BMW at Road America – It Was The Best of Times & The Worst of Times

The Road America track witnessed a less-than-ideal outing for BMW M Team RLL in the IMSA SportsCar Weekend race. The team’s BMW M Hybrid V8 cars faced setbacks, leading to a disappointing ninth and tenth place finish in the GTP class.

In a race that spanned two hours and forty minutes, Augusto Farfus and Philipp Eng piloted the No. 24 BMW M Hybrid V8, but their efforts landed them in the ninth spot. Eng was forced into the pits due to a suspected electrical glitch after completing 55 laps, ultimately ending their race prematurely. The No. 25 BMW M Hybrid V8, driven by Conner De Phillippi, encountered misfortune on the second lap itself, as contact with the wall near turn 11 dashed their hopes for the day. The car required extensive repairs and Nick Yelloly rejoined the race but could only manage three laps before coming to a halt, marking the end of their run.

On a brighter note, in the GT Daytona class, Bryan Sellers and Madison Snow secured a victory for the No. 1 Paul Miller Racing BMW M4 GT3. Their triumph at Road America joined their wins at Sebring, Long Beach, and CTMP this season, fortifying their position atop the GTD class championship standings. Bill Auberlen and Chandler Hull, piloting the No. 97 Turner Motorsport McIntosh BMW M4 GT3, claimed sixth place. However, the No. 96 Turner Motorsport LIQUI-MOLY BMW, driven by Robby Foley and Patrick Gallagher, encountered fuel shortage on the final lap, relegating them to a 12th place finish.

Commenting on the challenges, Bryan Sellers, driver of No. 1 BMW M4 GT3, noted, “This weekend, a significant challenge was the newly resurfaced racetrack. After qualifying, we felt it was prudent not to push too hard, considering the grip conditions. Navigating traffic while conserving was crucial.”

Madison Snow, co-driver of No. 1 BMW M4 GT3, added, “Our start was strong, and the BMW was handling exceptionally well in qualifying. My focus shifted to maintaining a gap after the GTD PRO class cars passed me, ensuring we stayed ahead.”

Looking ahead, round eight for the GTP class, the TireRack.com Battle on the Bricks, is slated for September 17 at the Indianapolis Motor Speedway. The race will be televised on NBC starting at 1:00 p.m. ET. Meanwhile, the GTD class is set to compete at the Michelin GT Challenge at VIR on August 27, with the race broadcast on USA at 2:00 p.m. ET.