This year marks the first of a multi-year agreement that sees high-performance BMW M vehicles feature as the event’s official on-track cars.
BMW M additionally has significant on-track presence via branding at the iconic Forrest’s Elbow for the second year running, while a high-performance range of BMW M road cars from the M2 to the M5 Competition will be prominently exhibited throughout the weekend.
This includes static displays in the Bathurst 12 Hour Manufacturer Walk within Harris Park, as well as dynamic demonstrations and hot laps on Mount Panorama itself.
The announcement times with the return of BMW M Team WRT, which will again run a pair of BMW M4 GT3 entries and include among its driving squad MotoGP legend and now BMW factory driver, Valentino Rossi.
The BMW XM, which launched in 2023, is the first BMW M car with an electrified drive system and the first standalone model developed by BMW’s high-performance division since the M1 supercar of 1978.
Its plug-in hybrid drive system brings together a newly developed 4.4-litre M TwinPower V8 engine and electric motor to deliver 480kW and 800Nm.
The BMW XM shares a driveline concept with the BMW M Hybrid V8 race car that will compete in this year’s FIA World Endurance Championship including the 24 Hours of Le Mans.
Privately entered BMWs won the Bathurst 12 Hour in 2007 and 2010 while the iconic BMW Team Schnitzer scored the prestigious Allan Simonsen Pole Award in 2018.
“Our involvement with the Repco Bathurst 12 Hour as the official Safety Car partner complements the return of BMW M WRT race team to Mount Panorama, underlining BMW’s commitment to motorsport, high performance cars and the global significance of the Repco Bathurst 12 Hour,” said Alex McLean, General Manager of Marketing for BMW Australia.
“The new BMW XM is a key component of our new partnership and we look forward to featuring it in the 2024 edition of the event. As well as performing its important on-track duties, it will also act as a luxury transfer vehicle, transporting guests from the base of Mount Panorama to the summit and enabling them to enjoy multiple perspectives of the action.”
“BMW created a massive impact last year with the addition of BMW M Team WRT to the event and we are excited to announce a longer-term relationship with the brand commencing this year,” Repco Bathurst 12 Hour Event Director Shane Rudzis said.
“BMW has an incredible history at Mount Panorama dating back four decades and is one of the most successful brands in the history of the 12 Hour.
“Its involvement on and off track will go to another level this year and we are excited to work with one of the most renowned high performance automotive brands in the world in such a capacity.”
