BMW M Hybrid V8 LMDh race car to compete in the 2023 Sports Car Championship.

BMW M unveiled on Monday a sports prototype under development for a new LMDh (Le Mans Daytona Hybrid) category race car that will be able to participate in the top classes of both the FIA World Endurance Championship and the IMSA Sports Car Championship starting in 2023.

Called the BMW M Hybrid V8, the car features a distinctly BMW design, thanks to its kidney grille and Hofmeister kink (in this case only graphic). It also features the words "50 Jahre BMW M" in honor of BMW M's 50th anniversary this year.

BMW M has so far only competed in the GTP (Grand Touring Prototype) class, the highest class in the series, in the Sports Car Championship, but the 24 Hours of Le Mans, the main event on the WEC calendar, has The WEC has not ruled out the possibility of participating in the WEC's hypercar class. This means that for the first time since the V12 LMR Sport Prototype became the first and only BMW M to win the 24 Hours of Le Mans overall in 1999, a BMW M could compete at the top level of the race.

The GTP and Hypercar classes are open to both LMDh race cars and cars built according to the Le Mans Hypercar rules.

In keeping with LMDh rules, BMW M will use a chassis supplied by Dallara of Italy. The powertrain is an undisclosed V-8 hybrid with a maximum output of approximately 670 hp at all times.

BMW M, along with American Rayhall Letterman Lanigan Racing, will run the LMDh campaign under the BMW Team RLL banner. Current plans call for two cars in the 2023 sports car championship, with RLL Racing co-owner Bobby Rayhall serving as team principal.

Alpine, Audi, Cadillac, and Porsche are committed to LMDh, while Ferrari, Glickenhaus, Peugeot, and Toyota are committed to LMH. Lamborghini also announced in May that it will join the LMDh in 2024.

The LMDh's first race will be the 2023 24 Hours of Daytona next January. This race will be the opening round of the 2023 Sports Car Championship.