At the season opener of the IMSA WeatherTech SportsCar Championship (IMSA series), the Daytona 24 Hours (USA), the BMW M Team RLL missed the hoped-for podium finishes with the BMW M Hybrid V8. Although the two LMDh cars were able to keep up with the speed of their competitors and stay in the leading group of the GTP category until into the night, technical problems then set both prototypes back. Paul Miller Racing had reason to celebrate. The North American BMW M Motorsport team finished third on the podium in the GTD PRO class .
For the BMW M Team RLL, the second 24-hour race in Daytona with the BMW M Hybrid V8 initially went according to plan. Both car #24 with drivers Philipp Eng (AUT), Jesse Krohn (FIN), Augusto Farfus (BRA), and Dries Vanthoor (BEL), as well as the sister car with Connor De Phillippi (USA), Nick Yelloly (GBR), Maxime Martin (BEL), and René Rast (GER), held strong speed and stayed in the leading group until late at night. However, both crews then had bad luck with technical difficulties.
The #24 BMW M Hybrid V8 stopped on the track due to electronic problems, but could have returned to the race quickly as only the steering wheel needed to be replaced. Unfortunately, there was a mishap with the recovery crew while towing the car back to the pit, which cost additional time, Ultimately, the BMW M Team RLL lost 13 laps due to the unfortunate incident.
The #25 BMW M Hybrid V8, which had even been in the lead at one point, suffered a leak in the gearbox cooler. Later on, a brake change was necessary on the rear axle, which led to a total of 15 laps behind.
My first 24-hour race in Daytona and my first start in an IMSA race – that was a great experience. I was in the best possible team, and we led the race for long stretches. Unfortunately, some problems late in the race put the win out of reach. Nevertheless, we still made it to the podium. We can be proud of that. Generally, a podium in Daytona is, of course, a reason to be happy, but when you were so close to the win, it hurts not to reach it in the end.
Neil Verhagen (#1 BMW M4 GT3, Paul Miller Racing, 3rd place GTD PRO)
Paul Miller Racing showed an impressive comeback from twelfth place in the GTD PRO category and even led the race for long stretches in the #1 BMW M4 GT3. In the final hours of the race, however, the team was unable to compete for the win due to a problem during a pit stop, but it was enough for drivers Madison Snow, Bryan Sellers, Neil Verhagen (all USA), and Sheldon van der Linde (RSA) to take third place on the podium. In the GTD class, Turner Motorsport also had a strong comeback, but Robby Foley, Patrick Gallagher, Jake Walker (all USA), and Jens Klingmann (GER) fell far behind due to a mechanical defect at the oil pump drive.
