BMW returned to the highest of the rostrum in dramatic style on the 2025 Nürburgring 24 Hours, with ROWE Racing claiming a hard-fought and emotional victory in one of the crucial demanding endurance races on the earth. The triumph marked BMW’s twenty first general win within the Eifel and its first since 2020—as soon as once more with ROWE Racing on the helm.
The #98 BMW M4 GT3 EVO, shared by works drivers Sheldon van der Linde, Augusto Farfus, Raffaele Marciello, and Jesse Krohn, overcame a Seventeenth-place beginning place, a prolonged pink flag, and a fierce battle with Manthey EMA’s #911 Porsche to grab glory within the Inexperienced Hell.
From Setback to Showstopper
The weekend started on shaky floor for the ROWE Racing squad. After lacking out on the highest qualifying session, the #98 BMW was relegated to the ninth row of the grid. However any doubts had been rapidly dispelled. On the race begin, Augusto Farfus launched an impressed opening stint, catapulting into the highest ten throughout the first lap beneath clear skies and dry situations.
Simply ninety minutes into the race, an surprising energy outage within the paddock triggered a full-course pink flag. The interruption stretched over two hours, forcing groups to recalibrate methods and composure alike.
When racing resumed, Sheldon van der Linde wasted no time. In a masterclass of precision and aggression, he climbed from ninth to 3rd in simply two laps, setting the tone for a decided cost by way of the sector. The staff’s progress didn’t stall. All through the evening, Marciello and Krohn maintained the automobile’s place within the podium locations, executing clear stints whereas avoiding visitors and hassle.
The Morning Surge
Because the solar broke by way of the misty morning over the Nordschleife, the #98 BMW discovered itself locked in a chase. A deficit of over two minutes to the race chief slowly evaporated, due to relentless tempo and flawless teamwork. With three and a half hours remaining, Farfus seized the lead for the primary time, igniting hopes of a long-awaited BMW win.
Then got here the twist: the #911 Porsche, main on the time, was hit with a time penalty. Although it crossed the end line first, the Manthey EMA staff’s subsequent attraction was denied. The penalty stood. Victory, after 24 grueling hours, belonged to BMW and ROWE Racing.
A Win Years within the Making
For Sheldon van der Linde, the outcome marked his third general win on the Nürburgring 24, and his first with BMW. He beforehand gained in 2017 and 2022 with Audi equipment. The triumph was additionally particular for Farfus, whose first win on the Nordschleife got here all the best way again in 2010—15 years in the past. For each Marciello and Krohn, this was their first profession victory on the iconic race.
“This can be a win we fought for each single hour,” mentioned van der Linde. “The staff gave us an ideal automobile, and each stint mattered. It’s an honor to win for BMW at a race meaning a lot.”
BMW, already essentially the most profitable producer in Nürburgring 24h historical past, additional prolonged its document with this twenty first general victory. It was additionally a redemption story for ROWE Racing, who hadn’t gained on the Ring since their 2020 triumph with the M6 GT3.
BMW M2 Racing Dominates SP 3T Class
BMW’s success wasn’t restricted to the general classification. The model’s latest entry-level buyer race automobile—the BMW M2 Racing—claimed a dominant class win in SP 3T. Piloted by works drivers Jens Klingmann, Charles Weerts, Ugo de Wilde, and motorsport journalist Michael Bräutigam, the #310 automobile proved its mettle within the hardest situations possible.
It served as the right closing check earlier than the M2 Racing’s buyer rollout begins, signaling robust promise for BMW’s grassroots motorsport program.
Seven Class Victories Throughout the Discipline
In whole, BMW M Motorsport and its buyer groups collected seven class victories at this yr’s 24h Nürburgring:
- SP10: #67 BMW M4 GT4 EVO – AV Racing by Black Falcon
- SP3T: #310 BMW M2 Racing – BMW M works and media staff
- BMW M240i: #650 BMW M240i Racing – Adrenalin Motorsport Staff Mainhattan Wheels
- VT2 RWD: #500 BMW 330i – Adrenalin Motorsport Staff Mainhattan Wheels
- Class for BMW 325i: #700 BMW 325i – rent2Drive-racing
- SP3: #277 BMW 318ti – RAVENOL Motorsport by MDM Racing
