Second podium for BMW Team RLL in 2018 – De Phillippi and Sims finish second at Mid-Ohio.

Munich. The #25 BMW M8 GTE of Connor De Phillippi (USA) and Alexander Sims (GBR) raced to a well-deserved second place in the fourth IMSA WeatherTech SportsCar Championship race at Mid-Ohio (USA) on Sunday, taking the chequered flag 1.673 seconds behind the race winning #912 Porsche in the GTLM class. The result was the team’s second runner-up finish of the season and the 70th podium finish since 2009. After starting from pole position, John Edwards (USA) and Jesse Krohn (FIN) had an unfortunate race and finished seventh in the #24 BMW M8 GTE. In the GTD class, Bill Auberlen (USA) and Dillon Machavern (USA) finished sixth in the #96 Turner Motorsport BMW M6 GT3.

Reactions to IMSA WeatherTech SportsCar Championship race at Mid-Ohio:

Bobby Rahal (BMW Team RLL, Team Principal): “For sure it was a good day for us. Connor and Alexander did a super job. We got bogged down in traffic and decided to run long with their car. Our second pit stop was faster because we did not have to put so much fuel in and we could put soft tyres on. Everyone else had twenty more laps on their tyres and I think that and the lighter fuel load is really what made the difference. Connor ended up in the seat and drove very well. I feel bad for John and Jesse. A shame really but after Long Beach it feels good.”

Connor De Phillippi (#25 BMW M8 GTE, 2nd place): “Massive team effort for our home race. We were trying to get both cars on the podium and we got one there. We can be proud of that. We are learning more and more every weekend about getting the maximum out of the car. The car ran great today and we would have liked to get that first win but we will just need to work a little harder and run a better race at Watkins Glen.”

Alexander Sims (#25 BMW M8 GTE, 2nd place): “That was quite an eventful race with a lot of mayhem near the front and unfortunately it really caught out the lead sister car when John got boxed out. Our pace was sensible after that and we were able to hold position. After the pit stop we dropped back to fifth which is a shame and that required us to go off strategy and we took a big risk to go longer than everyone. Thankfully we were able to manage traffic well and Connor put in some good times. At one point in looked like a good result was gone but lovely to get back on the podium.”

Jesse Krohn (#24 BMW M8 GTE, 7th place): “Today wasn’t our day as we were pushed wide and off track. I don’t know exactly what happened but two prototypes collided and John had to go wide to avoid. We ended up not where we wanted to be and had to play catch up. Pitting early, we ended up at the back but luckily the other car pitted later which worked for them. We just needed a little bit more luck today.”

John Edwards (#24 BMW M8 GTE, 7th place): “I was not so much pushed [off track] but there was a crash of prototype back-markers and I had to take evasive action so I ended up off track.”