This weekend we'll see a whole new crop of racing machinery line up for the start of the 24 Hours of Daytona, including the new BMW M6 GTLM. So far we've only seen it in flat black, but now the Bavarian automaker has revealed two special liveries for the two cars it will be fielding in the race this weekend.
The number 25 car features a throwback livery that reinterprets BMW's classic racing stripes of red, dark blue, and light blue over white bodywork. It's designed to be reminiscent of – and even features images of – legendary racing machinery from the Roundel marque's history. Those include the 3.0 CSL that wore the same number when it took the company's first win in the US at Sebring in 1975, the M1 sports car from the early 1980s, the V12 LMR that scored BMW's only Le Mans victory to date in 1999, and the M3 GT that dominated the American Le Mans Series in 2011. The second car features a more futuristic livery, wearing the number 100 to mark the automaker's centenary and a multicolor lattice design applied with a luminescent 3D-effect reflective vinyl on a white body.
They'll both be fielded by BMW Team RLL, a partnership between the manufacturer and Rahal Letterman Lanigan Racing (of Indy fame), which took a class win at Laguna Seca last year. The new M6 GTLM replaces the previous Z4 GTLM and will proliferate across racing grids in motorsport series around the world following its race debut this weekend. But it won't be the only new piece of racing kit turning a wheel in anger for the first time at Daytona; the new Ford GT and Ferrari 488 GTE will be competing in the GT Le Mans class alongside proven competition machinery.
The number 25 car features a throwback livery that reinterprets BMW's classic racing stripes of red, dark blue, and light blue over white bodywork. It's designed to be reminiscent of – and even features images of – legendary racing machinery from the Roundel marque's history. Those include the 3.0 CSL that wore the same number when it took the company's first win in the US at Sebring in 1975, the M1 sports car from the early 1980s, the V12 LMR that scored BMW's only Le Mans victory to date in 1999, and the M3 GT that dominated the American Le Mans Series in 2011. The second car features a more futuristic livery, wearing the number 100 to mark the automaker's centenary and a multicolor lattice design applied with a luminescent 3D-effect reflective vinyl on a white body.
They'll both be fielded by BMW Team RLL, a partnership between the manufacturer and Rahal Letterman Lanigan Racing (of Indy fame), which took a class win at Laguna Seca last year. The new M6 GTLM replaces the previous Z4 GTLM and will proliferate across racing grids in motorsport series around the world following its race debut this weekend. But it won't be the only new piece of racing kit turning a wheel in anger for the first time at Daytona; the new Ford GT and Ferrari 488 GTE will be competing in the GT Le Mans class alongside proven competition machinery.
BMW Team RLL reveals 100th anniversary livery for the BMW M6 GTLM race cars in Daytona.
Daytona (US), 27th January 2016. BMW Team RLL today revealed two commemorative 100th anniversary liveries for the new BMW M6 GTLM race cars, with which Bobby Rahal's (US) team will compete in the 24 Hours of Daytona (US). The race forms the first round of the 2016 IMSA WeatherTech SportsCar Championship (IWSC). The number 25 car sports a look reminiscent of the iconic BMW 3.0 CSL, which contested its first season of racing in North America back in 1975 and claimed the first victory in Daytona 40 years ago. The second BMW M6 GTLM will race with the number 100. To mark BMW's 100th anniversary this year, its livery looks to the future.
"The first highlight of the year, the 24 Hours of Daytona, is just around the corner – and today's unveiling was the perfect way to warm up for the race debuts of the BMW M6 GTLM and BMW M6 GT3," said BMW Motorsport Director Jens Marquardt. "The start of the IWSC season also marks the beginning of a year of special anniversaries. I hope the fans like the special liveries on our BMW M6 GTLMs to mark the centenary of BMW and our successful history of motor racing in North America. After many months of intense test and development work, we and our teams are really looking forward to the first race outing in Daytona. We know that we face a real test of endurance first up. However, we are only too happy to face this challenge and feel we are well prepared."
The livery on the number 25 BMW M6 GTLM reflects four icons from throughout the history of BMW Motorsport. The first car was the famous number 25 BMW 3.0 CSL that gave BMW its first major US race win at the 12 Hours of Sebring (US) in 1975. The second is an image of the BMW M1 from 1980 and 1981. In addition to a successful racing history, the BMW M1 is significant as the first of the sports cars developed independently by BMW Motorsport GmbH.
The third is an image of the successful BMW V12 LMR that won the endurance classics in Le Mans (FR) and Sebring in 1999. The BMW V12 LMR was without a doubt one of the most advanced sport prototype race cars of its day. Finally, the fourth car depicted is the BMW M3 GT from the 2011-12 seasons, which won every possible title in its class in the 2011 American Le Mans Series (ALMS).
The number 100 car features a striking lattice design. It creates a new type of 3D effect with reflective vinyl applied to the white body. Both cars will carry the commemorative liveries throughout the 2016 IMSA WeatherTech SportsCar Championship, starting with the 54th edition of the 24 Hours of Daytona.
Daytona (US), 27th January 2016. BMW Team RLL today revealed two commemorative 100th anniversary liveries for the new BMW M6 GTLM race cars, with which Bobby Rahal's (US) team will compete in the 24 Hours of Daytona (US). The race forms the first round of the 2016 IMSA WeatherTech SportsCar Championship (IWSC). The number 25 car sports a look reminiscent of the iconic BMW 3.0 CSL, which contested its first season of racing in North America back in 1975 and claimed the first victory in Daytona 40 years ago. The second BMW M6 GTLM will race with the number 100. To mark BMW's 100th anniversary this year, its livery looks to the future.
"The first highlight of the year, the 24 Hours of Daytona, is just around the corner – and today's unveiling was the perfect way to warm up for the race debuts of the BMW M6 GTLM and BMW M6 GT3," said BMW Motorsport Director Jens Marquardt. "The start of the IWSC season also marks the beginning of a year of special anniversaries. I hope the fans like the special liveries on our BMW M6 GTLMs to mark the centenary of BMW and our successful history of motor racing in North America. After many months of intense test and development work, we and our teams are really looking forward to the first race outing in Daytona. We know that we face a real test of endurance first up. However, we are only too happy to face this challenge and feel we are well prepared."
The livery on the number 25 BMW M6 GTLM reflects four icons from throughout the history of BMW Motorsport. The first car was the famous number 25 BMW 3.0 CSL that gave BMW its first major US race win at the 12 Hours of Sebring (US) in 1975. The second is an image of the BMW M1 from 1980 and 1981. In addition to a successful racing history, the BMW M1 is significant as the first of the sports cars developed independently by BMW Motorsport GmbH.
The third is an image of the successful BMW V12 LMR that won the endurance classics in Le Mans (FR) and Sebring in 1999. The BMW V12 LMR was without a doubt one of the most advanced sport prototype race cars of its day. Finally, the fourth car depicted is the BMW M3 GT from the 2011-12 seasons, which won every possible title in its class in the 2011 American Le Mans Series (ALMS).
The number 100 car features a striking lattice design. It creates a new type of 3D effect with reflective vinyl applied to the white body. Both cars will carry the commemorative liveries throughout the 2016 IMSA WeatherTech SportsCar Championship, starting with the 54th edition of the 24 Hours of Daytona.
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Featured Gallery BMW M6 GTLM: Daytona Livery
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