The FIM Endurance World Championship (FIM EWC) kicks off the 2024 season next weekend and the BMW Motorrad World Endurance Team with Markus Reiterberger is one of the big favourites. This year the team is completed by Sylvain Guintoli and Ilya Mikhalchik.
Reiti and Mikhalchik have been an integral part of the team led by team manager Werner Daemen since the 2019/20 debut season. Together, they immediately secured podium finishes with the number 37, followed by their first victory in 2021. In the 2022 season, they celebrated triumph at the 24 Hours of Spa-Francorchamps and finished runner-up in the world championship. Last season, the team with Reiterberger and Mikhalchik finished on the podium in all three 24-hour races, took sixth place in Suzuka as the best European team and finished third in the world championship standings. Expectations are high for the FIM EWC 2024, in which BMW wants to fight for the title.
Markus Reiterberger: “After the positive Pre-Test at Le Mans, we have of course set high goals for ourselves. We aim to take the next step this year and get even closer to our ultimate goal, the world championship. After the previous years we are now aiming for the top position. We are well-prepared for Le Mans. There are a few minor things we still need to improve, but we have everything necessary on board and will give our best from both the team and rider side. During the free practice sessions we will try to fine-tune the bike a bit more to suit us as riders and continue to adapt to each other within the new line-up, so that we can attack properly in qualifying and have a good, stable, and fast bike for all three riders in the 24-hour race with the aim of hopefully standing at the top on Sunday. It will be a long and tough race, a long, tough season, but I believe we are all in good spirits and have realistic chances.”
Links & information on the race series: EWC website: https://www.fimewc.com
EWC broadcasts: https://www.fimewc.com/watch-on-tv/