As Motorsport.com reports, Philipp Eng and BMW M Motorsport will bring their 11-year partnership to a close following the conclusion of the 2026 season. Both sides mutually agreed against extending the 36-year-old Austrian factory driver's contract, opening the door for him to seek out new racing opportunities starting in 2027.
Eng departs the Munich-based brand with an extraordinary resume across modern GT and prototype racing. His career as a BMW works driver kicked off in style back in 2016 by conquering the Spa 24 Hours in a Rowe Racing BMW M6 GT3, a grueling endurance triumph he would repeat twice more in 2018 and 2023. Add in a GTLM class victory at the 2019 24 Hours of Daytona aboard a BMW M8 GTE, alongside a four-year DTM campaign from 2018 to 2022 featuring one victory and five podiums across 72 race starts, and you have the makings of a true modern classic sports car career.
I wish Philipp all the best for the next stage of his career and look forward to seeing him again soon at the racetrack.
From 2023 onward, Eng became a fundamental pillar of BMW's premier LMDh project, wrestling the BMW M Hybrid V8 in the GTP class of the IMSA WeatherTech SportsCar Championship. Across four seasons in top-tier prototypes, he collected two wins and five podium appearances, capping off a stellar 2025 campaign by taking fourth in the driver standings alongside co-driver Dries Vanthoor.
“I would like to express my heartfelt thanks to everyone who has supported me during my eleven years at BMW. It has been a fantastic time!” Eng said.
“Over the years, I’ve made many friends, and I’m very grateful for that. I’m delighted to have won races in every series I’ve competed in – be it the DTM, the IMSA Series, the GT World Challenge or the Intercontinental GT Challenge. Particular highlights were, of course, my three victories at the 24 Hours of Spa-Francorchamps and my success at the 24 Hours of Daytona.”
“Now it is time for me to turn my attention to new and exciting challenges. I wish BMW all the best for the future! I will always cherish the memories of our time together.”
Eng's ties to the German manufacturer actually stretch even further back than his works driver tenure. He raced as a junior driver in Formula BMW between 2006 and 2008, taking victory at the 2007 Formula BMW World Final—a massive achievement that earned him a Formula 1 test drive with the BMW Sauber F1 Team the following year. BMW M Motorsport boss Andreas Roos praised the outgoing driver's immense contributions to both their GT and GTP efforts.
“I would like to extend my warmest thanks to Philipp Eng for eleven successful years together at BMW. Through his numerous major victories in GT racing, Philipp has established himself as one of the world’s top drivers in this category,” Roos said.
“At the same time, from 2023 onwards, he has regularly demonstrated his class at the wheel of the BMW M Hybrid V8. In the IMSA Series, he was a key component over four seasons in our development into a top team that can now consistently compete for victories and podium places.”
“I wish Philipp all the best for the next stage of his career and look forward to seeing him again soon at the racetrack.”
As for what comes next, Eng's destination for 2027 remains officially unconfirmed, though summer rumors have loosely linked him to an American manufacturer amidst speculation that Penske could plot a Le Mans return with Cadillac. Meanwhile, internal BMW talents Dan Harper and Max Hesse are viewed as frontrunners to step into the vacant seat.
