In 1998, BMW moved into prototypes with the V12 LM. A name referring to the V12 engine that powers it, originally designed for the McLaren F1 GTR, victorious in 1995. Two cars were fielded, with at the wheel the driver line-ups of Tom Kristensen-Steve Soper-Hans Joachim Stuck (#1) and Johnny Cecotto-Pierluigi Martini-Joachim Winkelhock (#2).

After qualifying, the V12 LM of Cecotto-Martini-Winkelhock was the first prototype on a starting grid dominated by the Mercedes CLK LM, Toyota GT-One and Porsche 911 GT1, but Kristensen-Soper-Stuck were relegated to 12th position. The two cars were forced to retire early in the race, but the BMW V12 pulled off a respectable finish in fourth place, with the McLaren F1 GTR driven by Steve O'Rourke-Tim Sugden-Bill Auberlen.

For the 1999 season, BMW Motorsport overhauled its prototype from top to bottom, in close collaboration with Williams F1 and its technical director Patrick Head. For that new V12 LMR, the driver line-ups were also revamped. Pierluigi Martini and Joachim Winkelhock were joined by Yannick Dalmas (#15). In the second car (#17), Tom Kristensen welcomed two new teammates, the Finn J.J. Lehto and German driver Jörg Müller. Qualified in third (#17) and sixth (#15) positions, the two V12 LMRs trailed the Toyota GT-One and Mercedes CLR.

Marked by the presence of a plethora of manufacturers, all classes considered (BMW, Audi, Toyota, Mercedes, Nissan, Porsche and Chrysler), that 67th edition kicked off at the "pace of a Formula 1 Grand Prix" according to future winner Yannick Dalmas. The stunning flight of the Mercedes driven by Peter Dumbreck on Saturday night pulled the marque from the race, paving the way for BMW and Toyota's battle for victory, with as many as 15 leader changes.

The leader for a total of 17 hours (including 13 consecutive since Saturday 8:00 p.m.), the V12 LMR driven by Lehto-Kristensen-Müller had an incident on Sunday morning and was forced to retire with a block accelerator after leading 197 laps. Having followed a slower pace, the trio Dalmas-Martini-Winkelhock immediately slipped into the lead, chased within the same lap by the Toyota GT-One of Katayama-Suzuki-Tsuchiya. The Japanese car was delayed at the very end of the race by a flat tire, but did still claim the second step on the podium.

BMW reached the top step on the overall podium after a highly competitive 4,967-kilometer race under a clear and gorgeous sky. It was a success sweetened with the fifth place finish for a 1998 model private V12 LM driven by Thomas Bscher, Bill Auberlen and Steve Soper.

At the 24 Hours of Le Mans, the German manufacturer accumulated eight other class wins: 1939 (with the 328), 1973, 1974, 1976, 1977 (with the 3.0 CSL), 1975 (with the 2002), 1984 and 1985 (with the M1). Two additional victories went to the McLaren F1 GTR, overall in 1995 and in the GT1 class in 1997.

 

Click below for previous installments about BMW's history at the 24 Hours of Le Mans:

BMW at the 24 Hours of Le Mans (1) - Ten key dates

BMW at the 24 Hours of Le Mans (2) - Four groundbreaking GTs

 

PHOTO (Copyright - Archives/ACO): BMW largely dominated the 1999 24 Hours of Le Mans, culminating in the win for the V12 LMR (#15 pictured here) driven by Yannick Dalmas, Pierluigi Martini and Joachim Winkelhock.