BMW Works drivers for Rolex 24 At Daytona

BMW M Motorsport back in GTP

📷 © BMW M Motorsport Courtesy. BMW M Hybrid V8, LMDh, car to car, photoshoot, Daytona International Speedway, BMW M Team RLL.

For the first time since 1999, a prototype in BMW M colours will do battle for overall victory at the major US classics at Daytona, Sebring and Road Atlanta as well as all other IMSA GTP races. It is also the first time a BMW M Motorsport car will race with a hybrid drive system, making the BMW M Hybrid V8 more than just a race car charged with challenging for victories and titles.

📷 © Luc Warnotte. BMW M Hybrid V8 #24 and #25 at ROAR 2023.

The two BMW M Hybrid V8 prototypes finished the GTP class session in seventh and eighth places and will start the Rolex 24 At Daytona from the fourth row of the grid next Saturday. BMW M works drivers Philipp Eng and Nick Yelloly were at the wheels of the #24 and #25 cars.

GTP BMW Works drivers.

📷 © BMW M Motorsport Courtesy. Roar before the 24, BMW M Hybrid V8, BMW M Team RLL, #24, BMW Works drivers Philipp Eng, Augusto Farfus, Marco Wittmann, Colton Herta.

Philipp Eng (#24 BMW M Hybrid V8, 7th place): “Of course it would have been nice to start from the very front, but in a 24-hour race starting positions don’t really matter too much. We didn’t focus on outright pace in all practice sessions we had. It was much more about making the car behave predictably and be driveable for us. That’s key in an endurance race like this – especially with a new car. It’s most important that reliability and operations are good. If you tick these two boxes, then you’ve already made it quite far.”

📷 © Luc Warnotte. Philipp Eng with BMW M Hybrid V8 #24 at ROAR qualifying 2023.

Augusto Farfus (#24 BMW M Hybrid V8): “As a new chapter in sports car racing opens here at Daytona, we have a big challenge ahead of us. The Roar has been very productive and the race will be different from other 24-hour races. It will be about minimising mistakes and bringing the car to the end. As far as the season is concerned, it will be a rookie year for Philipp and myself. There will be a lot to learn with many new tracks awaiting us. I’m really looking forward to it.”

Marco Wittmann (#24 BMW M Hybrid V8): “We did a lot of laps during the Roar which is very important especially when you have a new car like the BMW M Hybrid V8. Looking at the race it will be exciting to see who did the best job regarding reliability. I think we have a strong line-up. The guys at BMW M Motorsport and BMW M Team RLL have worked really hard over the past months to be as well prepared for Daytona as possible. We all hope for a successful weekend of course.”

📷 © BMW M Motorsport Courtesy. Roar before the 24, BMW M Hybrid V8, BMW M Team RLL, #25, BMW Works drivers Connor De Phillippi, Nick Yelloly, Sheldon van der Linde, Colton Herta.

Nick Yelloly (#25 BMW M Hybrid V8, 8th place): “Since I wasn’t able to go out on track during warm-up, I didn’t get a read of the strong wind that changed significantly from yesterday where we had a decent balance in the car. Even if qualifying wasn’t the ideal session for us, we still learned something – like we did in every session here at the Roar. Now we have a couple of more practice sessions next week before the race starts. We have to make sure that we set up a car that is comfortable and good to drive over 24 hours.”

Colton Herta (#24/#25 BMW M Hybrid V8): “It’s the dawn of a new sports car era and there are a lot of big manufacturers and great drivers to compete against, but BMW M Motorsport has shown in the past that they are capable of winning such big races. I am excited to be part of it and to have the challenge to race on both cars. I love this race and can’t wait to get going.”

📷 © Luc Warnotte. BMW M Hybrid V8 #25 at ROAR 2023.

Connor De Phillippi (#25 BMW M Hybrid V8): “The Rolex 24 is the Super Bowl of sports car racing so there is a lot of pressure on everybody in the paddock, but if we do our job we have a chance as good as everybody to fight for the win. Here at Daytona we are still busy working on understanding the car and finding the happy spot for the balance. We still have some work to do, but I think we’ll be in a good window, when the race comes. Looking at the whole season we will have a lot more time to test and develop the car and I’m sure we’ll be capable of winning races.”

📷 © Luc Warnotte. BMW M Hybrid V8 #24 and BMW M GT3 #1 at ROAR 2023.

Many more BMW M works drivers in action at Daytona.

The BMW M4 GT3 will also be well represented at Rolex 24 At Daytona. Turner Motorsport will field the #95 BMW M4 GT3 in the GTD-PRO class in the 24-hour race.

📷 © Luc Warnotte. BMW M GT3 #95 at ROAR 2023.

BMW M works drivers John Edwards and Bruno Spengler will share the driving duties with Bill Auberlen and Chandler Hull.

📷 © Luc Warnotte. BMW M GT3 #96 at ROAR 2023.

In the GTD class, Turner Motorsport will run the #96 BMW M4 GT3 with BMW M works driver Jens Klingmann, Robby Foley, Michael Dinan and Patrick Gallagher.

📷 © Luc Warnotte. BMW M GT3 #1 at ROAR 2023.

Paul Miller Racing also competes in the GTD Class with the #1 BMW M4 GT3, with BMW M works driver Maxime Martin, Bryan Sellers, Madison Snow and Corey Lewis at the wheel.