The BMW M Hybrid V8 will become the first playable 2024 Hypercar on Le Mans Ultimate, the official game of the FIA World Endurance Championship and 24 Hours of Le Mans. The car comes as part of the free DLC for Early Access supporters along with all the 2024 liveries of Hypercars currently in the game. It marks the start of a wider June update ahead of the 2024 edition of the endurance racing classic.
“We have been working closely with BMW to faithfully replicate its BMW M Hybrid V8 in an
important anniversary year for the manufacturer – and what a car for us to start with for our
2024 content, as we focus on the new wave of exciting cars in the FIA WEC”, said Stephen
Hood, CEO of Studio 397 and Motorsport Games.
Joining the BMW will be an array of new liveries for all the 2024 Hypercars currently in the
game – these will also be free to all players as part of the June update and will include the
menacing black Toyota GR010, eye-catching yellow AF Corse Ferrari 499P and retro
themed Porsche 963 from Proton Competition to name but a few.
Introducing The BMW M Hybrid V8 LMDh
| Car | Ruleset | Engine | Hybrid? | Exclusive to LMU? |
| BMW M Hybrid V8 | LMDh | 4.0-litre twin turbo V8 | Yes | No |
The BMW M Hybrid V8 was the brand’s entry into the 2023 IMSA Sportscar Championship and the World Endurance Championship for 2024. It is powered by a twin-turbo 4.0L V8 that, when combined with a Motor Generator Unit (MGU), produces 500kW and 650Nm of torque.
The BMW M Hybrid V8 is powered by the P66/3 eight-cylinder turbo engine with supplementary electric drive. The combustion engine is based on the DTM unit used in the BMW M4 DTM in 2017 and 2018. During two phases of reconstruction, it underwent comprehensive adjustments to meet the stringent requirements of the LMDh hybrid drive system. The chassis is built by an external partner. For the BMW M Hybrid V8, BMW M Motorsport is working closely with the legendary Italian race car specialist Dallara.
Following a season in IMSA in 2023, BMW elected for a two-pronged attack in 2024 with the #15 and #20 cars of BMW M Team WRT, joining the FIA World Endurance Championship roster – fighting for wins across the globe against sparring partners from the likes of Ferrari, Porsche and Toyota, all of which are in Le Mans Ultimate already.
The BMW M Hybrid V8 is relatively light and powerful. This combined with it being rear-wheel drive, means that it can be fun to drive, but it also doesn’t enjoy being overdriven. To put it simply, attempting to take corners aggressively and aiming for the apex may result in losing time by running wide or, worse, spinning out. It’s sensitive on the breaks, although hugely rewarding when you find the perfect balance between smoothness and aggression.
Check out the release video for the BMW M Hybrid V8
BMW Motorsports Seal Of Approval
Le Mans Ultimate invited BMW Motorsport factory drivers Sheldon van der Linde and Raffaele Marciello to try out the BMW M Hybrid V8 Hypercar in LMU to obtain crucial feedback ahead of the release and this is what they had to say.
“I was a big fan of rFactor 2 and Le Mans Ultimate is a good step I believe with even room for improvement. It’s nice to see the car in the game now so let’s see if we can improve it” said Raffaele Marciello.
Whilst Sheldon van der Linde said “It’s actually quite close, I like the physics model on the tyres. The way the car behaviour is and the balance tendencies are very similar to real life, so oversteer on entry into an understeer vibe. Generally, it’s pretty positive and feels good”
What Do Hypercars Feel Like In Le Mans Ultimate
When you get out on track, the effect of cold tyres will be a slap around the face, or more likely a firm shove off the track. You’ve probably seen Hypercars squirming around at the beginning of stints in real life and you’re going to be feeling the same thing in Le Mans Ultimate with the BMW M Hybrid V8.
You will, however, have a choice of three types of Michelin rubber in a Hypercar:
- The Hard compound offers the best longevity but the worst peak performance
- The Medium compound offers a middle ground of longevity and grip
- The Soft compound offers the worst longevity but the best outright pace
Remember that extremely cold tyres mean poor braking performance, which is just as pronounced as the general lack of grip you will experience. On the whole, you will find that you can hit the brakes relatively hard in one of Le Mans Ultimate’s Hypercars.
Additionally, how you manage each car’s hybrid system is complex and the BMW will be no different. You can individually control deployment and regeneration over a lap, adding an extra layer to wheel-to-wheel racing that goes further than three simple modes.
