IMSA: BMW M Team WRT on the podium at Laguna Seca.

Laguna Seca. Second podium of the season for BMW M Team WRT in the IMSA WeatherTech SportsCar Championship (IMSA Series). At WeatherTech Raceway Laguna Seca (USA), Philipp Eng (AUT) and Marco Wittmann (GER) finished third in the #25 BMW M Hybrid V8 after a strong comeback drive. The duo started from 10th position and steadily improved throughout the 2-hour and 40-minute race. It was the second podium for the BMW M Hybrid V8 this year, following third place for car number 24 in Daytona (USA). On the occasion of Alessandro Zanardi’s passing, BMW M Motorsport honoured the Italian with a personal tribute message on both BMW M Hybrid V8 cars.

The first half of the race was shaped by Dries Vanthoor (BEL) and Sheldon van der Linde (RSA), who, starting from fourth position in the #24 BMW M Hybrid V8, took the lead within the opening hour. However, the duo dropped back during a pit stop under yellow and was unable to fight their way back to the front. In the end, they finished ninth. Eng and Wittmann managed a flawless race, and their strategy paid off. After the final pit stop, Wittmann was in third place, which he was able to defend in a fiercely contested final phase.

 
Before the race, members of BMW M Motorsport and BMW M Team WRT honoured the long-time BMW works driver and brand ambassador Alessandro Zanardi, who passed away over the weekend, with a personally signed tribute message on both LMDh cars. The drivers and Team Principal Vincent Vosse also wore black armbands. IMSA also honoured Zanardi with a message and a poster in the very corner that made him famous for a spectacular overtaking maneuver in IndyCar: the Corkscrew.
 

In the two GTD classes, Paul Miller Racing and Turner Motorsport did not achieve podium finishes. In GTD PRO, Neil Verhagen and Connor De Phillippi (both USA) were in contention for the podium for a long time, but after a late final fuel stop for the #1 BMW M4 GT3 EVO, they finished eighth. BMW M works driver Robby Foley and Patrick Gallagher (both USA) finished seventh in the GTD class in the #96 BMW M4 GT3 EVO from Turner Motorsport.

 
IMPC: Turner Motorsport triumphs with the BMW M4 GT4 EVO.
On Saturday, the IMSA Michelin Pilot Challenge (IMPC) held its 2-hour race at WeatherTech Raceway. This was the moment for Dillon Machavern and Luca Mars (both USA), who celebrated victory in the #95 BMW M4 GT4 EVO from Turner Motorsport. Robby Foley and Vincent Barletta (both USA) finished fifth in the sister car, number 96. Right behind them, Roland Krainz (USA) and Stevan McAleer (GBR) finished sixth in the #27 BMW M4 GT4 EVO from AutoTechnic Racing. In eighth place, BMW M works driver Bill Auberlen (USA) and Samantha Tan (CAN) crossed the finish line in car number 38 from ST Racing by Random Vandals.

 
Comments after the race:

Vincent Vosse (Team Principal BMW M Team WRT): “First podium of the season for Philipp and Marco - it was a good, strong race for them both. Congratulations to the entire crew! We brought the number 24 car into the lead with a shorter first pit stop, but the yellow flag that followed shortly afterward meant our strategy didn’t work out. That’s very unfortunate, but it’s something we have to take away as a lesson from this weekend.”

Philipp Eng (#25 BMW M Hybrid V8, BMW M Team WRT, 3rd place GTP): “A good ending to a difficult weekend for us. I’m very happy for the whole team - thank you, everyone! We struggled with the car’s balance all weekend, but in the race we did a perfect job. Marco drove fantastically, and I was able to save a lot of energy in my first stint, which helped us in the end.”

Marco Wittmann (#25 BMW M Hybrid V8, BMW M Team WRT, 3rd place GTP): “That’s what I call a happy end to a tough week! We had many problems with the car’s balance this weekend. Considering that, third place is much more than we expected. It’s great that the hard work of the whole team was rewarded with a podium. At the end of the race, I could only defend, but the Porsche was simply too strong. I couldn’t hold it off, but at least it was still enough for third place.”

Dries Vanthoor (#24 BMW M Hybrid V8, BMW M Team WRT, 9th place GTP): “After a difficult first practice, we made very good progress with the car overnight, and I was able to secure fourth place on the grid. In the race, my first stint was also very strong, and I even took the lead. After that, unfortunately, quite a few things went wrong. A much better result would have been possible. Congratulations to our sister car on the podium!”