BMW puts the BMW M Hybrid V8 through intensive testing at the Circuit de Barcelona-Catalunya, gaining experience in all weathers
BMW spent a complete working week at the Circuit de Barcelona-Catalunya. From Monday to Friday, the M Hybrid V8 tested on the Grand Prix circuit just outside the metropolis with its millions of inhabitants.
Sheldon van der Linde, Augusto Farfus, Marco Wittmann and Nick Yelloly divided the test work between them. They drove in all conditions, as there were heavy storms in the east of the Iberian peninsula during the week.
According to BMW, the five days were devoted to functional tests of the various systems, performance work and the elimination of minor technical teething troubles. How many kilometres the car has done since its shakedown in Varano de Melegari (the home track of chassis partner Dallara) at the end of July is not disclosed.
According to ‘Sportscar365’, after the shakedown at Varano near Parma, BMW went to the similar sounding Autodromo di Vairano, 140 kilometres away, south of Milan, for further testing.
This is said to have included BMW juniors Dan Harper, Max Hesse and Neil Verhagen. Connor de Phillippi was the eighth driver to take the wheel during the shakedown.
BMW is in a hasty testing programme as the test chassis will soon be shipped to the USA so that the entry team Rahal Letterman Lanigan (RLL) can concentrate on its entry in the GTP class of the 2023 IMSA Sportscar Championship.
From 2024, the bolide will then also be used in the World Endurance Championship (WEC). These entries will be made by Team WRT.
