BMW Team WRT will carry a largely unchanged driver roster into the first year of their dual WEC/IMSA programme.
The Belgian squad was awarded control of the IMSA GTP entries earlier this year, and will enforce only one driver change across the #24 and #25 M Hybrid V8s.
Dries Vanthoor remains in the #24 car, which he pedalled to four consecutive pole positions at the start of 2025, and will be joined by Sheldon van der Linde as the full-season duo – the South African completed his first full IMSA schedule aboard the #25 last year.
Going in the other direction is GTP race-winner Philipp Eng, who will partner Marco Wittmann in the #25 for the full season, the duo previously sharing a car during 2023 Endurance Cup events.
At the five Michelin Endurance Cup rounds in 2026, WEC-ace Robin Frijns joins the #24, with René Rast a fourth driver at Daytona, and full-time sportscar convert Kevin Magnussen completes the #25 with Raffaele Marciello the fourth for the Rolex 24.
WEC Squads unchanged for season four
BMW M Team WRT will run an unchanged six-driver squad for their team's fourth season in the FIA WEC's Hypercar class.
Dries Vanthoor, Raffaele Marciello and Kevin Magnussen will again share the #15, the trio had a promising start to 2025 but failed to score a point from the Le Mans 24 Hours onwards.
René Rast, Robin Frijns and Sheldon van der Linde return to the #20, the triplet finished second at the 6H Imola to tally the German marque's only Hypercar podium of the season.
Updated car, same target
The biggest change for BMW heading into 2026 is the significant revision of the M Hybrid V8 LMDh aerodynamics.
Revealed in August, there has been major work to the front end, seeing the kidney grilles reduced in an effort to improve performance across all track types and improve cooling. The new aero package follows updated brakes for the 2025 season.
The updated M Hybrid V8 made its first official test appearance at the IMSA-sanctioned Daytona event in November, with the new version running in both championships next year.
