As we head north to Elkhart Lake and the storied tarmac of Road America, BMW’s racing story is poised to take a sharp turn. For fans, this weekend isn’t just another chapter in IMSA’s 2025 season, it’s one of the last times we’ll see BMW Team RLL take to the track under the Rahal Letterman Lanigan Racing banner. After nearly 20 years together, BMW and RLL are parting ways at the end of this season, marking the end of one of the most successful and enduring relationships in American motorsport.
RLL’s connection with BMW began back in 2009 and quickly became synonymous with both success and consistency in the American Le Mans Series, and later IMSA. From the screaming M3 GT2s of the early 2010s to the fire-breathing M8 GTE and now the hybrid M Hybrid V8 prototype, RLL has been the face of BMW Motorsport in North America. Together, they’ve racked up wins at legendary venues like Sebring, Daytona, and Laguna Seca. But more than just wins, RLL helped solidify BMW’s identity in North American endurance racing, bringing precision, performance, and a bit of Bavarian attitude to every paddock they entered.
But times are changing, and so is BMW’s global motorsport strategy. While nothing has been officially confirmed, Belgian powerhouse WRT is expected to expand its racing program to include IMSA next year through a new partnership with BMW in North America. WRT already runs BMW’s FIA World Endurance Championship (WEC) campaign, including the recent return to Le Mans, and this potential move would align BMW’s factory racing efforts under a single team on both sides of the Atlantic.
From a strategic standpoint, unifying operations under WRT makes sense. It allows BMW to streamline development, pool resources, and leverage data across WEC and IMSA, arguably accelerating performance gains and giving the M Hybrid V8 a competitive edge in both series. But it also means the end of an era for American BMW fans, who have grown accustomed to the familiar faces and approach of Bobby Rahal’s team.
In the official statement, BMW Motorsport head Andreas Roos praised RLL’s long-standing partnership and their role in shaping BMW’s racing legacy stateside. “The collaboration has been marked by tremendous successes and iconic moments,” Roos said. “We are grateful to RLL for their passion and professionalism.”
RLL, for its part, isn’t going anywhere. The team has expressed interest in exploring other manufacturer partnerships and possibly shifting focus to different series. Given their pedigree and experience, it’s hard to imagine them not being a force wherever they go.
Road America
August 3 – 6, 2023
So as we prep for a weekend at Road America, a track that feels like home turf for BMW in the Midwest, the mood is a mix of anticipation and nostalgia. We’ll be watching the M Hybrid V8 race down the Kettle Bottoms and into Canada Corner, knowing that this chapter is closing. But if BMW and WRT’s WEC campaign is any indication, there’s plenty of excitement ahead.
For now, though, we’re savoring the end of an era. See you at Road America.