After 24 hours of probably the most intense hours of racing in current reminiscence, BMW got here away victorious within the GTLM class at Daytona. The crew of Krohn, Edwards, Farfus and Mostert drove an ideal race beating out the brand new Porsche 911 RSR-19 in dramatic vogue. The truth is the 2 had been so shut within the closing hours of the race you’ll have assumed every lap was the final.
This can be a large consequence for the crew and for BMW total who endured a dreadful 2019 and wish to decide on long-term involvement within the sequence later this 12 months.
Official Launch BMW Wins the 24 Hours of Daytona!
The lead modified fingers greater than 40 instances because the race went proper right down to the wire earlier than triggering wild celebrations. BMW Crew RLL gained the opening spherical of the IMSA WeatherTech SportsCar Championship at Daytona (USA) for the second season in a row. John Edwards (USA), Jesse Krohn (FIN), Augusto Farfus (BRA) and Chaz Mostert (AUS) took victory within the GTLM class on the wheel of the #24 MOTUL BMW M8 GTE at ‘Daytona Worldwide Speedway’. The #25 automotive completed fifth. On the head of the sector, the BMW works drivers thrilled GT followers with magnificent overtaking manoeuvres to complete forward of two Porsche vehicles in second and third place.
BMW Crew RLL tasted victory at Daytona in 2019. Again then, Farfus gave a formidable closing stint to clinch first place on the Florida endurance traditional. This time, it was Krohn who took the wheel for the final stint of the race. He overtook the main #911 Porsche with 46 minutes of the race remaining. Shortly thereafter, he got here in for his closing pit cease, following which he efficiently defended his result in the end. Krohn additionally set the quickest lap of the race with a time of 1:42.168 minutes.
This newest triumph sees BMW Motorsport add one other chapter to its success story at Daytona the place BMW first gained on the ‘World Middle of Racing’ again in 1976 with the BMW 3.0 CSL. The BMW M3 GTR then took class wins in 1997 and 1998. Daytona prototypes with BMW engines crossed the end line in first place in 2011 and 2013. This was the fourth GTLM victory within the IMSA sequence for the BMW M8 GTE.
Connor De Phillippi (USA), Bruno Spengler (CAN), Philipp Eng (AUT) and Colton Herta (USA), who alternated on the wheel of the #25 MOTUL BMW M8 GTE, had been unlucky. Their automotive ran over particles which broken an oil line within the early levels of the race. That necessitated a protracted cease for repairs which noticed the quartet drop properly down the sector. In consequence, fifth place was the most effective the #25 automotive may obtain.
Within the GTD class, the Turner Motorsport crew was difficult for a prime consequence on the season-opener within the #96 BMW M6 GT3. BMW works driver Jens Klingmann (GER), Invoice Auberlen, Robby Foley and Dillon Machavern (all USA) completed sixth after 763 laps.
For Dan Harper (GBR), Neil Verhagen (USA) and Max Hesse (GER) – the members of the brand new BMW Junior Crew – the victory for the BMW M8 GTE was the icing on the cake on the finish of an eventful weekend. The three Juniors had been concerned within the processes inside BMW Crew RLL and gained worthwhile expertise behind the scenes. This included a go to to Radio Le Mans, in addition to the honour of waving the beginning flag for the BMW Endurance Problem, Friday’s opening spherical of this season’s IMSA Michelin Pilot Problem.
The subsequent spherical of the IMSA WeatherTech SportsCar Championship takes place on twenty first March 2020 at Sebring (USA).
Reactions to the 24 Hours of Daytona.
Klaus Fröhlich (Member of the Board of Administration of BMW AG, Growth): “That was an especially thrilling race. The ultimate hours had been notably tense, with the lead altering fingers many instances. As we speak’s victory for BMW Crew RLL on the Daytona 24-hour race ranks very extremely in lots of regards. It was the results of wonderful teamwork between the crew, drivers and our engineers. The operative excellence of BMW Crew RLL was exceptional. 24 hours and not using a single mistake, underneath nice strain all through the whole race. Compliments to everybody. The identical goes for our quartet of drivers, who gave an ideal efficiency. Final however not least, our BMW M8 GTE as soon as once more demonstrated its profitable genes on the scene of final 12 months’s triumph. In doing so, it underlined the truth that this automotive is likely one of the prime GT vehicles on the market proper now. The BMW M8 GTE confirmed no indicators of weak point on this 24-hour dash. It was among the many leaders all race and led for extra kilometres than anybody else. And all that towards extraordinarily robust opposition. We actually placed on a show of nice motor racing for the followers and spectators. That was a robust begin to the 12 months for BMW Motorsport, together with in different classes. Congratulations to all concerned. Lengthy could it proceed.”
Jens Marquardt (BMW Group Motorsport Director): “Two Daytona wins in a row for the BMW M8 GTE. That could be a sensational effort from BMW Crew RLL, the drivers and our engineers at BMW Motorsport in Munich. It’s laborious to check the 2 triumphs. In 2019, we solely led for one lap and took benefit of our late alternative to take victory within the rain. This 12 months, we had been among the many front-runners from the opening lap. We led for longer than some other GTLM automotive. The race was outlined by the implausible battle between our #24 automotive and the 2 Porsches. We witnessed laborious however honest racing. That’s the way it must be. Congratulations to John Edwards, Jesse Krohn, Chaz Mostert and Augusto Farfus on their victory, in addition to the whole crew within the background. Had the #25 automotive not wanted to return in early for repairs after particles from one other automotive broken an oil line, then Connor De Phillippi, Bruno Spengler, Colton Herta and Philipp Eng would undoubtedly have been good for a prime consequence too. We actually head into the remainder of the IMSA season with loads of momentum now.”
Bobby Rahal (Crew Principal BMW Crew RLL): “Whoever thought we had been simply fortunate to win final 12 months had been proven in any other case as we speak. That was a battle for twenty-four hours. The drivers did a implausible job, and the identical goes for the crew. We didn’t make any errors. I really feel sorry for the blokes within the #25 automotive, as they’d even have completed additional up the sector with out the incident. On the entire, I’m delighted for my crew and BMW Motorsport. Congratulations to Porsche and Corvette, who had been good from the phrase go along with their new vehicles. We’re merely very completely satisfied as we speak.”
John Edwards (#24 MOTUL BMW M8 GTE, 1st place): “I’m very hardly ever speechless – however that’s the case as we speak. I had each religion in Jesse bringing it house on the finish. And he did it. It was a extremely laborious struggle, as at all times within the GTLM class. The numerous battles had been extraordinarily tiring, notably throughout my triple stint. That is undoubtedly the largest success of my profession. I’m overjoyed.”
Jesse Krohn (#24 MOTUL BMW M8 GTE, 1st place): “What a race! It feels completely unbelievable. That is my third 12 months within the GTLM class – and my first victory. We’ve come so shut so typically, and now we’ve really carried out it right here at Daytona. The crew was superior. Thanks very a lot to BMW Motorsport and RLL for trusting me to take the ultimate stint of the race. Each single individual did a mega job. I can’t imagine that we’re on the very prime step of the rostrum.”
Augusto Farfus (#24 MOTUL BMW M8 GTE, 1st place): “I’m speechless. That was the most effective 24-hour race I’ve pushed in my complete life. It was extraordinarily quick, extraordinarily shut, and you would not afford to make any errors. We drove an ideal race: crew, technique, drivers, mechanics. The automotive labored properly all through the whole race. You don’t get via the total 24 hours like that fairly often. To win this race twice in a row is phenomenal.”
Chaz Mostert (#24 MOTUL BMW M8 GTE, 1st place): “Unbelievable! That is my greatest win since Bathurst 2014. My world-class team-mates carried me via this race. Thanks very a lot to BMW Motorsport and RLL for permitting me to be concerned. In 2019, the opposite automotive gained. Again then, I couldn’t think about the way it should really feel for these guys. Now it was me stood on the highest step of the rostrum. That’s one thing very particular.”
Connor De Phillippi (#25 MOTUL BMW M8 GTE, fifth place): “Two wins in a row, that’s implausible for the crew. I could not have gained the race, however I’m nonetheless delighted for the blokes. John and Jesse had been typically unfortunate in recent times, which makes it all of the nicer that they gained as we speak. It’s clearly additionally nice for Chaz and Augusto. Personally, I’d have preferred a greater consequence. Nonetheless, we win and lose as a crew. As we speak, we gained collectively. Now it’s time to win at Sebring.”
Bruno Spengler (#25 MOTUL BMW M8 GTE, fifth place): “We had been actually unfortunate on this race. Even early on within the race we had been 13 laps off the tempo and with no probability of creating a lot progress via the sector. Nonetheless, the automotive was excellent and the entire crew did a implausible job. I’m very completely satisfied for the crew and my team-mates that we gained with the #24 automotive. The blokes deserve that. Congratulations on a terrific efficiency.”
Philipp Eng (#25 MOTUL BMW M8 GTE): “I’m overjoyed for the blokes within the #24 automotive. The win is completely deserved. I’m happy for all of the drivers, who’re all nice guys. We’re good buddies. One crew, one aim – that’s not simply an empty phrase. I’m actually happy for them. What occurred to our automotive is a disgrace. Nonetheless, this stuff occur. We’ll go once more subsequent time.”
Colton Herta (#25 MOTUL BMW M8 GTE): “I’m clearly upset for our automotive, however I’m happy for the crew. Everybody was flawless all weekend. We dropped properly again early on within the race, however had good tempo after that. I’m delighted for my team-mates, who actually deserved this victory.”
