BMW Celebrates 50 Years

Zundfolge / BMW News

BMW Celebrates 50 Years

By BMW Press Release | March 12th, 2025

50 Years of BMW North America: Anniversary livery makes the BMW M Hybrid V8 a standout at the 12h Sebring

The 73rd edition of the Twelve Hours of Sebring (USA )this coming Saturday,15th March, is all about a significant anniversary. BMW North America celebrates its 50th anniversary this year, and the endurance classic in Florida plays a special role in this history. The story of BMW North America began in 1975 with the victory of the BMW 3.0 CSL at Sebring.

Accordingly, the two BMW M Hybrid V8s of BMW M Team RLL will compete from this season’s second race of the IMSA WeatherTech SportsCar Championship (IWSC) with a special anniversary livery.

1975 was a historic year for BMW in North America. BMW North America was founded on 15th March, and just days later, the BMW 3.0 CSL secured the brand’s first major sports car victory in the USA at Sebring. This triumph came in the very first race that BMW Motorsport GmbH and the newly established BMW North America entered together. Exactly 50 years later, the BMW M Hybrid V8 livery at the Twelve Hours of Sebring pays tribute to half a century of motorsport success in North America. It showcases key milestones from 1975 to today, embedded within the track silhouette of Sebring. As witnesses of history, Jochen Neerpasch, co-founder and first managing director of BMW Motorsport GmbH, and Brian Redman (USA), Sebring winner of 1975, will be present for the anniversary. The BMW M Hybrid V8s will continue to feature these special liveries throughout the IWSC season.

The Twelve Hours of Sebring marks the second event of the 2025 IWSC season. At the endurance classic in Florida, BMW M Motorsport teams aim to extend the 50-year legacy of success. BMW M Team RLL fought for an overall podium finish with its two BMW M Hybrid V8s in the GTP class at the season opener at Daytona (USA) in January. In the GTD-PRO class, Paul Miller Racing, with two BMW M4 GT3 EVOs, is among the favorites, while Turner Motorsport is targeting victory in the GTD class with the BMW M4 GT3 EVO.

The12-hour race at Sebring starts on Saturday, 15th March, at 10:10 local time (15:10 PM CET) and can be watched live at www.imsa.tv.

50 Years of History at Sebring

BMW M Hybrid V8s

Andreas Roos, Head of BMW M Motorsport: “Sebring and BMW M Motorsport share a very special bond. This track has played an outstanding role in our history in North America, which now spans half a century. We are excited for the anniversary weekend, and our goal is to add new milestones to those already displayed on the liveries of our BMW M Hybrid V8s. We have already shown at Daytona and at the FIA WEC season opener in Qatar that we have made another significant step forward with our LMDh car. This gives us confidence for a strong performance in the GTP class. Our new BMW M4 GT3 EVO has also immediately demonstrated its winning potential. Celebrating 50 years of BMW of North America with the corresponding results would be fantastic.”

BMW M Motorsport line-ups at a glance:

GTP Class, BMW M Team RLL:

#24 BMW M Hybrid V8:

Philipp Eng (AUT)

Dries Vanthoor (BEL)

Kevin Magnussen (DEN)

#25 BMW M Hybrid V8:

Sheldon van der Linde (RSA)

Marco Wittmann (GER)

Robin Frijns (NED)