BMW M Motorsport and Racing Brothers Shine in "72hellride" Documentary

BMW M Motorsport's "72hellride" documents the fierce 24h races at Nürburgring, Le Mans, and Spa with emotional insights into family rivalries and endurance.

In June 2024, endurance racing reached its boiling point. Three of the most iconic 24-hour races — Nürburgring, Le Mans, and Spa-Francorchamps — unfolded within a single month, testing the mettle of every manufacturer, driver, and team. In the eye of the storm was BMW M Motorsport, supported by two pairs of fiercely competitive brothers: Sheldon and Kelvin van der Linde from South Africa, and Dries and Laurens Vanthoor from Belgium.

This intense chapter of motorsport history is captured in the documentary “72hellride”, a one-hour film produced by ffilmworx for BMW M Motorsport. Premiered in April 2025, the documentary is now available on Amazon Prime Video, Google Play, YouTube Movies, and Apple TV. It offers a behind-the-scenes glimpse into the emotional and physical demands of back-to-back 24-hour races — and the unique tension of familial ties entangled with professional rivalries.

Results across the three events painted a vivid picture of both triumph and trial. At the Nürburgring, BMW M Motorsport celebrated a third-place finish overall and class victories with its BMW M4 GT4 customer teams. The story took a downturn at Le Mans, where one BMW M Hybrid V8 finished 47th after falling far behind, and the second car retired before the end. Redemption came two weeks later at Spa-Francorchamps, with Sheldon van der Linde, Dries Vanthoor, and Charles Weerts securing third place for the WRT-run BMW M4 GT3 — a significant podium at BMW’s home track.

What sets “72hellride” apart is its focus on people. The documentary doesn’t merely follow race statistics — it delves into the psychological toll of motorsport, from high-speed glory to behind-the-scenes heartbreak. At its emotional core are the van der Linde and Vanthoor brothers, whose relationships oscillate between deep-rooted connection and fierce competition. Their dual roles as family members and rivals bring added tension to an already punishing schedule.

Looking forward, June 2025 looms with an even tighter calendar. The three 24-hour races are once again scheduled within a single month — but with even shorter gaps. This time, however, there's a twist: Kelvin van der Linde has joined BMW M Motorsport, teaming up with his brother Sheldon. It’s a development that brings their stories full circle — and raises the stakes for what’s to come.

In this context, “72hellride” isn’t just a reflection on a legendary month — it’s a lens through which to anticipate the drama of the next. As the engines prepare to roar again, the emotional aftershocks of 2024 continue to reverberate through the paddock.

Source: bmwgroup.com