Round four of the 2023 IMSA WeatherTech SportsCar Championship (IMSA series) is held on an iconic Californian race track this coming weekend: Laguna Seca (USA). BMW M Team RLL travels to the circuit near Monterey with fond memories of great success.
In the 13 years (2009 to 2022) that BMW M Team RLL raced BMWs in IMSA’s GT classes, the team has finished on the podium there eleven times, including three GT class victories. Now, the team hopes that this Laguna Seca success will continue with the BMW M Hybrid V8 in the new IMSA GTP era.
In the three races been held in the 2023 season so far, BMW M Team RLL has scored two runner-up finishes at Sebring and Long Beach (both USA) with the new BMW M Hybrid V8. That effort has BMW standing second in the IMSA GTP class manufacturer points. By benefit of two second-place finishes with the number 25 car, drivers Connor De Phillippi (USA) and Nick Yelloly (GBR) stand fourth in GTP driver points, only one point from third. Augusto Farfus (BRA) and Philipp Eng (AUT) stand seventh in driver points, with a season’s-best fourth-place finish at Long Beach in the number 24 car.
In GTD class, current point leaders Bryan Sellers and Madison Snow (both USA) will bring the number 1 Paul Miller Racing BMW M4 GT3 to Laguna Seca looking to extend their winning streak of two victories at Sebring and Long Beach. Turner Motorsport brings two GTD entries, the number 96 BMW M4 GT3 of Robby Foley and Patrick Gallagher (both USA) and the number 97 car of Bill Auberlen and Chandler Hull (both USA). Last season, Auberlen and Foley co-drove to a third place GTD finish at this event.
