The BMW board in Munich will reconvene to discuss the future of the LMP1 project to enter the Le Mans.Currently BMW is contemplating on the future of their LMP1 car. The executives at BMW are thinking how to further enter the Le Mans racing championship.
Sources claim BMW has been working in recent months very intensively. All the work is directed at making a possible comeback at Le Mans. The BMW engineers at Munich have already drew up studies of LMP1 vehicles including a hybrid drive.
The last step for the LMP1 program is the proclamation of an appropriate race program. However BMW has failed to do so thus far. The German media (via BMWBlog) has reported the BMW board is about to reconvene in January 2016. The board will discuss the LMP1 project and decide on its future.
The Le Mans requires a 24 months lead time. During the time BMW will for entry in 2018. One of the factors to be considered will be the hydrogen fuel cell technology.
The tech is available and interesting however it is not without obstacles. The biggest problem BMW is facing is the cost associated with the racing program.
The BMW Motorsport Director has allegedly declared the cost of the LMP1 program at over 500 million euros. Furthermore the particulars of the new hydrogen fuel cells technology are not clear.
The question of how it will be integrated into the current prototype regulations remains unanswered. If BMW wants to re-enter the Le Mans, then LMP1 racing is the obvious choice.