Daytona. At the season opener of the IMSA WeatherTech SportsCar Championship (IMSA sequence), the Daytona 24 Hours (USA), the BMW M Team RLL missed the hoped-for podium finishes with the BMW M Hybrid V8. Although the 2 LMDh vehicles had been capable of sustain with the pace of their rivals and keep within the main group of the GTP class till into the evening, technical issues then set each prototypes again. Paul Miller Racing had purpose to have fun. The North American BMW M Motorsport crew completed third on the rostrum within the GTD PRO class .
For the BMW M Team RLL, the second 24-hour race in Daytona with the BMW M Hybrid V8 initially went in line with plan. Both automobile #24 with drivers Philipp Eng (AUT), Jesse Krohn (FIN), Augusto Farfus (BRA), and Dries Vanthoor (BEL), in addition to the sister automobile with Connor De Phillippi (USA), Nick Yelloly (GBR), Maxime Martin (BEL), and René Rast (GER), held robust pace and stayed within the main group till late at evening. However, each crews then had unhealthy luck with technical difficulties.
The #24 BMW M Hybrid V8 stopped on the observe as a result of digital issues, however may have returned to the race shortly as solely the steering wheel wanted to get replaced. Unfortunately, there was a mishap with the restoration crew whereas towing the automobile again to the pit, which value further time, Ultimately, the BMW M Team RLL misplaced 13 laps as a result of unlucky incident.
The #25 BMW M Hybrid V8, which had even been within the lead at one level, suffered a leak within the gearbox cooler. Later on, a brake change was crucial on the rear axle, which led to a complete of 15 laps behind.
Paul Miller Racing confirmed a powerful comeback from twelfth place within the GTD PRO class and even led the race for lengthy stretches within the #1 BMW M4 GT3. In the ultimate hours of the race, nevertheless, the crew was unable to compete for the win as a result of an issue throughout a pit cease, but it surely was sufficient for drivers Madison Snow, Bryan Sellers, Neil Verhagen (all USA), and Sheldon van der Linde (RSA) to take third place on the rostrum. In the GTD class, Turner Motorsport additionally had a powerful comeback, however Robby Foley, Patrick Gallagher, Jake Walker (all USA), and Jens Klingmann (GER) fell far behind as a result of a mechanical defect on the oil pump drive.
Reactions after the race:
Franciscus van Meel (CEO BMW M GmbH): “Luck was not with the diligent. We were well prepared for the race beforehand and started with a good feeling. Accordingly, we are now disappointed with this result. But it is what it is. We have two more big races with the BMW M Hybrid V8 in Qatar and Sebring in the next six weeks. Now it’s about implementing everything we didn’t achieve here in Daytona and coming out on top.”
Andreas Roos (Head of BMW M Motorsport): “Looking at our results this weekend is, of course, very disappointing. But we have shown that our BMW M Hybrid V8 could keep up with the competition and even led at times. If you compare that to our debut a year ago, we have made huge strides in the right direction in terms of performance. Unfortunately, we had technical issues during the night with both cars, which should not happen in such a race. We now have to analyze these precisely to ensure that we are better prepared for the upcoming races. It is also a shame that Paul Miller Racing with the BMW M4 GT3 had problems at the end and fell back to third place in the GTD PRO.”
Jesse Krohn (#24 BMW M Hybrid V8, seventh place): “I feel for everyone on the team who worked so hard for this event. We definitely deserved a better result. For me personally, it was a fantastic experience. I had an incredible amount of fun in my first race with the new car and learned a lot. I am convinced that we could have achieved a very good result without our problems.”
Connor De Phillippi (#25 BMW M Hybrid V8, eighth place): “That was not the race we wanted. Until the race, we had actually had a positive week here in Daytona, but unfortunately, luck was not on our side. You cannot afford technical problems like the ones we had in such a race. We have to learn from that with a view to Sebring.”
Neil Verhagen (#1 BMW M4 GT3, Paul Miller Racing, third place GTD PRO): “My first 24-hour race in Daytona and my first start in an IMSA race – that was a great experience. I was in the best possible team, and we led the race for long stretches. Unfortunately, some problems late in the race put the win out of reach. Nevertheless, we still made it to the podium. We can be proud of that. Generally, a podium in Daytona is, of course, a reason to be happy, but when you were so close to the win, it hurts not to reach it in the end.”
Robby Foley (#96 BMW M4 GT3, Turner Motorsport, 14th place GTD): “We actually drove a smart race all the time and always stayed in touch with the top. We had a car that could have fought for the win in the GTD class. Unfortunately, we had the technical problem exactly at sunrise. The guys repaired it very quickly, but with 15 laps behind, we were, of course, out of the race for a top placement. Now I’m looking forward to making up for it at the next race in Sebring.”