Simple question, as I'm to lazy to search the internet.
Has BMW ever entered Le Mans - a) as manufacture or b) as a private/seperate team?
Also asked as I know very very little about Le Mans anyway, come I only being going since 1998.
Ye sthere were several BMW cars in the 80s.
If you need more info I'll look out the programs.
T.
Quote from: nopanic - neil on June 27, 2008, 10:59:20 PM
Simple question, as I'm to lazy to search the internet.
Has BMW ever entered Le Mans - a) as manufacture or b) as a private/seperate team?
Also asked as I know very very little about Le Mans anyway, come I only being going since 1998.
Hi Neil,
How about 1999. Flying Mercedes and Japanese driven Toyota might have been the highlights but BMW in front.
Canada Phil
They won the race in 1999. Really Neil, you need to take more notice of what goes on!
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/BMW_V12_LMR (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/BMW_V12_LMR)
BMW CSL (Batmobiles) were entered by factory teams in the mid 70's
http://www.racingsportscars.com/photo/1976/Le_Mans-1976-06-13-041.jpg (http://www.racingsportscars.com/photo/1976/Le_Mans-1976-06-13-041.jpg) (Image from RSC)
A couple of which will be running again in the classic.
The BMW M1, one of the best sounding cars was a mainstay of Grp B in the 80s
http://rupert8766.fotopic.net/p2767289.html (http://rupert8766.fotopic.net/p2767289.html)
In addition to the BMW LMR V12 the power for the McLaren F1 came from BMW and the BMW factory helped run the Fina cars.
I thought they also had a 675 class car in 2000..... Cant find the books now, but fairly sure. The chef loved the sound.
If you use this search facility on the ACO site, it gives you a list of all the BMWs entered since the race's inception (runs to four pages.)
http://www.lemans.org/24heuresdumans/pages/retro_historique_gb.html
Quote from: Robbo SPS on June 29, 2008, 01:30:29 AM
I thought they also had a 675 class car in 2000..... Cant find the books now, but fairly sure. The chef loved the sound.
From the search mentioned above:
24 Heures 2000 - Circuit : 13.605 km
BMW V12 LM N°15 Thomas Bscher Promotions
Technic :
Class : LMP 900
Weight : 948 kg
Engine : V12 BMW 5990 cm3
Tyres : Goodyear
Drivers :
Thomas Bscher
Jean Marc Gounon
Geoff Lees
No picture available
Results :
Race : Retirement :
Distance : 2448,9 km - 180 lap(s)
Boite de vitesses Qualifying : 21th
Time : 3'47"493
Average speed : 215,295 km/h
nearly right.... it was a 900 not 675 or so they were called then.
Quote from: Steve Pyro Brown on June 28, 2008, 12:17:48 AM
They won the race in 1999. Really Neil, you need to take more notice of what goes on!
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/BMW_V12_LMR (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/BMW_V12_LMR)
i was going to say they have won within the last 10 years
