Check BMW's V8 hybrid Art Car prepared to race at Le Mans

BMW has revealed its latest Art Car, a striking V8 hybrid designed to compete in the prestigious 24 Hours of Le Mans. This unique car, created by renowned Ethiopian American artist Julie Mehretu, blends the worlds of art and high-performance racing.

"The whole BMW Art Car project is about invention, about imagination, about pushing the limits of what can be possible. I don’t think of this car as something you would exhibit. I am thinking of it as something that will race in Le Mans. It’s a performative painting. And it’s only going to be completed once the race is over,” Mehretu stated.

The unveiling took place at Paris’s Centre Pompidou, a fitting location given BMW’s longstanding reputation in the art world. The tradition of the BMW Art Car began in 1975 when French auctioneer and racing driver Hervé Poulain convinced his friend, artist Alexander Calder, to paint a BMW 3.0 CSL. This car raced in the 1975 Le Mans 24 Hours, driven by Poulain, American legend Sam Posey, and former Ferrari endurance racer Jean Guichet. Since then, BMW has collaborated with renowned artists like Roy Lichtenstein, Andy Warhol, David Hockney, Jenny Holzer, and Jeff Koons to create these rolling masterpieces.

Mehretu’s Art Car, based on the M Hybrid V8, is the 20th in this series and will participate in the Le Mans 24 Hours next month. Drivers Sheldon van der Linde, Robin Frijns, and René Rast will pilot the car in the LMDh category. The Le Mans race is known for its grueling nature, often becoming a surreal experience, especially for those trying to rest in the early morning hours.

The car’s participation at Le Mans underscores BMW’s commitment to pushing boundaries both in the art world and in automotive engineering, showcasing a unique blend of creativity and performance on one of motorsport’s biggest stages.