Reiterberger plans to take the initiative with BMW: “The strategy is full throttle”

A year on from that bitter disappointment, BMW has another chance at the Bol d’Or to win the World Endurance Championship for the first time. In 2025, the BMW Motorrad World Endurance Team was on course to win the championship at the season finale, before a technical problem dashed all their title hopes. This time, they’re determined to finally get it right.

However, the situation ahead of the 24-hour race at the Circuit Paul Ricard is clear. BMW heads into the finale 19 points behind defending champions YART. So sitting back and hoping for mistakes from the competition is not an option.

Reiterberger: BMW is going all out for victory!

“We have a strategy, and that is to go all out for victory!” clarified BMW works rider Markus Reiterberger in an exclusive interview with SPEEDWEEK.com. “We need the maximum and must secure pole position as well as be in the lead after 8, 16 and 24 hours. That is our only chance.”

In the EWC finale, points are not only awarded for the final result. Additional World Championship points are also up for grabs after eight and 16 hours. BMW therefore intends to go for the maximum points haul right from the start and put YART under pressure.

However, even a perfect weekend for the Munich-based team will not necessarily be enough to secure the title. “YART would then only need to finish third or fourth,” Reiterberger realises. His conclusion is correspondingly clear: “That’s why our strategy is: full throttle!”

BMW: Bad luck at Le Mans – victory at Spa and a strong showing at Suzuka

The fact that BMW can still put pressure on the defending champions at the Bol d’Or under its own steam is down to its strong performances at the last two rounds. Following their misfortune at the season opener in Le Mans , Werner Daemen’s team won at Spa and put in a convincing performance at Suzuka, where Reiterberger, Michael van der Mark and Steven Odendaal secured third place, making them the closest challengers to the Honda and Yamaha works teams. At the same time, BMW reduced the gap to YART to 19 points ahead of the decisive race.

The first test sessions at Le Castellet have left Reiterberger feeling confident. However, the Bavarian is not yet entirely satisfied with his M1000RR. “We’re doing quite well. Of course, there are still one or two small details and areas we need to tweak on the bike. I’m struggling with chattering. My two team-mates, however, are very satisfied,” reports the 32-year-old.

Markus Reiterberger

Foto: BMW

Fundamentally, Reiterberger believes BMW is well-positioned to cope with the enormous demands of a 24-hour race. It’s not just about raw speed. Fuel consumption – and consequently the number of pit stops required – could once again prove to be a decisive factor at the Circuit Paul Ricard.

“We’re very fast and consistent. We’ve got a good strategy for the race,” reveals Reiterberger. “The aim is to pull away – not just in terms of lap times, but also when it comes to fuel consumption.”

In a 24-hour race in particular, extra laps per tank of fuel can make a decisive difference. BMW therefore aims to put pressure on its rivals not only through fast lap times, but also through the most efficient racing strategy possible.

Redemption for last year’s failure?

Following last year’s disappointment, winning the title would be a particularly emotional moment for Reiterberger and the team. The memory of how abruptly the World Championship dream was shattered twelve months ago is still fresh.

“I’m certainly very confident about the race,” emphasises Reiterberger. “Hopefully we’ll manage to win the race and clinch the World Championship title. That would be absolutely brilliant after last year’s setback.”

The game plan for the decisive weekend could hardly be clearer: BMW wants pole position, the maximum bonus points and victory after 24 hours. After that, attention must turn to YART.