Le Mans. The BMW Motorrad World Endurance Team kicked off the FIM Endurance World Championship 2023 (FIM EWC) with a podium finish. Markus Reiterberger (GER), Ilya Mikhalchik (UKR) and Jérémy Guarnoni (FRA) claimed third place at the opening event, the legendary 24 Hours of Le Mans (FRA). This was also the first podium for the new #37 BMW M 1000 RR in its first race. Mikhalchik also posted the fastest lap time, 1:35.751 minutes. The newly-formed Tecmas-MRP-BMW Racing Team enjoyed a perfect debut, claiming victory in the Superstock class.
Having endured difficult, changeable conditions during qualifying, the BMW Motorrad World Endurance Team began the 24-hour race from eighth place. It took just 90 minutes for the #37 BMW M 1000 RR to reach second and Reiterberger, Mikhalchik and Guarnoni battled for the lead as the hours ticked by.
However, the BMW Motorrad World Endurance Team had to overcome a setback in the eighth hour of the race. Mikhalchik slid as he was overtaking a slower rider and had to head for the pits with a damaged motorbike. The team gave a fantastic collective performance to repair the bike, returning Mikhalchik to the track after just seven and a half minutes. The trio on the #37 then mounted a recovery performance from seventh position.
As the race progressed, the BMW Motorrad World Endurance Team stood up to the harsh conditions, overcoming very cold temperatures and early morning fog to move up place by place. On Sunday morning, in the 19th hour of the race, the #37 BMW M 1000 RR was back in third and on course for the podium. Mikhalchik, Reiterberger and Guarnoni held that position to the finish line.
Kenny Foray (FRA), Jan Bühn (GER) and Loïc Arbel (FRA) were riding the new #9 BMW M 1000 RR for the newly-formed Tecmas-MRP-BMW Racing Team. Supported by BMW Motorrad Motorsport, the French team started its first race from second place in the Superstock class. The class lead was claimed early on and was only surrendered rarely, and briefly, as the race progressed. The Tecmas-MRP-BMW Racing Team was able to celebrate a debut class victory. In the overall standings, the team claimed an outstanding eighth place.
The privateer Team LRP Poland (#90 BMW S 1000 RR) took a not-at-fault tumble due to an oil slick on Sunday morning, returning to the race after a break for repairs. Dominik Vincon (GER), Pepijn Bijsterbosch (NED) and Julian Puffe (GER) reached the finish line in 15th place overall, corresponding to eleventh in the Formula-EWC class. The #74 BMW S 1000 RR from the Seigneur Motorsport Team Mont-Blanc, with William Wallart, Christophe Seigneur and Joachim Delaforce (all FRA) at the controls, reached 29th place overall and 17th in the Superstock class.
The second race event in the FIM EWC 2023 will take place on 17th/18th June, the 24 HEURES SPA Motos in Spa-Francorchamps (BEL), where the BMW Motorrad World Endurance Team last year celebrated its first win in a 24-hour race.
