BMW's history at Le Mans has had its fair share of strong and diverse personalities: preivous 24 Hours winners, an auctioneer keen on contemporary art and the initiator of "Art Cars," royalty and even a rock star. Here is a gallery of ten portrait studies.

- Though Yannick Dalmas is the only driver in the history of the 24 Hours of Le Mans to have racked up four wins at the wheel of four different cars, two of them were achieved with the 6-liter V12 engine powering the McLaren F1 GTR (1995) and BMW V12 LMR prototype (1999).

- Before the start of the 1999 24 Hours, there were three previous Le Mans winners among the six drivers of the two BMW V12 LMRs: Yannick Dalmas (1992, 1994 and 1995), J.J. Lehto (1995) and Tom Kristensen (1997). Pierluigi Martini and Joachim Winkelhock - Yannick Dalmas' two teammates - won their sole victory at the 24 Hours at his side.

- In addition to Yannick Dalmas, J.J. Lehto, Tom Kristensen, Pierluigi Martini and Joachim Winkelhock, other Le Mans winners have taken the wheel of a BMW at the 24 Hours: Jean Guichet, Chris Amon and Didier Pironi.

- The winner with Ferrari in 1964 and "dean" of previous victors (he celebrated his 90th birthday on August 10, 2017), in 1975 French driver Jean Guichet participated in his final 24 Hours of Le Mans at the wheel of the first BMW "Art Car" decorated by Alexander Calder. His teammates were fellow countryman Hervé Poulain (initiator of the "Art Cars") and American driver Sam Posey.

- The winner in 1999, Joachim Winkelhock, was the younger brother of Manfred (1951-1985) who finished sixth at the 1979 24 Hours of Le Mans at the wheel of the BMW M1 "Art Car" decorated by Andy Warhol.

- Among the VIPs to have driven the BMW M1 at the 24 Hours of Le Mans figures Nick Mason, drummer with the band Pink Floyd and an eminent collector, as well as HRH Prince Leopold, a direct descendant of the Royal Family of Bavaria and also of Franz Joseph, the Emperor of Austria-Hungary. Prince Max zu Schaumburg-Lippe finished fifth in 1939 at the wheel of the 328.

- The winner in 1986 and 1987 and holder of the Le Mans pole position record from 1985 to 2016 with Porsche, Hans-Joachim Stuck drove a BMW four times at the 24 Hours, namely for his last participation in 1998. In the rainy 1980 edition of the 24 Hours, he created a sensation early in the race at the wheel of the M1: having started from 23rd position on the grid, he climbed to third position during the first three hours.

- Among the drivers of the BMW fielded for the marque's return at the 1972 24 Hours of Le Mans figures the German Hans Heyer. A major player in the world of touring cars, he would go on to compete as a factory Lancia driver in Group C prototypes during the 1980s. He was easily recognizable in the paddock by the traditional hat he routinely donned.

- Of the seven drivers announced by BMW for the 2018/2019 Super Season of the World Endurance Championship (FIA WEC) and the next two editions of the 24 Hours, three of them have already competed at Le Mans: Philipp Eng, Alexander Sims and Augusto Farfus. Farfus is the only driver to have hit the track for BMW's two participations in the 24 Hours in 2010 and 2011.

-Three-time WTCC World Champion (former FIA World Touring Car Championship) with the Bavarian marque, British driver Andy Priaulx participated in his first 24 Hours in 2010 at the wheel of the M3 "Art Car" decorated by Jeff Koons. Third in the LMGTE Pro class in 2011, today he is a factory Ford driver who claimed the second step on the class podium in 2017.

 

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

BMW at the 24 Hours of Le Mans (3) - 1999...and other wins

 

PHOTO (Copyright - Archives/ACO): Winner at the 24 Hours of Le Mans for his very first participation in 1997, Tom Kristensen competed as a factory BMW driver at the race in 1998 (pictured here) and 1999, before joining Audi.