BMW Motorsport boss Andreas Roos has revealed that it has ditched the problematic wheel rims provided by Rimstock in favour of merchandise from German auto components maker BBS.
Whereas Rimstock filed for chapter final yr, which “performed a job” in BMW’s resolution to swap suppliers, the “technical anomalies and issues that we had at first of 2023” had been additionally key elements within the transfer to BBS.
Initially, BMW was of the opinion that the problems it encountered with wheel rims needed to do with the excessive calls for positioned by the Nurburgring Nordschleife. However a cracked wheel rim at Oschersleben that compelled manufacturing facility driver Rene Rast out of final yr’s DTM season-opener compelled it right into a rethink.
Since then, the Bavarian marque has been engaged on an answer within the background, with the brand new BBS product now prepared to make use of.
The unique concept was to introduce BBS-supplied wheel rims in 2025, coinciding with the improve to the BMW M4 GT3 Evo, however the plan was introduced ahead by a yr in response to the issues.
BBS wheel rims had been already getting used on M4 GT3s raced in Japan’s Tremendous GT sequence for the reason that debut of the automotive in 2022, however BMW has additional honed the components because it makes it obtainable throughout the board this yr.
“The present rim that we’re driving all over the place this yr relies on it,” defined Roos. “It has been additional developed so as to have the ability to carry an excellent product onto the market with BBS.”
Roos is satisfied that the potential rim cracks, which first appeared on the M4 GT3 in the course of the take a look at part in 2021 however then gave the impression to be underneath management, are actually a factor of the previous.
“In any other case we wouldn’t carry a brand new rim into the sector,” he mentioned.
“Findings from the Rimstock rim and experiences we gained in Japan have been integrated, so we’re very assured that we are actually doing effectively with this rim.”
To carry the brand new BBS rim to the M4 GT3, BMW needed to full a post-homologation change with the FIA, one thing that’s now widespread follow in GT3 racing.
It’s understood that wheel mounts additionally needed to be tailored in response to the brand new rims.
The change comes as a reduction to BMW’s buyer groups, who had been compelled to undergo a rigorous testing course of on race weekends to kind out faulty rims.
They’ve praised BMW for rapidly reacting to the issue and discovering an answer in such a brief span of time, particularly with 40 M4 GT3s being offered worldwide since its launch three years in the past.
“Hats off, as a result of six months just isn’t a very long time on the subject of the subject of provide chains,” mentioned one staff member. “As well as, the edges have to be made obtainable to everybody by then.”
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