BMW M8 GTE unveiled after successful testing

BMW has revealed its entry for the 2018 FIA World Endurance Championship, the M8 GTE.

This extra teasing of the M8 comes before the public has even properly seen the road-going M8.

With testing at Germany’s Lausitzring track having proven successful, the M8 GTE is set to attach the 24 Hours of Le Mans next year.

Driving for the tests were BMW works driver Martin Tomczyk and BMW DTM driver Maxime Martin.

Tomczyk says it was an honour to be one of the first to test the M8 GTE on track.

“I had great fun with the car. The BMW M8 GTE is good to drive from the outset, and it is easy for us drivers to work out the way it handles, which is important.

“We got a lot of kilometres under our belt, and gathered a lot of data. We also took our first steps with regard to performance, which is by no means a given at a first test.

“We will obviously work more intensively on that at the coming tests, and will build on the strong basis we established here at the Lausitzring.”

Though the car has a lot more testing to go before a competition debut, BMW Motorsport boss Jens Marquardt says things are looking promising for the car.

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“To see the BMW M8 GTE on the racetrack makes me very proud. Everyone involved has done a magnificent job in recent months to allow us to reach this milestone in the development of our new flagship for the GT racing scene.

“In the first instance, the purpose of a test like this is obviously to get to know the car. In this regard, greater emphasis is placed on the safety aspect than performance. However, the first impression of the BMW M8 GTE out on the track is a very positive one.”