BMW M8 GTE to debut at 2018 Rolex 24

BMW has announced that its new-for-2018 M8 GTE challenger – which will compete in the World Endurance Championship – will make its global race debut at next year's Rolex 24 Hours at Daytona.

"The BMW M8 GTE development program for our Le Mans comeback is in full swing," says BMW Motorsport Director Jens Marquardt. "Developing a new racing car is always exciting, and in the case of the BMW M8 GTE the anticipation is that much greater still. We can't reveal any pictures yet, but I can promise you that the BMW M8 GTE will look spectacular.

"We are planning an initial roll-out for the first half of this year and are looking at giving the car its race debut in the Daytona 24 Hours in late January 2018."

A heavily camouflaged prototype of the road-going version of the M8 will be unveiled during a presentation at the Nürburgring 24 Hours this weekend.

There is no word on whether the Rolex 24 Hours debut of the M8 is part of a IMSA WeatherTech SportsCar Championship program for the car in addition to its FIA WEC commitments with BMW team M-TEK.