAT, a living legend driven to be competitive. He takes care of everyone within the team, knows everyone's first name. He's a super endearing and hard-working guy.

Augusto Farfus is the oldest member of BMW's driver line-ups in LMGT3 (#31 BMW M4 LMGT3). Experienced and extremely fast, the Brazilian feels confident heading into the 92nd 24 Hours. We are second in the championship. We are having a very strong run, and now we are here. I think we've shown we have a very strong line-up, very competitive. So, let's try to keep the momentum. I think the car is competitive. Let's hope this year we can convert this into a great result! 

The action on the track starts at 16:00 (GMT+2) on Saturday 15 June. The battle of the manufacturers will serve as the theme of that night's show at 23:30 with the Synapson duo performing with immersive sound and light, pyrotechnics, drones and video.

Did You Know?

The #15 was given this racing number as a tribute to the 1999 winner.

The #20 is the latest in a line of 20 BMW Art Cars. Take a look!