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First podium finish of the season for BMW Motorrad World Endurance Team at 24 Hours Of Le Mans

BY Sean Loo

The BMW Motorrad World Endurance Team kicked off the FIM Endurance World Championship 2023 with a beautiful podium finish.

Markus Reiterberger (GER), Ilya Mikhalchik (UKR) and Jérémy Guarnoni (FRA) claimed third place at the opening event, which was the legendary 24 Hours of Le Mans, an extremely gruelling spectacle.

This was also the first podium for the new #37 BMW M 1000 RR, debuting on the track for the first time. Mikhalchik also posted the fastest lap time in it, clocking in at 1:35.751 minutes. The newly-formed Tecmas-MRP-BMW Racing Team enjoyed a perfect debut, claiming victory in the Superstock class.

Having endured difficult, changeable conditions during qualifying, the BMW Motorrad World Endurance Team began the 24-hour race from 8th place. Storming up the order, the team took just 90 minutes for the #37 BMW M 1000 RR to reach 2nd, leaving Reiterberger, Mikhalchik and Guarnoni battling for the lead as the hours ticked by.

However, challenges pegged the BMW Motorrad World Endurance Team in the eighth hour of the race. Mikhalchik slid as he was overtaking a slower rider and had to head for the pits with a damaged motorbike.

The team set to work immediately, and a collectively managed to repair the bike in record time, returning Mikhalchik to the track after just seven and a half minutes. The trio on the #37 then mounted a recovery performance from seventh position.

As the race progressed, the BMW Motorrad World Endurance Team stood up to the harsh conditions, overcoming very cold temperatures and early morning fog to move up the race order. On Sunday morning, in the 19th hour of the race, the #37 BMW M 1000 RR was back up to 3rd and on course for the podium. Mikhalchik, Reiterberger and Guarnoni held that position to the finish line.

In the sister team, Kenny Foray (FRA), Jan Bühn (GER) and Loïc Arbel (FRA) were riding the new #9 BMW M 1000 RR for the newly-formed Tecmas-MRP-BMW Racing Team. Supported by BMW Motorrad Motorsport, the French team started its first race from 2nd place in the Superstock class. The class lead was claimed early on and was only surrendered rarely, and briefly, as the race progressed. The Tecmas-MRP-BMW Racing Team was able to celebrate a debut class victory. In the overall standings, the team claimed an outstanding 8th place.

Private Team LRP Poland (#90 BMW S 1000 RR) met with an incident on track, striking an oil slick on Sunday morning, and returning to the race after a break for repairs.

Dominik Vincon (GER), Pepijn Bijsterbosch (NED) and Julian Puffe (GER) reached the finish line in 15th place overall, corresponding to eleventh in the Formula-EWC class. The #74 BMW S 1000 RR from the Seigneur Motorsport Team Mont-Blanc, with William Wallart, Christophe Seigneur and Joachim Delaforce (all FRA) at the controls, reached 29th place overall and 17th in the Superstock class.

The second race event in the FIM EWC 2023 will take place on 17th to 18th June 2023, held at the 24 HEURES SPA Motos in Spa-Francorchamps (BEL), where the BMW Motorrad World Endurance Team last year celebrated its first win in a 24-hour race.