Insight: How WRT is Preparing for its First IMSA Season
A look at how the Belgian powerhouse squad has adapted to U.S.-style racing as BMW M Motorsport's new factory GTP operator...
W Racing Team, better known as WRT, are no strangers to success in the world of sports car racing. Yet, the Belgian powerhouse squad, which has won numerous GT3 championships and prestigious endurance races, is preparing for a new challenge this year in taking on the IMSA WeatherTech SportsCar Championship full-time as BMW M Motorsport’s new GTP factory partner team.
Having given the BMW M Hybrid V8 its FIA World Endurance Championship debut in 2024, the Vincent Vosse-led operation has two seasons with the Dallara-chassied LMDh package under its belt. However, with only two previous starts in IMSA, both coming in the Rolex 24 at Daytona in Audi R8 LMS GT3 Evo machinery, its expanded venture with the German manufacturer will be a completely new experience.
While it became known early in the 2025 season that longtime North American BMW operator Rahal Letterman Lanigan’s contract was up for renewal and in question, WRT began preparing for a potential WeatherTech Championship venture even before BMW signed off on the deal in late September.
“The moment this option came on the table we discussed [it] closely,” says Team WRT LMDh program director Bernhard Demmer. “From our side we were very open. Of course we were interested. Everybody knows WRT. We are very competitive We want to compete. IMSA, in my opinion, is one of the best and strongest championships in the world. To do what we do [in WEC], there as well, it was natural that we wanted to do it.
“At the moment we were asked to discuss, we were very open. In this discussion when you approach it from a professional point of view, you come to the point of synergies, with the effects of sharing information quicker, learning quicker and having this cross effect, you come to the point that it’s definitely beneficial.
“There’s other manufacturers doing similar things. It’s a good way to go. I don’t want to say it’s the perfect way to go but definitely a good way. Of course it was down to BMW’s decision. We were happy when the decision came but the decision process.”