24h Le Mans
2016 marks BMW’s 100th anniversary. The German motor giant is celebrating all year, with the next commemoration of Bayerische Motoren Werke’s history set to take place in the USA in August, featuring a number of cars seen at the 24 Hours of Le Mans.
The event will be held at the Laguna Seca Raceway from 18-21 August during the Monterey Motorsports Reunion, and is BMW’s largest centenary event outside Germany. The reunion is part of the Monterey Car Week, where BMW is this year’s featured marque. Sixty-four BMWs are entered in various races over the four days, with an array of models ranging from the 1937 328 edition to the BMW M3 GTR seen at the American Le Mans Series in 2001. Guests will also get to admire a 1935 BMW 315/1 Willis Special, along with models like the 320, CSL and M1.
With the event taking place in the States, it is only fitting that the BMW 3.0 CSL that raced to victory at the 12 Hours of Sebring in 1975 should be there. Drivers of that era include Brian Redman, Sam Posey, Hans-Joachim Stuck and Allan Moffat. On this occasion though, Ludwig Willisch, President and CEO of BMW North America, will be behind the wheel.
There’ll be a nod to the 24 Hours of Le Mans with a display of Art Cars, adorned with artists’ one-off designs. The first-ever Art Car creation was by Alexander Calder: a 1975 3.0 CSL raced at the 24 Hours of Le Mans by Hervé Poulain, father of the Art Car project. It will be on show alongside the BMW M3 GT designed by Jeff Koons for the 2010 24 Hours of Le Mans. Finally, the BMW V12 LMR that won the 1999 edition of Le Mans will be on the track.
The spirit of the 24 Hours of Le Mans will definitely be in the air at Laguna Seca from 18 to 21 August!
For more details, visit www.mazdaraceway.com.
Photo (Geoffroy Barre / ACO): the #79 BMW M3 GT was designed by Jeff Koons for the 2010 24 Hours of Le Mans.
