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BMW claims M8 given unfair Balance of Performance

BMW has claimed that its all-new M8 GTE been given an unfair Balance of Performance for its race debut in this weekend's Rolex 24 at Daytona.

#24 BMW Team RLL BMW M8 GTE: Jesse Krohn, John Edwards, Nicky Catsburg, Augusto Farfus

#24 BMW Team RLL BMW M8 GTE: Jesse Krohn, John Edwards, Nicky Catsburg, Augusto Farfus

Alexander Trienitz

#24 BMW Team RLL BMW M8 GTE: Jesse Krohn, John Edwards, Nicky Catsburg, Augusto Farfus
#31 Action Express Racing Cadillac DPi, P: Eric Curran, Mike Conway, Stuart Middleton, Felipe Nasr, #24 BMW Team RLL BMW M8, GTLM: John Edwards, Jesse Krohn, Nicky Catsburg, Augusto Farfus
#24 BMW Team RLL BMW M8 GTE: Jesse Krohn, John Edwards, Nicky Catsburg, Augusto Farfus
#25 BMW Team RLL BMW M8, GTLM: Bill Auberlen, Alexander Sims, Philipp Eng, Connor de Phillippi
#25 BMW Team RLL BMW M8, GTLM: Bill Auberlen, Alexander Sims, Philipp Eng, Connor de Phillippi
#25 BMW Team RLL BMW M8, GTLM: Bill Auberlen, Alexander Sims, Philipp Eng, Connor de Phillippi

The German manufacturer has issued a statement ahead of the opening round of the IMSA WeatherTech SportsCar Championship arguing that the new GT Le Mans class contender has been rendered uncompetitive against its rivals by the BoP.

BMW Motorsport boss Jens Marquardt said: "It is clear to us based on the performance so far this season that we have not been treated fairly.

"We know we have a car that is capable of running with the leaders and ask for fairness in the BoP assessment. We believe in the BoP system and the only way the system can work is if every competitor is treated equitably."

It follows the two Rahal Letterman Lanigan Racing-run M8 GTEs qualifying at the back of the GTLM field, the best of the cars ending up nearly 1.2 seconds off the pace of the pole-winning Chevrolet Corvette C7.R. 

That was despite the BMW receiving a performance break ahead of race week after a disappointing display at the Roar test. The car has been given a 10kg reduction in minimum weight and a more turbo boost.

Marquardt added that BMW would "continue to be transparent in our discussions with IMSA and fully expect the issue to be resolved in the coming weeks".

He insisted that BMW and the Rahal team would continue "to try to get the maximum out of the race under these circumstances".

BMW has developed the M8 GTE for twin assaults on the IMSA series in North America with Rahal and the FIA World Endurance Championship with MTEK. 

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