BMW’s only Le Mans victory | Thanks Frankel, it’s Friday

It is remarkable how much can be safely deduced from such a thin fragment of information. Given the picture and the fact that BMW has been driving ordinary GT cars lately, it’s safe to say that the car is a prototype. But there are LMDh prototypes – like those that will be driven by Porsche, Audi, Acura and, in all likelihood, Cadillac, and slightly less production LMH prototypes like those driven by Ferrari, Toyota, Peugeot and others. The giveaway is the little word ‘Daytona’ because that means the North American IMSA championship, in which LMH cars are not allowed to participate. So it’s an LMDh car that limits the competitor’s choice to one of four proprietary chassis, a special hybrid system, very precise dimensions and weight, and a fixed drag-to-downforce ratio.

Does that mean the BMW doesn’t drive in Europe, at Le Mans and elsewhere in the world? Not at all: IMSA doesn’t like the LMHs, but the World Endurance Championship has no problem with LMDhs. While BMW didn’t say it will bring the new car to Le Mans, can you imagine it defying the biggest prize in motorsport and giving its deadliest rivals a clearer run for the title? Neither do I. I firmly believe that the real reason BMW chose LMDh is precisely because it allows the team to race anywhere and that we shouldn’t read any more into this Daytona proclamation other than that is the earliest event on the 2023 calendar of either series.