Daytona. Season two for the BMW M Hybrid V8 within the GTP class of the IMSA WeatherTech SportsCar Championship (IMSA sequence) begins on 27th/28th January with the spotlight initially, the 24 Hours of Daytona (USA). Eight BMW M works drivers will begin for BMW M Team RLL within the two LMDh vehicles. In the qualifying session on the conclusion of the ‘Roar before the 24’, the take a look at weekend instantly earlier than the race, Connor De Phillippi (USA) drove the #25 BMW M Hybrid V8 to the fourth beginning place. In the #24 sister automotive, Jesse Krohn (FIN) was eighth. Five extra BMW M works drivers can be in motion within the two BMW M4 GT3s which compete within the GTD classes.
De Phillippi was 0.366 seconds off pole place with a qualifying time of 1:33.022 minutes and has a superb begin place for the race from the second row. He shares the cockpit with Nick Yelloly (GBR), Maxime Martin (BEL), and René Rast (GER). Alongside Krohn, Philipp Eng (AUT), Augusto Farfus (BRA), and Dries Vanthoor (BEL) will drive the #24 BMW M Hybrid V8.
For the Paul Miller Racing group, three BMW M works drivers will take the wheel of the #1 BMW M4 GT3 within the GTD-PRO class. Madison Snow, Neil Verhagen (each USA), and Sheldon van der Linde (RSA) type a quartet with Bryan Sellers (USA). They begin from place twelve of their class. Robby Foley (USA) and Jens Klingmann (GER) are a part of the Turner Motorsport crew within the #96 BMW M4 GT3 within the GTD class and, along with Patrick Gallagher and Jake Walker (each USA), begin from place 16 of their class.
The 24-hour race begins on Saturday, 27th January, at 13:40 native time (19:40 CET). On Friday, 26th January at 13:45 native time (19:45 CET), the BMW M Endurance Challenge takes place. At the season opener of the IMSA Michelin Pilot Challenge, 5 BMW M4 GT4s are on the beginning grid of the 4-hour race.
Quotes earlier than the race:
Bobby Rahal (Team Principal BMW M Team RLL): “We arrived at last year’s Rolex 24 having just finished giving birth to the BMW M Hybrid V8 programme in the last quarter of 2022. While I was generally pleased with our performance – one of the cars staying on the lead lap until the 22nd hour – this year we arrive at Daytona better prepared. If that preparation translates into increased reliability, we can expect a very good Rolex 24.”
Connor De Phillippi (#25 BMW M Hybrid V8, 4th beginning place): “In qualifying we had the best car of the whole weekend. We are satisfied that we have made a good step in the right direction. There is still some optimisation to be done here and there, but I am happy for the team about the significantly better result compared to last year. We are slowly but surely getting to where we need to be to close the gap. The race is long, and a lot can happen. We are ready for the action.”
Jesse Krohn (#24 BMW M Hybrid V8, 8th beginning place): “This is not the place where I wanted to end the session. I didn’t get everything together for a fast lap after we had focussed on race speed and not on qualifying in the test sessions. Of course, it would be better to start further ahead, but we definitely have a much better car for the race than the start position suggests. I think we are very well prepared.”
BMW M Motorsport starters at a look:
GTP:
#24 BMW M Hybrid V8, BMW M Team RLL:
Philipp Eng (AUT)
Jesse Krohn (FIN)
Augusto Farfus (BRA)
Dries Vanthoor (BEL)
#25 BMW M Hybrid V8, BMW M Team RLL:
Connor De Phillippi (USA)
Nick Yelloly (GBR)
Maxime Martin (BEL)
René Rast (GER)
GTD PRO:
#1 BMW M4 GT3, Paul Miller Racing:
Bryan Sellers (USA)
Madison Snow (USA)
Neil Verhagen (USA)
Sheldon van der Linde (RSA)
GTD:
#96 BMW M4 GT3, Turner Motorsport:
Robby Foley (USA)
Patrick Gallagher (USA)
Jake Walker (USA)
Jens Klingmann (GER)