WEC Brazil: BMW secures second Hypercar win of 2026

WEC Brazil: BMW secures second Hypercar win of 2026

BMW secured victory over Ferrari in the World Endurance Championship’s Six Hours of Sao Paulo, strengthening its chances in the Hypercar title race.

Drivers Kevin Magnussen, Raffaele Marciello, and Dries Vanthoor often led in the #15 BMW M Hybrid during the race. The team lost the net lead in the penultimate hour when Vanthoor ran wide, giving the advantage to Ferrari's #51 499P, driven by James Calado. However, due to having more fuel, the #15 BMW managed to extend its stint and executed a shorter final fuel stop. Vanthoor, despite feeling unwell, reclaimed the lead and crossed the finish line just 2.2 seconds ahead of Calado's Ferrari. This race marked BMW's second victory in three events, following a win by the #20 crew at Imola in May.

The race commenced with Will Stevens leading from pole position in the #12 Cadillac V-Series.R. Magnussen quickly moved to second place, ahead of Earl Bamber in the #38 Cadillac. After initial pit stops, both Jota cars lost considerable time, allowing BMW to take the front. The #15 BMW maintained its pace, while two Alpine A424s emerged as a significant challenge; they were short-fueled earlier, allowing Ferdinand Habsburg and Frederic Makowiecki to gain valuable track position ahead of Magnussen.

As the race progressed, BMW managed to close in on the Alpine #35, which had faded from the battle following a puncture. In the fourth hour, Marciello caught up with Antonio Felix da Costa of the Alpines, while Alessandro Pier Guidi in the #51 Ferrari narrowed the distance. Although Marciello could not pass da Costa on track, he overtook after an Alpine pit stop; shortly after, Vanthoor took over from Marciello.

A significant moment for Calado occurred when he nudged a barrier exiting the pit lane, losing minimal time but allowing Vanthoor and the BMW to rejoin in the lead due to its advantage in fuel strategy. The final hour was marked by Vanthoor, Magnussen, and Marciello's combined efforts, securing their first Hypercar wins in the #15 BMW. Ferrari's #51, with drivers Calado, Pier Guidi, and Antonio Giovinazzi, ended up in second after a recovery from 11th on the grid, while the #12 Cadillac trio of Stevens and Norman Nato secured third, following various setbacks.

Meanwhile, Toyota struggled, finishing without a point in Sao Paulo after Kamui Kobayashi, Mike Conway, and Nyck de Vries placed 12th and the #8 Toyota ended up 17th after repairs due to a collision.

Corvette was notable in the LMGT3 category, with Peter Dempsey, Salih Yoluc, and Charlie Eastwood securing the win in the #34 Corvette Z06 GT3.R, showing mastery in fuel strategy despite challenges throughout the event.