BMW M Motorsport Prepares for Sebring After Strong Daytona Debut
In a promising start to the IMSA WeatherTech SportsCar Championship, BMW M Motorsport’s Team WRT secured a podium finish with their #24 BMW M Hybrid V8, clinching third place at the Rolex 24 at Daytona. Despite this achievement, both the team and BMW maintain a cautious outlook as they head into the Mobil 1 Twelve Hours of Sebring this weekend.
Andreas Roos, head of BMW M Motorsport, emphasized the team’s ambition, stating, “In the end, we are there to win races, and we still have a step to go to also win on the GTP side.” This sentiment reflects the team’s recognition of the competitive landscape, dominated by established brands like Porsche, Acura, and Cadillac.
The success in Daytona followed an intensive winter preparation, with WRT rapidly establishing its North American operations. Roos acknowledged the challenges faced during this transition, stating, “Because of the timing… we knew it would be challenging. But in the end, we managed to end up on the podium.”
Attention now shifts to Sebring, where Dries Vanthoor, Sheldon van der Linde, and Robin Frijns will strive for another podium in the #24 entry. Meanwhile, the #25 BMW, driven by Philipp Eng, Marco Wittmann, and Kevin Magnussen, will aim for improvement following an eighth-place finish at Daytona.
In the GT classifications, BMW also celebrated success, with Paul Miller Racing winning in GTD Pro and strong performances from Turner Motorsport, despite facing late-race setbacks. Roos reflected on the dual successes, remarking, “If you would have asked me before Daytona that we would win GTD Pro and be on the podium in GTP, I would have immediately signed – clear!”
As the team prepares for the next race, they remain focused on refining performance and closing the gap to the front-runners in this highly competitive championship.
