IMSA: BMW M Hybrid V8 Finishes Fifth In Detroit After Competitive Race

Published: Tuesday, June 3, 2025, 5:03 [IST]

The BMW M Team RLL faced challenges in the IMSA WeatherTech SportsCar Championship race in Detroit. The #24 BMW M Hybrid V8 finished fifth, marking the first time it missed the podium in a sprint race this season. Despite starting from the second row, both BMW cars struggled to advance on the tight street circuit.

In qualifying, Sheldon van der Linde and Dries Vanthoor secured third and fourth positions, ending Vanthoor's streak of four consecutive pole positions. During the 100-minute race, filled with intense battles, both cars found it difficult to progress. Van der Linde handed over his car to Marco Wittmann, while Vanthoor passed his to Philipp Eng.

Eng managed to return to the track ahead of Wittmann after a pit stop and maintained his position until the end. Wittmann initially crossed the finish line in sixth place but was penalised for overtaking under yellow flags, dropping him to seventh. The race proved challenging for both drivers as they navigated through numerous contacts on the circuit.

In the GTD PRO class, Paul Miller Racing had a strong start with third and fourth places in qualifying. However, technical issues plagued Madison Snow and Neil Verhagen's #1 BMW M4 GT3 EVO, causing them to lose several laps and finish 11th in their class. Meanwhile, Dan Harper and Max Hesse's #48 car fought for a podium spot but dropped to seventh after a collision and penalty.

Andreas Roos, Head of BMW M Motorsport, expressed disappointment with the results in Detroit. "Unfortunately, the race did not go as we had hoped," he said. Despite promising qualifying positions, maintaining them during the race proved difficult due to numerous contacts. Roos remains optimistic about future races at Watkins Glen.

Dries Vanthoor acknowledged the tough nature of the race: "That was a tough race. On my part, I didn’t get a good start and lost two positions." He emphasised the need for strategic improvements: "We need to keep working on this and understand why others are doing a better job in this area."

Driver Insights

Sheldon van der Linde reflected on his performance: "What started with a great qualifying and third place unfortunately ended with relatively few points in the race." He expressed confidence about future races at Watkins Glen: "The BMW M Hybrid V8 has performed well there in the past."

The team is determined to analyse what went wrong with their strategy and technical issues during this race. They aim to improve their performance at upcoming events by learning from these experiences.

The next opportunity for redemption will be at Watkins Glen where they hope to secure better results based on past performances at that venue.