Eleven years of partnership are coming to a close. As Motorsport.com Italia reports, Philipp Eng and BMW M Motorsport will part ways at the conclusion of the 2026 season by mutual agreement, allowing the 36-year-old driver to pursue new opportunities starting in 2027.
Eng departs the Munich manufacturer as one of its most decorated drivers of the modern GT and prototype era. His official stint with the brand began back in 2016, when he took victory at the 24 Hours of Spa in a Rowe Racing BMW M6 GT3. He followed that up with further endurance triumphs at Spa in 2018 and 2023, alongside a GTLM class win at the 24 Hours of Daytona in 2019 aboard a BMW M8 GTE. His resume also features a four-year DTM run from 2018 to 2022, yielding one victory and five podiums across 72 starts.
From 2023 onward, Eng became a core part of BMW's LMDh flagship effort, handling the BMW M Hybrid V8 in the IMSA SportsCar Championship's GTP class. Over four seasons in the top prototype category, he secured two wins and five podiums, culminating in a fourth-place finish in the drivers' standings alongside teammate Dries Vanthoor in 2025. His history with the manufacturer extends even further back to his junior days, winning the 2007 Formula BMW World Final which earned him a Formula 1 test with the BMW Sauber F1 Team in 2008.
Reflecting on his departure, Eng stated: “Vorrei esprimere i miei più sentiti ringraziamenti a tutti coloro che mi hanno sostenuto durante i miei undici anni in BMW. È stato un periodo fantastico!” He added: “Nel corso degli anni ho stretto molte amicizie e ne sono molto grato. Sono felicissimo di aver vinto gare in ogni campionato a cui ho partecipato – che si tratti di DTM, IMSA, GT World Challenge o Intercontinental GT Challenge. Tra i momenti salienti ci sono stati, ovviamente, le mie tre vittorie alla 24 Ore di Spa-Francorchamps e il successo alla 24 Ore di Daytona.”
Andreas Roos, head of BMW M Motorsport, paid tribute to the departing driver: “Vorrei rivolgere i miei più calorosi ringraziamenti a Philipp per gli undici anni di successi trascorsi insieme alla BMW. Grazie alle sue numerose vittorie di rilievo nelle gare GT, si è affermato come uno dei migliori piloti al mondo in questa categoria.”
Eng's next destination remains unconfirmed, though summer rumors linked him to an American manufacturer with suggestions that Penske could plan a return to the 24 Hours of Le Mans in 2027 with Cadillac. Meanwhile, BMW juniors Dan Harper and Max Hesse are viewed as the favorites to fill the vacant LMDh seat.
