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The new flagship from BMW M Motorsport has passed the endurance test in the desert. Following test races last season and successful FIA homologation, the 24H Dubai (UAE) from Friday to Saturday marked the first race appearance for the new BMW M4 GT3 in the hands of BMW M Motorsport teams. ST Racing and Schubert Motorsport competed with a total of three BMW M4 GT3s at the season-opener in the 24H Series. After 24 hours of racing featuring numerous Code 60 periods and a sandstorm on Saturday morning, all three cars reached the finish line on their racing debut.
ST Racing secured ninth place with the #28 BMW M4 GT3 in the top category, the GT3 class. The car was driven by Jon Miller (USA), Nick Wittmer (CAN), Louis-Philippe Montour (CAN) and Chandler Hull (USA). Schubert Motorsport suffered a setback early in the race when the #30 BMW M4 GT3 was damaged after contact from another competitor. The subsequent long repair break saw the #30 fall way back. After 24 hours, BMW M works driver Nick Yelloly (GBR), Jordan Witt (GBR), Marcel Lenerz (GER) and Jens Liebhauser (GER) crossed the line tenth in the GT3 class.
The #1 car from ST Racing, competing in the Pro-Am class, was the best-placed BMW M4 GT3 in the field for a large part of the race and was on course for a podium in its class. However, a technical problem then cost the car positions, although it was possible to carry out repairs. The #1, driven by Samantha Tan (CAN), Bryson Morris, Anthony Lazzaro, Harry Gottsacker and Tyler Maxson (all USA), then finished fifth in the Pro-Am class.
The next highlight for the BMW M4 GT3 is scheduled to take place in two weeks in North America. At the season-opener in the IMSA WeatherTech SportsCar Championship (IMSA series), the legendary 24 Hours of Daytona (USA), BMW M Team RLL and Turner Motorsport will be competing with the new GT car.
BMW M Motorsport teams were also competing in Dubai with the BMW M4 GT4 and the BMW M2 CS Racing. They secured multiple podium finishes in their categories. The RHC Jorgensen-Strom by Century team reached third place on the rostrum with the #450 BMW M4 GT4 in the GT4 class. The #429 of Century Motorsport and the #451 from Team AVIA Sorg Rennsport were right behind in fourth and fifth positions. In the TCX category, Cogemo/TLRT finished second with the #255 BMW M2 CS Racing, ahead of Yeeti Racing with the #208 BMW M2 CS Racing in third position. Schubert Motorsport claimed sixth place in the same class with the #200 BMW M2 CS Racing.