BMW M Team WRT concluded the 2023 season in the Intercontinental GT Challenge (IGTC) with another podium finish. At the Gulf 12 Hours in Abu Dhabi (UAE), the #46 BMW M4 GT3 fought for victory to the finish line. After twelve hours of racing on the Yas Marina Circuit, Valentino Rossi (ITA), Dries Vanthoor (BEL), and Nick Yelloly (GBR) secured second place with only a twelve-second gap.
The #32 BMW M4 GT3, driven by Philipp Eng (AUT), Sheldon van der Linde (RSA), and Charles Weerts (BEL), fell back in the field after the first third of the race due to an exhaust issue and finished in 14th place overall (ninth in IGTC ranking). In the IGTC manufacturer standings, BMW ended the season in second place, while in the driver standings, Vanthoor, Eng, and van der Linde secured positions three, four, and five.
From fourth place on the grid, Vanthoor in the #46 BMW M4 GT3 immediately moved up to third place after the start. Thanks to the strong performance of all three drivers and the team’s clever strategic work, the #46 car quickly joined the battle at the front. After seven and a half hours, Rossi took the lead at the end of a longer FCY (Full Course Yellow) and safety car period.
He maintained that position throughout his entire one-hour stint and handed over the #46 in the lead to Yelloly. However, a problem with the pedal box cost a few seconds during the pit stop, and car #46 slipped back to second place. In the remaining hours of the race, the crew continued to push and kept the fight for the win alive until the end.
The #32 BMW M4 GT3 was also promisingly positioned in the first third of the race. However, after four hours of racing, an issue with the exhaust necessitated a brief repair in the pit and car #32 returned to the track several laps behind. Eng, van der Linde, and Weerts then drove a smooth race, gaining positions again. However, the gap was too large to re-enter the fight for the top positions.
