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Lexus

Hawksworth, Barnicoat Deliver Solid Points-Paying Day at Laguna Seca

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The No. 14 begins and finishes fourth in GTD PRO

SALINAS, Calif. (May 14, 2024) – In the return of the GTD PRO class this weekend on the Course De Monterey at Laguna Seca, Jack Hawksworth and Ben Barnicoat completed fourth-place within the No. 14 Vasser Sullivan Lexus RC F GT3 on Sunday. The No. 12 Lexus RC F GT3 with Parker Thompson and Frankie Montecalvo completed ninth within the GTD class.

Hawksworth began from the fourth place on the GTD PRO grid Sunday afternoon, holding regular throughout the race’s first two stints. With an hour remaining within the dash race, Hawksworth handed the No. 14 over to Barnicoat to complete the race. The Brit cycled out in fifth place from the cease, however methodically chased down and overtook the No. 3 automotive with 10 minutes remaining to say the fourth place on the end. The No. 14 Vasser Sullivan group sits second within the GTD PRO driver’s standings with right this moment’s consequence.

The No. 12 Lexus RC F GT3 group ended Sunday’s race at Laguna Seca within the ninth place of the GTD class after starting the day fifth. Montecalvo began within the No. 12, working between fourth and seventh place throughout the early parts of the race. After an early-race warning, Montecalvo cycled to the entrance of the GTD discipline and led seven laps throughout the first pit cease cycle. Thompson jumped into the No. 12 RC F GT3 with an hour and 21 minutes remaining, working as excessive as second throughout pit cease cycles. However, the group wanted yet one more warning to make their technique work, which didn’t happen they usually earned a ninth-place end.

The Vasser Sullivan Lexus group returns to motion in a dash race at Detroit Grand Prix on Saturday, June 1. To sustain with all of the racing motion, comply with Lexus Racing on Facebook, Instagram and TikTok by utilizing #LexusEfficiency.

Vasser Sullivan Driver Quotes

JACK HAWKSWORTH, No. 14 Lexus RC F GT3
How was the race right this moment for the No. 14 group?
“Just a really solid day and solid weekend. We tested here a few weeks ago, knowing this place (Laguna Seca) is always tough for us. After the test, the engineers and mechanics all came up with some really good ideas to come back with and we made the Lexus RC F GT3 competitive. We had a really strong effort in qualifying yesterday to put us fourth on the grid and then in the race this afternoon, we were in the fight, just didn’t have the pace to battle for the podium. We hung in there all day and think we finished higher than what we showed pace-wise, which is all you can do. P4 on the day, happy with that, good set of points and now we head to Detroit, Watkins Glen and Mosport, which are places that have been really good to us. Our Vasser Sullivan team will focus and get our heads down.”

BEN BARNICOAT, No. 14 Lexus RC F GT3
Coming residence in fourth place, what was your race like?
“Today was just one of those days where early on, I think we realized we didn’t have the pace to win the race, so then you look towards strategy, right? What can we do? What can’t we do? I think everyone here at Vasser Sullivan and Lexus optimized what we had today. From a strategy point-of-view, the overcut looked quite powerful in the first pit stop, which helped us move forward a bit into second, but we dropped back to fourth as we didn’t quite have the pace to hang on. And then, we tried another overcut at the end in the last pit stop cycle, and we were undercut by a competitor and came out in fifth. But, I was able to get back forward at the end there past the No. 3. It was a tough race, obviously gave it everything we had. I think we have to see a fourth-place finish as almost like an internal win. That was the best we had, and on days when you’re not quite quick enough, you just have to do your best. Proud of everyone here for doing that. Jack (Hawksworth) had a great run and kept the car clean and in one piece, as I did in my run. Great to come out of this race second in the driver’s standings. Looking forward to Detroit.”

PARKER THOMPSON, No. 12 Lexus RC F GT3
How would you describe your race as soon as getting within the automotive?
“Today is a perfect day to describe sprint, endurance racing. We were in a perfect position, had a really fast Lexus RC F GT3, but unfortunately, a yellow came out 30 seconds before we needed it to, and that means we missed getting into the pits on schedule. It basically put us a lap down on the road. Apart from that, the No. 12 team did an awesome job with a great strategy to put us in contention to compete for a win. But we didn’t get another yellow like we needed, which meant I was saving (fuel) and battling for a position lower than we had hoped. But we live to fight another day. We’re all hungry. I know it sounds like a broken record, but this No. 12 crew deserves more, and we’re locked in for the upcoming rounds. I think we’re going to get a win.”

FRANKIE MONTECALVO, No. 12 Lexus RC F GT3
Can you are taking us by your day and the way these cautions affected technique?
“I think we had a good car and something to battle with at the end there. All in all, the Vasser Sullivan team did a great job. We just kind of got held out by a yellow, which was just in the worst time, and then we didn’t get the yellow we needed. So, a top-10 finish in this one and onto the next.”

About Lexus
The Lexus RC F GT3 enters its eighth season within the GTD class, and third 12 months within the GTD PRO class, competing within the IMSA WeatherTech SportsCar Championship. Over the final six seasons, Lexus and Vasser Sullivan have mixed to earn 15 wins, 41 podium finishes and 21 pole positions with the RC F GT3. Lexus gained its first full-season IMSA GTD PRO Manufacturers Championship on the energy of two wins and podium positions in 9 of 11 races in 2023.

Lexus’ ardour for courageous design, imaginative know-how, and exhilarating efficiency permits the posh way of life model to create wonderful experiences for its prospects. Lexus started its journey in 1989 with two luxurious sedans and a dedication to pursue perfection. Since then, Lexus has developed its lineup to satisfy the wants of world luxurious prospects in additional than 90 nations. In the United States, Lexus autos are offered by 244 sellers providing a full lineup of luxurious autos. With eight fashions incorporating Lexus Hybrid Drive, Lexus is the posh hybrid chief. Lexus additionally presents 9 F SPORT fashions, one F efficiency mannequin and one F mannequin. Lexus is dedicated to being a visionary model that anticipates the long run for luxurious prospects.

BMW

IMSA Laguna Seca: Podium for Turner Motorsport at milestone race – BMW M Team RLL faces points.

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Laguna Seca. Turner Motorsport celebrated second place within the GTD class on the fourth race of the IMSA WeatherTech SportsCar Championship at Laguna Seca (USA), concluding its milestone weekend on the rostrum. The crew, led by Will Turner, accomplished its 557th race in a BMW automobile – greater than another BMW M Motorsport buyer crew. BMW M Team RLL confirmed good tempo in qualifying with the 2 BMW M Hybrid V8s however fell again within the race after incidents and missed the rostrum .

 

Philipp Eng (AUT) began the race within the #24 BMW M Hybrid V8 from third place after a powerful qualifying session on Saturday. He held that place till the motive force change to Jesse Krohn (FIN). However, a slip within the ultimate hour of the race resulted in a broken rear that needed to be modified within the pits. Krohn completed the race in ninth place within the GTP class. Connor De Phillippi (USA) and Nick Yelloly (GBR) began within the sister automobile from fifth place and completed in seventh after shedding time throughout a pit cease and in addition slipping off the monitor.

Robby Foley and Patrick Gallagher (each USA) took the lead within the GTD class of their #557 BMW M4 GT3 after the primary yellow part of the race from the second begin place and had victory in sight. However, a couple of laps earlier than the top, there was an unlucky contact with a lapping GTP automobile which precipitated Foley to fall from first to second place. In the GTD PRO class, Madison Snow and Bryan Sellers (each USA) within the #1 BMW M4 GT3 from Paul Miller Racing completed in seventh place.

Comments after the race:

Connor De Phillippi (#25 BMW M Hybrid V8, seventh place): “It was a tough race. We had a good car this weekend, but we lost too much time and positions, especially in direct duels and when lapping the GTD cars. We still need to work on the drivability of the car and we generally need to do a better job with the race procedures. In this tight field, it’s about tenths of a second, so we can’t afford any mistakes. We will make another attempt at the podium in Detroit.”

Philipp Eng (#24 BMW M Hybrid V8, ninth place): “The positive is that we showed good pace throughout the weekend. We were in the top-three in every session. The car also felt very good in my first stint. It’s very disappointing that we then fell so far back. We need to analyse exactly how this could have happened. At one point, we were ahead of the winning car. We will attack again in the next race.”

Robby Foley (#557 BMW M4 GT3, 2nd place GTD class): “It was a fantastic day – until just before the end of the race. Unfortunately, there was obviously a misunderstanding when lapping with a prototype. From my point of view, he pushed me off the track as I wanted to turn into the corner but I need to take a closer look at the footage. Second place is still a great result, and we take a lot of important points with us. However, when you’re so close to victory, it still leaves a bitter taste.”

ToyotaUk

TMC Announces April Through March 2024 Financial Results

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Toyota Motor Corporation (TMC) at the moment introduced its monetary outcomes for the fourth quarter, which ended March 31, 2024.

TOYOTA CITY, Japan (May 8, 2024) — Consolidated automobile gross sales totaled roughly 9,443,000 models, a rise of roughly 621,000 models in comparison with the identical interval final fiscal 12 months. On a consolidated foundation, internet revenues for the interval totaled 45.095 trillion yen ($311.0 billion), a rise of 21.4%. Operating earnings elevated from 2.725 trillion yen ($20.2 billion) to five.352 trillion yen ($36.9 billion), whereas earnings earlier than earnings taxes 1 was 6.965 trillion yen ($48.0 billion). Net earnings 2 elevated from 2.451 trillion yen ($18.2 billion) to 4.944 trillion yen ($34.1 billion).

Regions
North America: Vehicle gross sales totaled roughly 2,816,000 models, a rise of 409,000 models. Operating earnings, excluding the affect of valuation positive factors/losses from rate of interest swaps, elevated by 450.3 billion yen ($3.1 billion) to 524.9 billion yen ($3.6 billion).

Japan: Vehicle gross sales totaled roughly 1,993,000 models, a lower of 76,000 models.  Operating earnings, excluding the affect of valuation positive factors/losses from rate of interest swaps, elevated by 1,583.7 billion yen ($10.9 billion) to three,486.2 billion yen ($24.0 billion).

Europe: Vehicle gross sales totaled roughly 1,192,000 models, a rise of 162,000 models. Operating earnings, excluding the affect of valuation positive factors/losses from rate of interest swaps, elevated by 351.3 billion yen ($2.4 billion) to 407.9 billion yen ($2.8 billion).

Asia: Vehicle gross sales totaled roughly 1,804,000 models, a rise of 53,000 models. Operating earnings, excluding the affect of valuation positive factors/losses from rate of interest swaps, elevated by 159.9 billion yen ($1.1 billion) to 872.7 billion yen ($6.0 billion).

Other areas (together with Central and South America, Oceania, Africa, and the Middle East): Vehicle gross sales totaled roughly 1,638,000 models, a rise of 73,000 models. Operating earnings, excluding the affect of valuation positive factors/losses from rate of interest swaps, decreased by 73.2 billion yen ($504.8 million) to 194.3 billion yen ($1.3 billion).

Financial Services
Financial companies working earnings decreased by 8.0 billion yen ($55.1 million) to 613.6 billion yen ($4.2 billion). Including valuation positive factors/losses, working earnings elevated by 132.5 billion yen ($913.8 million) to 570.0 billion yen ($3.9 billion).

(*FY24 forex translations above are approximate and based mostly on a median 145-yen-to-dollar change fee; FY23 is 135-yen-to-dollar change fee)

Forecast
For the fiscal 12 months ending March 31, 2025, TMC estimates consolidated automobiles gross sales can be 9.50 million models. Based on an change fee assumption of 145 yen to the U.S. greenback, TMC forecasts consolidated internet income of 46.0 trillion yen ($317.2 billion), working earnings of 4.3 trillion yen ($29.7 billion), earnings earlier than earnings taxes of 5.07 trillion yen ($35.0 billion), and internet earnings of three.57 trillion yen ($24.6 billion).

(*all forex translations above are approximate and based mostly on a median 145 -yen-to-dollar change fee.)

1 Income earlier than earnings taxes and fairness in earnings of affiliated corporations

2 Net earnings attributable to Toyota Motor Corporation

For extra data, click here.

BMW

Struff triumphs on the 2024 BMW Open and wins an all-electric BMW i5 M60.

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Munich. A strong smash, after which it was finished. In the fourth remaining of his profession and his thirteenth look on the BMW Open, Jan-Lennard Struff was in a position to have fun his first title on the ATP Tour in Munich on Sunday. The 33-year-old took 1:19 hours to defeat Taylor Fritz 7-5, 6-3 in Sunday’s remaining. As a reward for profitable his first title on the ATP tour, the German receives €88,125 in prize cash, the normal champion’s Lederhosen, and an all-electric Winner’s Car: the BMW i5 M60(Combined energy consumption: 21.2–18.2 kWh/100 km. Combined CO2 emissions: 0 g/km. Electric vary: 439–516 kilometers. All information based on WLTP). BMW additionally introduced on Sunday that the title partnership, which started again in 1987, will proceed sooner or later. As such, the event will proceed to be known as the BMW Open when it enters a brand new period as an ATP 500 occasion subsequent 12 months.

“It was once again a fantastic tournament week,” stated Bernhard Kuhnt, Head of BMW Region Europe, handing over the keys to the automobile on the presentation ceremony. “The BMW Group is proud to have been title sponsor of this magnificent sporting event in our home city for the 37th time – and that we will continue to be the title sponsor. On behalf of the BMW Group, I would like to congratulate our champion Jan-Lennard Struff on an outstanding performance, his first title at the BMW Open, and winning the all-electric BMW i5 M60. I am sure that he you will have a lot of fun with this innovative 5 Series. Game, set, match, joy. We now look forward to shaping the future of the BMW Open in the ATP 500 category, along with our long-term partners.”

The BMW Open additionally loved a primary within the grandstands this 12 months. For the primary time, all 9 days of the long-lasting event at MTTC Iphitos in Munich had been bought out. Over the course of the week, a file crowd of greater than 50,000 guests defied the unsettled climate, created the distinctive environment on the BMW Open and loved additionally world-class tennis from a top-drawer area: amongst these with their sights set on profitable the title at Aumeisterweg had been Olympic gold medalist Alexander Zverev (GER), final 12 months’s winner Holger Rune (NOR), former US Open champion Dominic Thiem (AUT) and Félix Auger-Aliassime (CAN).

In the top, Struff, who had already reached the ultimate of the BMW Open in 2021 (dropping 4-6, 6-7 to Georgian Nikoloz Basilashvili), deservedly triumphed. Fritz could not face up to the strain of the German’s highly effective recreation all through the ultimate. Similar was the destiny of Rune within the semifinal towards Struff. The world quantity twelve, who had received the BMW Open twice in a row and had not misplaced a match in Munich till then, needed to settle for defeat with a rating of 2-6, 0-6.

“I’m thrilled that I finally made it, and it means a lot to me that I’ve won my first title in Germany. I can hardly wait for the next BMW Open, it’s an incredible tournament,” stated Struff, who obtained the trophy from Markus Söder, Minister President of Bavaria. The Winner’s Car BMW i5 M60 was introduced from Bernhard Kuhnt on the Center Court. “That’s a fantastic car,” stated the visibly impressed champion. “I’m just happy.”

The champion can look ahead to a strong motor and sporty driving dynamics. The BMW i5 M60 affords the efficiency typical of a BMW M automobile – however in all-electric type. The new 5 Series saloon additionally underlines its refined character with revolutionary digital providers, together with for in-car gaming, audio and video streaming, and significantly high-quality driver help programs.

Tournament Director Patrik Hühnen had checked out and picked up the Winner’s Car himself on the manufacturing website – the BMW Group Plant Dingolfing – on behalf of the 2024 BMW Open champion.

Like the Winner’s Car, the shuttle fleet, which BMW operated in the course of the event, was additionally all-electric. It comprised the fully-electric BMW i7, BMW i5 and BMW i5 Touring, BMW iX, BMW iX1 and BMW iX2 fashions.

Struff narrowly missed out on the BMW Open double. The doubles competitors was received by Yuki Bhambri (IND) and Albano Olivetti (FRA) after an thrilling remaining, with a rating of 7-6; 7-6 towards Struff and Andreas Mies (GER). The Allianz Para Trophy, which was held as a part of the BMW Open and featured a top-class area, was received by Martín de la Puente. The 24-year-old Spaniard defeated Gordon Reid (SCO) 2:6; 7:5; 7:6 within the remaining. Frederic Cattaneo/Stephane Houdet (FRA) received the doubles, defeating Anthony Dittmar/Christoph Wilke (GER) 4:0; 4:2 within the remaining. 

BMW i5 M60 xDrive:
Power consumption mixed in WLTP cycle: 21.2 – 18.2 kWh/100 km
Electric vary in WLTP cycle: 439 – 516 km

NewsNew

2024 ANAHEIM 2 SUPERCROSS RESULTS

The fourth spherical of the 2024 Monster Energy Supercross season was the primary triple crown format of the yr. It was a wild night time with extremely various outcomes. There had been six totally different riders who gained races, and that doesn’t embody  Cooper Webb, who was the largest winner of all along with his 2-2-5 rating and the general victory within the 450 class. You might additionally level out that Aaron Plessinger is a winner by ending on the rostrum and preserving the purple plate of the factors chief within the 450 class. In the 250 class, it was Levi Kitchen who got here away with the purple plate.  For extended coverage of the 2024 Monster Energy Supercross season, click here.

ANAHEIM 2 450 OVERALL

1. Cooper Webb 2 / 2 / 5
2. Eli Tomac 5 / 7 / 1
3. Aaron Plessinger 6 / 4 / 3
4. Jason Anderson 4 / 1 / 8
5. Chase Sexton 1 /  11 / 2
6. Jett Lawrence 7 / 3 / 4
7. Ken Roczen 3 / 6 / 10
8. Justin Cooper 10 / 5 / 6
9. Dylan Ferrandis 8 / 15 / 7
10. Malcolm Stewart 11 / 10 / 9
11. Hunter Lawrence 9 / 9 / 12
12. Jorge Prado 12 / 8  /15
13. Justin Barcia 13 / 16 / 11
14. Christian Craig 17 / 12 / 13
15. Justin Hill 16 / 13 / 14
16. Vince Friese 15 / 14 / 16
17. Kyle Chisholm 14 / 20 / 19
18. Shane McElrath 19 / 17 / 18
19. Freddie Noren 20 / 18 / 20
20. Benny Bloss 18 / 19 / 21
21. Derek Drake 21 / 21 / 17
22. Luke Kalaitzian 22 / 22 / 22

450 POINTS AFTER ANAHEIM 2

1. Aaron Plessinger 80
2. Chase Sexton 76
3. Cooper Webb 74
4. Jett Lawrence 72
5. Eli Tomac 70
6. Jason Anderson 67
7. Dylan Ferrandis 62
8. Ken Roczen 57
9. Justin Barcia 49
10. Jorge Prado 45
11. Hunter Lawrence 38
12. Justin Cooper 36
13. Shane McElrath 33
14. Adam Cianciarulo 33
15. Malcolm Stewart 26
16. Dean Wilson 24
17. Christian Craig 20
18. Derek Drake 17
19. Justin Hill 15
20. Freddie Noren 11
21. Cade Clason 10
22. Benny Bloss 9
23. Kyle Chisholm 9
24. Austin Politelli 7
25. Vince Friese 6
26. Justin Rodbell 5
27. Jason Clermont 1
28. Luke Kalaitzian 0

250 WEST A2 OVERALL

1. Levi Kitchen 1/ 2/ 3
2. RJ Hampshire 2/ 1/ 7
3. Nate Thrasher 3/ 10/ 1
4. Jo Shimoda 9/ 3/ 2
5. Jordon Smith 4/ 8/ 4
6. Anthony Bourdon 8/ 6/ 8
7. Julien Beaumer 12/ 5/ 6
8. Ryder DiFrancesco 5/ 7/ 12
9. Garrett Marchbanks 6/ 16/ 5
10. Phillip Nicoletti 7/ 4/ 18
11. Carson Mumford 15/ 9/ 9
12. Mitchell Oldenburg 13/ 12/ 10
13. Robbie Wageman 16/ 11/ 11
14. Hunter Yoder 10/ 14/ 14
15. Cole Thompson 14/ 13/ 13
16. Max Miller 18/ 15/ 15
17. Matti Jorgensen 19/ 17/ 16
18. Joshua Varize 17/ 19/ 17
19. Talon Hawkins 11/ 22/ 22
20. Slade Varola 21/ 18/ 20
21. Max Sanford 22/ 20/ 19
22. Billy Laninovich 20/ 21/ 21

250 WEST POINTS AFTER ANAHEIM 2

1. Levi Kitchen 84
2. Jordon Smith 84
3. RJ Hampshire 76
4. Garrett Marchbanks 70
5. Anthony Bourdon 55
6. Jo Shimoda 54
7. Mitchell Oldenburg 51
8. Nate Thrasher 50
9. Julien Beaumer 48
10. Carson Mumford 47
11. Hunter Yoder 44
12. Ryder DiFrancesco 42
13. Joshua Varize 35
14. Cole Thompson 34
15. Phillip Nicoletti 30
16. Robbie Wageman 28
17. Matti Jorgensen 22
18. Maximus Vohland 20
19. Max Sanford 16
20. Slade Varola 10
21. Talon Hawkins 10
22. Lance Kobusch 9
23. TJ Albright 8
24. Geran Stapleton 6
25. Max Miller 6
26. Deegan Hepp 5
27. Julien Benek 3
28. Lux Turner 2
29. Ty Freehill 2
30. Alex Nagy 1
31. Billy Laninovich 0

Motorsport

2024 Citroen e-C3 Debuts In Europe With 199-Mile Range, $24,500 Starting Price

Citroen is introducing the fourth generation of the C3 with a purely electric powertrain, transitioning from combustion-powered vehicles. The 2024 e-C3 is now available in the European market, with a starting price of approximately $24,500 (23,300 Euros). In 2025, an even more affordable entry-level model is expected, potentially becoming one of the most budget-friendly electric vehicles in Europe. Here’s a closer look at the features and improvements of this new supermini.

The model, based on Stellantis’ Smart Car Platform, features a fresh design language compared to its predecessor. The traditional small hatchback has transformed into a more crossover-like vehicle with wheels positioned at the edges. This design choice, combined with a higher roof line, results in a significantly more spacious cabin. Citroen claims there is an additional 1.18 inches of headroom and 0.8 inches of knee room for occupants. The cargo area behind the rear seats has also slightly increased from 10.59 cubic feet to 10.94 cubic feet.


Cars

Ranking the Generations of the Toyota Supra, from Least to Most Valuable

The most valuable iteration of the Toyota Supra is the fourth generation, which was in production from 1993 to 2002. When it was first released in 1998, it carried a price tag of under $31,000. However, over the years, its value has appreciated significantly. Today, depending on its condition, a 1998 Supra can fetch anywhere between $35,000 and $65,000, with some exceptional examples selling for over $100,000 each.

The fourth generation Supra boasted a twin-turbo 3.0-liter straight-six engine that churned out 312 horsepower and 315 pounds-feet of torque. With this power, the 3,265-pound coupe could race from 0 to 60 mph in just 4.7 seconds and reach a top speed of 177 mph. Additionally, buyers had the option to choose a model with a removable targa top. The 18.5-gallon fuel tank and the highway fuel mileage of 22 mpg offered a cruising range of over 400 miles.

Despite these impressive features, the declining popularity of two-door coupes in the U.S. market as the 21st century began led to the discontinuation of the Supra after the 2002 model year. The nameplate remained dormant until 2019, when the Supra returned in its current iteration.

BMW

BMW M Team WRT Wins Indianapolis 8 Hour Race, Maintains Lead in Manufacturer Standings

In the fourth race of the Intercontinental GT Challenge (IGTC) season, BMW M Team WRT emerged victorious at the Indianapolis 8 Hour. The BMW M4 GT3, piloted by Philipp Eng, Sheldon van der Linde, and Dries Vanthoor, secured a win at the prestigious Indianapolis Motor Speedway with a 53-second lead. This win marked BMW’s third consecutive victory in the IGTC, allowing them to maintain their lead in the manufacturer standings ahead of Mercedes. Eng remains in second place in the driver’s championship but has closed the gap with the top spot. BMW M Motorsport will compete in the season finale in Abu Dhabi in December, aiming for titles in both categories.

The race saw the #30 BMW M4 GT3 start from fourth position, but Eng managed to take the lead in the first corner. The BMW M Team WRT encountered a setback when they received a drive-through penalty for exceeding the maximum stint duration, temporarily losing the lead. However, with excellent speed and the advantage of cooler temperatures on race day, Eng staged a comeback, propelling the team from fourth to second place. The #31 BMW M4 GT3, driven by Augusto Farfus, Maxime Martin, and Charles Weerts, led the race with a little over two hours remaining. Unfortunately, Farfus collided with another car while attempting to overtake, resulting in damage to the front suspension of his car. Despite the setback, BMW M Team WRT repaired the damage but lost significant time in the process. Nevertheless, the team celebrated their first victory in the USA.

In addition to the BMW M Team WRT, North American BMW M Motorsport teams BimmerWorld and ST Racing also competed in Indianapolis. Samantha Tan, Neil Verhagen, and Jake Walker finished in 12th place, while Bill Auberlen, Robby Foley, and Chandler Hull retired from the race near the end.

The IGTC season finale, the Gulf 12 Hours, will take place on December 9th/10th in Abu Dhabi.

After the race, Andreas Roos, Head of BMW M Motorsport, congratulated BMW M Team WRT and their drivers on their victory and highlighted the global strength of the BMW M4 GT3. Vincent Vosse, Team Principal of BMW M Team WRT, expressed his joy at winning a race in the USA for the first time, despite the setback with their second car. Philipp Eng, Sheldon van der Linde, and Dries Vanthoor, who drove the winning #30 BMW M4 GT3, praised the performance of their team and their determination to fight back after a penalty. Augusto Farfus, who piloted the #31 BMW M4 GT3 before the collision, took responsibility for the incident and expressed his disappointment.

BMW

WorldSBK in Magny-Cours: Celebrating Pole Position with Mixed Feelings at BMW Motorrad Motorsport

The ninth round of the FIM Superbike World Championship 2023 (WorldSBK) took place at Magny-Cours, where BMW Motorrad Motorsport had a combination of pole position celebrations and mixed feelings. Garrett Gerloff, a BMW Motorrad factory rider, showcased impressive performance throughout the weekend, finishing fourth in the first race and fifth in the second main race. Scott Redding achieved his best race result with a seventh-place finish, and Loris Baz followed suit with a seventh-place finish in the Superpole race. Michael van der Mark struggled to find his rhythm, finishing 13th in both qualifying and the Superpole race.

In the Superpole on Saturday, Gerloff set a new all-time lap record and claimed his first WorldSBK pole position, marking a significant achievement for both himself and the Bonovo action BMW Racing Team. However, Redding unfortunately slid and fell, finishing in tenth place but moving up to ninth on the grid due to a penalty issued to another rider. Van der Mark concluded the Superpole in 13th position.

Despite losing a few positions at the start, Gerloff maintained a position in the top five throughout the first race, finishing in fourth place as the best rider from an Independent team. Redding finished the first race in seventh place, while Baz encountered various problems and ended up in 13th position. Van der Mark crossed the finish line in 16th place.

The Superpole race on Sunday saw a collision between Redding and Gerloff, leading to both riders going down. Gerloff retired after heading to the pits, while Redding was able to rejoin the race and finish in 20th place. Baz secured seventh place in the Superpole race, setting a good start position for the second main race. Van der Mark finished in 13th position.

In the second main race, Gerloff finished fifth, once again achieving the best result for an Independent team. The race was briefly interrupted due to an accident involving Redding and Dominique Aegerter, but after restarting, Baz crossed the finish line in twelfth place. Unfortunately, Redding retired from the race due to a technical issue, and Van der Mark also failed to finish after a crash.

The next round of the 2023 WorldSBK season will take place at MotorLand Aragón, Spain, in two weeks’ time. BMW Motorrad Motorsport, along with the four riders and both teams, had successful testing sessions at Aragón at the end of August.

BMW Motorrad Motorsport Director, Marc Bongers, expressed his delight with Gerloff’s performance and the achievements of the Bonovo action BMW Racing Team. Bongers also acknowledged the unfortunate racing incident involving Redding and Gerloff, which had a negative impact on the team’s start position for the second main race. He emphasized the potential of the BMW M 1000 RR and the need to build on it in the remaining three rounds.

Gerloff himself expressed his satisfaction with the weekend, especially achieving his first pole position and achieving two top-five finishes. He expressed optimism in using this weekend as a foundation for future races.

Redding, on the other hand, acknowledged his string of bad luck throughout the weekend, with three crashes and a series of unfortunate events. Despite the setbacks, he remained positive and focused on improving at the upcoming races in Aragón.

Baz described the weekend as tough and not meeting his expectations. He acknowledged the technical issues and set up challenges but expressed determination to improve in the remaining races.

Van der Mark admitted to struggling with finding the right feeling for the bike during the weekend. However, he remained confident in the potential of the BMW M 1000 RR and looked forward to the next round at Aragón.