BMW WEC: all eyes on, is it the favorite?

After analyzing the latest BoP adjustments (WEC BoP: Is Austin favorable for outsiders?) and considering the recent performances of the Bavarian team, BMW WEC Team could have a solid chance to shine — both in the Hypercar and LMGT3 classes.

We’ve already discussed how the BoP may be unfavorable for certain manufacturers in this Texas round of the WEC. Ferrari remains the most disadvantaged in terms of performance, with a weight of 1069kg (tied as the heaviest with Toyota) and the lowest power output — just 480kW available below 250 km/h.

The two cars that received the most penalties compared to the Brazil round are the Porsche 963 and the Cadillac V-Series, both of which had 12kg added to their minimum weight.

BMW WEC Hypercar

In the Hypercar class, BMW M Motorsport fields two BMW M Hybrid V8s with Team WRT, featuring top-tier driver lineups. Car #15 (Magnussen, Marciello, Vanthoor) and car #20 (Frijns, Rast, van der Linde). The 2025 season marks BMW’s second year in the WEC with this car, following a learning-focused 2024. Progress has been clear: at Imola, car #20 secured an impressive second place, showing strong pace and excellent strategy despite an early incident.

That said, competition remains intense — with Ferrari (499P) and Toyota (GR010) leading the charge, alongside Porsche, Cadillac, Peugeot, and Alpine. However, one key factor stands out: the BoP is likely to be more unfavorable for Ferrari, Cadillac, and Porsche this weekend, which could allow BMW to make a significant leap forward.

It’s also worth noting that BMW already appears to be shifting focus toward the 2026 WEC season, as evidenced by the recent unveiling of key upgrades for next year. You can find the major differences and updates here. New BMW M Hybrid V8 2026 presented.

The Circuit of the Americas (COTA) is a technical track that rewards aerodynamic efficiency and tire management. The BMW M Hybrid V8 has shown strong pace on similar circuits (e.g., Imola), and Team WRT has refined its race strategy. The drivers’ experience — with the addition of ex-F1 driver Kevin Magnussen and the consistency of René Rast and Raffaele Marciello — is a major advantage. If it happens, it would mark BMW’s first victory in the WEC since joining the championship.

LMGT3 class

In the LMGT3 category, BMW WEC M Team WRT fields two BMW M4 GT3 EVOs: the #46 driven by Valentino Rossi, Sheldon van der Linde, and Ahmad Al Harthy, and the #31 with Augusto Farfus, Timur Boguslavskiy, and Sam Shahin. At Imola, the #46 came close to victory, finishing second — a clear sign of the car and crew’s strong potential. Race by race, driver experience is growing, but so is the competition.

At São Paulo, we saw how Lexus — despite fielding the oldest car on the grid — managed to snatch a GT3 win thanks to a favorable BoP. The Akkodis ASP Lexus RC F LMGT3 (#87), driven by José María López, Clemens Schmid, and Petru Umbrărescu, secured Lexus’s first WEC win in this category. The car dominated the race, completing 216 laps and finishing with a gap of around 37.7 seconds over the runner-up.

The BMW M4 GT3 EVOs (#46 and #31) from WRT remain among the favorites for Austin, but Lexus — boosted by its recent win and the advantage of the new Goodyear tire (which will also be used at COTA) — poses a serious threat. The battle for LMGT3 victory at Austin is likely to be tightly contested between BMW, Lexus, Ferrari, Porsche, and Aston Martin, with Balance of Performance and race strategy playing a decisive role.

More race info on https://www.fiawec.com/