First the podium in the World Endurance Championship, now a one-two victory in the IMSA: Things are going according to plan for BMW with the M Hybrid V8 – but the title chances are gone.
BMW is currently on cloud nine: just one week after the first podium finish in the World Endurance Championship (WEC) and the announcement that the team would be “in the running and competitive” with immediate effect, the Munich-based company is celebrating its first one-two victory with the BMW M Hybrid V8!
At the 6-hour race in Indianapolis (USA), a race of the American IMSA SportsCarChampionship, Philipp Eng and Jesse Krohn triumphed in the BMW M Hybrid V8 24 ahead of their teammates Connor De Phillippi and Nick Yelloly. It was the first one-two victory since entering the GTP class and the first success of the current season.
The victory is a relief for the Rahal Letterman Lanigan team, which had recently come under fire as the BMW works team in the IMSA for a lack of results. Added to that was an FBI search a few days before the successful race in Indianapolis.
“We have had good and bad days this season, but we have always kept fighting and never given up,” says team principal Bobby Rahal. “We have now rewarded ourselves with this one-two victory – here, of all places, at one of the best race tracks in the world. I am incredibly happy.”
The right strategy for a one-two victory
The BMW M Team RLL laid the foundation for the one-two victory with a flawless performance by the drivers and the right tire choice in difficult weather conditions. In the early stages, rain made for difficult conditions before the track slowly dried during the course of the six-hour race.
The 24 BMW was the first top car to switch to slicks, taking an important step towards victory. “Everyone has more than earned this success,” said Eng. “For me personally, this victory is very emotional because I have experienced tough times here in North America when the hoped-for results just didn’t come.”
Congratulations @RLLracing
Your 2024 TireRack.com Battle On The Bricks at @IMS GTP Winners! pic.twitter.com/OL6GgYe5Aq— IMSA (@IMSA) September 22, 2024
“What an amazing team result!” said teammate Nick Yelloly, alluding to his second place and BMW’s one-two victory. “I’m incredibly happy for the team, which had a good 2023 with one victory and five podiums but has had a tough time this year.”
“To be able to reward them with this one-two victory is great,” says the Briton, pleased that the BMW team’s losing streak has finally come to an end. ‘I’m also happy for Philipp and Jesse, who really deserve their first victory.’
BMW now without a chance of the title
“I am delighted that we have managed to convert the potential that our BMW M Hybrid V8 has often shown this season into corresponding top results,” said BMW Head of Motorsport Andreas Roos. “This is the deserved reward and a great motivation for everyone involved in our LMDh project.”
Does this make the BMW M Hybrid V8 the favorite for further successes in the WEC and IMSA series? In the World Endurance Championship, the progress was clearly visible recently, because the team from Munich was already competitive in Austin and just missed out on a podium finish.
In Indianapolis, Rahal Letterman Lanigan’s success came as a surprise after a difficult season. Nevertheless, the chances of a good result in the championship are gone anyway! After a mixed start to the season, BMW is currently only fighting for a place in the top five.
This year’s GTP drivers’ title in the IMSA goes to Porsche: Mathieu Jaminet and Nick Tandy finished third in Indianapolis with the 7 Porsche, who finished ninth in their class on Sunday.
In the manufacturers’ championship, Porsche now has a lead of 124 points. If a Porsche sees the checkered flag at the season finale, the Petit Le Mans (October 9 to 12) at Road Atlanta, the title would be secure. And the chances of winning the teams’ title are also very high, given the 164-point lead over Cadillac.
