BMW M Team RLL driver line-up confirmed

IMSA

Jan 12

📷 © Luc Warnotte. Both BMW M Team RLL BMW M Hybrid V8 at ROLEX 24 2023.

2023 ROLEX 24 was a difficult baptism for BMW M Team RLL as the #25 BMW M Hybrid V8 finishing 131 laps down after issues with the spec hybrid powertrain and Philipp Eng, Augusto Farfus, Marco Wittmann and Colton Herta with the #24 BMW M Hybrid V8 crossing the finish line in sixth place, 15 laps behind the winners. Since #25 win at Watkins Glen, both BMW M Team RLL BMW M Hybrid V8 have demonstrated being faster and reliable hence fighting for podiums since.

BMW M Team RLL has confirmed their driver line-up for the second GTP season of the IMSA WeatherTech SportsCar Championship (IMSA series).

Like last season, Connor De Phillippi (USA) and Nick Yelloly (GBR) will be the regular pairing in the #25 BMW M Hybrid V8. Jesse Krohn (FIN) joins Philipp Eng (AUT) in the #24 BMW M Hybrid V8 replacing Augusto Farfus as full season drivers of the second GTP season of the IMSA WeatherTech SportsCar Championship (IMSA series) in 2024 .

#25 BMW M Hybrid V8 lineup

📷 © Luc Warnotte. #25 **BMW M Team RLL** **BMW M Hybrid V8** at ROLEX 24 2023.

De Phillippi and Yelloly are back for another crack at the IMSA title, having picked up one win and a total of five podiums in their successful first GTP season in 2023. Maxime Martin will support the base #25 lineup for three IMSA Michelin Endurance Cup races: Daytona, Sebring and Road Atlanta. René Last will join the trio for the 24 Hours of Daytona.

Connor De Phillippi (#25 BMW M Hybrid V8): “I am very excited to return with BMW M Motorsport in the IMSA GTP category. Also having Nick continuing to be my team-mate I think allows us to build on our great season we had in 2023 and have an even better season in 2024. This is actually my first year having the same team-mate two years in a row so I am exctited to continue our relationship together and execute a hopefully perfect season and continue fighting for another championship in 2024.”

Nick Yelloly (#25 BMW M Hybrid V8): “I’m obviously really looking forward to keeping the continuation with both myself and Connor in the car for a second year together in IMSA. For me, it will be quite a lot easier knowing all the tracks now, having seen and done the weekends at all these different circuits in the BMW M Hybrid V8 for a year now, so I am really looking forward to capitalising on that. We already had a great season in 2023 with a lot of podiums and a race win at Watkins Glen, so we are definitely looking to build on that further. I am sure that the hard work over the winter will put us in an even better position to fight for the title as we did this year already and we have one clear aim, which is the title in 2024 and to try to win as many races as possible.” Source: BMW Group

#24 BMW M Hybrid V8 lineup

📷 © Luc Warnotte. #24 **BMW M Team RLL** **BMW M Hybrid V8** at ROLEX 24 2023.

Philipp Eng continue leading the #24 lineup. Jesse Krohn will co-drive the #24 BMW M Hybrid V8. Krohn did spent three full seasons at the wheel of the BMW M8 GTE from 2018 to 2020, when he won the 2020 24h Daytona and the title in the GTLM class of the Michelin Endurance Cup.

Farfus will be back in the cockpit of the #24 BMW M Hybrid V8 to support Eng and Krohn in three races of the IMSA Michelin Endurance Cup: Daytona, Sebring and Road Atlanta. Dries Vanthoor will strengthen the team at the 24h Daytona.

Jesse Krohn (#24 BMW M Hybrid V8): “I’ve never waited for any season as much as I have for the 2024 one. This is truly a special opportunity for me and I can’t be more grateful to BMW M Motorsport for putting their trust in me. This is basically what I’ve worked my whole life for, driving at the pinnacle of sports car racing in the top class, being the fastest car out on track. I think it’s also good that I have the IMSA experience from the past from the GT cars because I can put myself on both sides and know what to expect from the GT drivers as we pass them in traffic. There is a lot I can bring in from the past and going back to racing with BMW M Team RLL is super fun. I always enjoyed racing in the US and everybody at BMW M Team RLL is like my second family there so it’s really exciting to go back there and team up with Philipp for the full IMSA season. I can’t wait to get started; it’s going to be an awesome season.”

Philipp Eng (#24 BMW M Hybrid V8): “I am very excited about the trust from BMW M Motorsport to be able to compete in IMSA again. It’s an extremely cool race series, and it was a lot of fun to race with our new BMW M Hybrid V8 there last year. It hasn’t been an easy season, but we are heading into the right direction, and this year there can only be one goal: to challenge for wins and the title. That's the stated objective, and I hope we can achieve it. I’m really looking forward to it.” Source: BMW Group

BMW M works drivers to support BMW M4 GT3 customers

📷 © Luc Warnotte. #1 Paull Miller Racing BMW M4 GT3 at ROLEX 24 2023.

Neil Verhagen (USA), Sheldon van der Linde (RSA), Jens Klingmann (GER), Madison Snow (USA) and Robby Foley (USA) will compete in the GTD classes with the BMW M4 GT3 at the Daytona season opener. Verhagen and van der Linde will join reigning champions #1 Paul Miller Racing with regular drivers Snow and Bryan Sellers (USA). Klingmann will once again compete with #96 Turner Motorsport BMW M4 GT3 in the squad with regular driver Foley as well as Patrick Gallagher and Jake Walker (both USA).