IMSA: Disappointing race for BMW M Team RLL on the Detroit street circuit.

Detroit. The fifth season race of the IMSA WeatherTech SportsCar Championship on the tight streets of Detroit (USA) was disappointing for the two BMW M Hybrid V8s of BMW M Team RLL. Philipp Eng (AUT) and Jesse Krohn (FIN) finished in seventh place in the #24 car. The #25 BMW M Hybrid V8 with Connor De Phillippi (USA) and Nick Yelloly (GBR) at the wheel retired after an accident .

After strong performances in practice, BMW M Team RLL had bad luck in qualifying on Friday. A red flag shortly before the end of the session prevented Eng and Yelloly from completing their fastest laps. Starting from sixth and eighth on the grid, it was very difficult to make up ground in the race on the tight circuit. After an early drive-through penalty, the #24 car could do no better than seventh place. In the #25 BMW M Hybrid V8, which was doing well in the race until the pit stop, De Phillippi initially slid straight into the tyre barriers while fighting for the lead and then retired a lap later after another impact into the track barrier with a broken rear suspension.

In the GTD-PRO class, the #1 Paul Miller Racing BMW M4 GT3 with Madison Snow and Bryan Sellers (both USA) at the wheel finished in fifth place.

Comments after the race:

Jesse Krohn (#24 BMW M Hybrid V8, 7th place): “Unfortunately, we were never able to show the true pace of our BMW M Hybrid V8. On a street circuit like this, track position is the key to success. Unfortunately, the red flag in qualifying set us back. Then there was the drive-through penalty after the start. From the back of the GTP field, we then tried an aggressive strategy that helped a bit, but ultimately, it was not enough for more than seventh place. The improvements to the car are still visible, though. I am convinced that we will soon be getting the corresponding results.”

Nick Yelloly (#25 BMW M Hybrid V8, DNF): “After the bad luck with the red flag in qualifying, we had to start from far back in the GTP field, but we made good progress and were even at the front thanks to our pit stop strategy. Unfortunately, we were not able to convert the situation into a good result. Next up is Watkins Glen, where we won last year.”