This racing car still sets hearts racing among today’s motorsport enthusiasts: the BMW V12 LMR. In 1999, the prototype celebrated the overall win at the 24 Hours of Le Mans, competing for the BMW Team Schnitzer and driven by Joachim Winkelhock, Yannick Dalmas and Pierluigi Martini. Twenty years on from this triumph, the BMW V12 LMR returned to Le Mans. It was on show at the circuit as part of the programme for this year's 24-hour race – as was the BMW 328 Touring Coupé, which recorded a class win 80 years ago to mark the start of the BMW story at Le Mans.
The two historic racing cars took to the track just before the start of the classic endurance race on Saturday afternoon, thrilling fans with a demonstration lap on the ‘Circuit de la Sarthe’. Dalmas, one of the winners from 1999, was behind the wheel of the BMW V12 LMR. “That was a difficult, but very special, race back then. It is very tricky to describe what you feel when you cross the line,” said Dalmas as he recalled the victory of 20 years ago. “The car was perfect for 24 hours, the team was very efficient and we did a good job as drivers. Everything worked just as it should. Winning Le Mans is about teamwork. Everything has to be perfect. It was a great experience to drive at Le Mans with BMW Team Schnitzer and BMW. The BMW V12 LMR was efficient and strong.” For the demonstration lap, the BMW 328 Touring Coupé was driven by BMW Group France Event Manager and racing driver Romain Brandela.
