BMW Marks 50 Years in North America with Historic Sebring Tribute

BMW North America celebrates its 50th anniversary with a special livery for the BMW M Hybrid V8 at the Twelve Hours of Sebring, honoring its 1975 victory. Watch the race live on March 15.

BMW North America is celebrating its 50th anniversary, and one of the highlights of this milestone will be its participation in the legendary Twelve Hours of Sebring. This very race track witnessed BMW’s first major victory in the U.S. back in 1975, when the BMW 3.0 CSL claimed an iconic win, marking the start of a successful journey in American motorsport. Now, exactly half a century later, that legacy is being honored in a striking way – a special anniversary livery on the BMW M Hybrid V8.

The BMW M Team RLL race cars will take to the track with a design that is more than just an aesthetic tribute – it tells a story. Inspired by the layout of the Sebring circuit, the livery incorporates key milestones of BMW’s racing history in North America, spanning from its historic 1975 victory to present-day achievements.

However, this anniversary is not just about nostalgia. The second round of the IMSA WeatherTech SportsCar Championship (IWSC) season is a crucial battleground for BMW, which is eager to prove its continued dominance with its latest BMW M Hybrid V8 prototypes. Having already showcased their potential at the 24 Hours of Daytona, the Rahal Letterman Lanigan (RLL) Racing team will now push for a strong finish in the highly competitive GTP category.

BMW’s driver lineup brings world-class talent to the grid:

24 BMW M Hybrid V8 will be piloted by Philipp Eng, Dries Vanthoor, and Kevin Magnussen.

25 BMW M Hybrid V8 will feature Sheldon van der Linde, Marco Wittmann, and Robin Frijns.

In the GTD-PRO and GTD classes, BMW’s presence will also be strong, with Paul Miller Racing and Turner Motorsport fielding BMW M4 GT3 EVOs.

BMW M Motorsport Head Andreas Roos emphasized Sebring’s special place in BMW’s racing history. Indeed, this track has seen both victories and setbacks over the past five decades, but in 2025, BMW’s goal is clear – to write another triumphant chapter.

The race kicks off on March 15 at 10:10 AM local time

Source: press.bmwgroup.com