FIA WEC Rookie Test: Rossi, Harper, and Hesse enthusiastic about the BMW M Hybrid V8.

Sakhir . The Sunday following the FIA World Endurance Championship (FIA WEC) season finale at the Bahrain International Circuit was dedicated to the FIA WEC Rookie Test. BMW M Motorsport gave three of its BMW M works drivers from the GT3 programmes the opportunity to complete their first laps in the BMW M Hybrid V8 of BMW M Team WRT: Valentino Rossi (ITA), Dan Harper (GBR), and Max Hesse (GER).

All three had prepared for the Rookie Test in advance in the BMW M Motorsport simulator in Munich (GER). Hesse had already contributed to development work there during the season, and both he and Harper had previously taken part in an aerodynamic test in the cockpit of the BMW M Hybrid V8. For Rossi, it was his debut in the BMW M Motorsport Hypercar. In two sessions over a total duration of five hours, the trio had the opportunity to familiarise themselves with the Hypercar on the racetrack. Rossi was driving the #20 BMW M Hybrid V8, Harper and Hesse shared duties in the #15 car.

Note to editors:
At the following link, you will find images, footage, and video interviews from the 2024 FIA WEC season, including the Bahrain Rookie Test, available for editorial use: https://b.mw/Media_Exchange_WEC

Reactions after the Bahrain Rookie Test:

Andreas Roos (Head of BMW M Motorsport): “After a long 2024 season in the FIA WEC, the Rookie Test here in Bahrain was a nice way to wrap things up. It’s always a great event that gives new but also young drivers the opportunity to drive these cars. And when you look at the timing monitor, our three ‘rookies’ did an outstanding job. This goes for our nine-time motorcycle world champion Valentino Rossi as well as for our former BMW Juniors Dan Harper and Max Hesse, who have gone through the BMW Junior Program and, after great development, have now arrived as full-fledged BMW M works drivers in the top class. All three got out of the car with big smiles on their faces after their first kilometres in the car. I believe this day will stay with them. We learned a lot, they learned a lot, and it was an all-around successful Rookie Test.”

Dan Harper (BMW M Team WRT, #15 BMW M Hybrid V8 ): “It has been amazing. I really enjoyed it. It is definitely the most impressive race car I have ever driven, so that’s great. I think the biggest learning curve for me was getting used to the braking of the car. Of course the speed and acceleration is crazy and it’s really fun. But I think as a racing driver you just want more and more all the time, but to drive it’s very difficult. You need to be very precise, you don’t get away with as many little mistakes as in the GT3. Overall it was really fun and hopefully not the last time.”

Max Hesse (BMW M Team WRT, #15 BMW M Hybrid V8 ): “It was simply fantastic, I think the best day of my motorsport career so far. It was incredibly fun, and a big thank you to Andreas Roos, Vincent Vosse, BMW M Motorsport, and BMW M Team WRT. It was a cool day, and I learned a lot. The team chemistry between Dan, Vale, and me was also very good. The pace wasn’t bad either, which is always a positive. Of course, our approach today was to learn as much as possible, and we did that. But the ego in us also wants to be strong in terms of lap times, and that was the case for all three of us. It was exhausting and hot, but a great day.”

Valentino Rossi (BMW M Team WRT, #20 BMW M Hybrid V8): “Today was a fantastic day. I had the chance to drive the BMW M Hybrid V8 for the entire day, with the whole crew and René Rast who gave me advise. I enjoyed it a lot, the car is fantastic, very fast and very strong. It has a lot of power, the lap times have been 15 seconds faster than in the GT3, the tyres have great grip. It is a real race car. I was quite worried because I had never driven the Hypercar before, but I felt good from the first lap on because the car is stable and gave a good feedback. To go fast is very difficult but it’s a lot of fun. I have to say thank you for that great experience and I hope that I can have another chance to try the car.”