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Daytona (US), 27th January 2016. BMW Team RLL today revealed two commemorative 100th anniversary liveries for the new BMW M6 GTLM race cars, with which Bobby Rahal’s (US) team will compete in the 24 Hours of Daytona (US). The race forms the first round of the 2016 IMSA WeatherTech SportsCar Championship (IWSC). The number 25 car sports a look reminiscent of the iconic BMW 3.0 CSL, which contested its first season of racing in North America back in 1975 and claimed the first victory in Daytona 40 years ago. The second BMW M6 GTLM will race with the number 100. To mark BMW’s 100th anniversary this year, its livery looks to the future.
“The first highlight of the year, the 24 Hours of Daytona, is just around the corner – and today’s unveiling was the perfect way to warm up for the race debuts of the BMW M6 GTLM and BMW M6 GT3,” said BMW Motorsport Director Jens Marquardt. “The start of the IWSC season also marks the beginning of a year of special anniversaries. I hope the fans like the special liveries on our BMW M6 GTLMs to mark the centenary of BMW and our successful history of motor racing in North America. After many months of intense test and development work, we and our teams are really looking forward to the first race outing in Daytona. We know that we face a real test of endurance first up. However, we are only too happy to face this challenge and feel we are well prepared.”
The livery on the number 25 BMW M6 GTLM reflects four icons from throughout the history of BMW Motorsport. The first car was the famous number 25 BMW 3.0 CSL that gave BMW its first major US race win at the 12 Hours of Sebring (US) in 1975. The second is an image of the BMW M1 from 1980 and 1981. In addition to a successful racing history, the BMW M1 is significant as the first of the sports cars developed independently by BMW Motorsport GmbH.
The third is an image of the successful BMW V12 LMR that won the endurance classics in Le Mans (FR) and Sebring in 1999. The BMW V12 LMR was without a doubt one of the most advanced sport prototype race cars of its day. Finally, the fourth car depicted is the BMW M3 GT from the 2011-12 seasons, which won every possible title in its class in the 2011 American Le Mans Series (ALMS).
The number 100 car features a striking lattice design. It creates a new type of 3D effect with reflective vinyl applied to the white body. Both cars will carry the commemorative liveries throughout the 2016 IMSA WeatherTech SportsCar Championship, starting with the 54th edition of the 24 Hours of Daytona.
