The 73rd edition of the 12 hours of Sebring marks a historic milestone for BMW North America. This year’s race coincides with the 50th anniversary of the foundation of BMW of North America, a crucial moment that changed the brand’s trajectory on the US market. In order to honor this occasion, BMW M Motorsport presented a special painting for the BMW M Hybrid V8 and appreciated five decades of success in American Motorsport.
This painting tells the story of BMW’s greatest achievements in endurance racing with important milestones such as the Sebring victory of 1975 of the BMW 3.0 CSL, the triumph of the BMW V12 LMR from 1999 and the M3 GT and M3 GTRS Championship title in the American Le Mans series.
A legendary connection: 3.0 CSL and the birth of BMW USA
The roots of the North American success of BMW can be attributed to a crucial moment in Sebring in 1975. Only a few days after BMW was officially founded by North America on March 15 of this year, the outsider 3.0 CSL, which was driven by Brian Redman, shocked Hans-Joachim-Stuck and Sam Posey, the racing wall by making the event of 12 hours in the sacrifice. This triumph, BMW’s first major US sports car victory, catapulted the brand into the spotlight and consolidated its reputation among American enthusiasts.
Now, 50 years later, Sebring again serves as a stage for an important chapter in BMW’s racing history. In addition to its modern successor, the BMW M Hybrid V8, the legendary 3.0-CSL will come into a special appearance and establish a direct connection between the past and the present. In historical importance, Jochen Neerpasch, co -founder and first managing director of BMW Motorsport GmbH, and Brian Redman, one of the winners from 1975, will be on site to celebrate the milestone. You can also see our own interview with Neerpasch here.
A special painting to mark the occasion
The BMW M Mybrid V8, which was applied by BMW M Team RLL, will go on the track, which is decorated with a striking memory. A strong “50” is clearly displayed on the car, while the front end contains the outline of the Sebring circuit in the legendary BMW engine sports colors. References to BMW’s largest North American racing triumvy are distributed through the paintwork,
The 12-hour endurance race on the Sebring International Raceway begins on Saturday, March 15, 2025, at 10:10 a.m. local time (3:10 p.m. CET). Fans can catch the action live at www.imsa.tv
