BMW M Team RLL will close out the inaugural IMSA season for its BMW M Hybrid V8 racing cars at this weekend's MOTUL Petit Le Mans, at Michelin Raceway Road Atlanta, looking to cap the year with a second GTP class victory and, potentially, a driver's title.
Marco Wittmann joins Augusto Farfus and Philipp Eng in the No. 24 BMW M Hybrid V8 for Petit with the aim of securing the first podium for the car that has endured a frustrating season. A podium at Petit could go a long way is helping their teammates move up in the final standings.
'There is no question that our GTP program was a tremendous undertaking for RLL, for BMW, and for everyone involved with the BMW M Hybrid V8,' said Bobby Rahal, RLL Team Principal. 'Certainly, the victory at Watkins Glen was a highlight and five podiums so far for the No. 25 car is a great accomplishment. Comparing where we were only one year ago when we began with this new formula to our test last week at Road Atlanta in preparation for Petit Le Mans, we have made some great gains. Historically, Petit has been a good weekend for us so we can't help but be optimistic.'
So far this year, the team has scored a win (Watkins Glen), two runner-up finishes (Sebring and Long Beach), and two third-place finishes (CTMP and Indy) with the No. 25 car of Connor De Phillippi and Nick Yelloly (co-driven at Sebring with Sheldon van der Linde.) De Phillippi and Yelloly stand fourth in GTP driver point standings. Augusto Farfus and Philipp Eng stand eighth in driver points, with a season's-best fourth-place finish (Long Beach) in the No. 24 car.
Connor De Phillippi, driver No. 25 BMW M Hybrid V8: 'The 2023 season has been a rollercoaster of emotions and the finale at Petit Le Mans is going to be one last firework show. We recently had a great two-day test and feel we are as prepared as we can be. With nearly 60 cars on a 70 second lap, it is going to be a hectic race and we all arrive there with one goal in mind. Win!'
Sheldon van der Linde, driver No. 25 GMW M Hybrid V8: 'I'm very excited to be back with Connor (De Phillippi) and Nick (Yelloly) at my favorite circuit in the US for the season finale. It's been a while since I've been in the No. 25 BMW M Hybrid V8 so I'm looking forward to seeing the development of the car this season. I hope to get up to speed quickly and give the boys the best shot at a win and the championship.'
Philipp Eng, driver No. 24 BMW M Hybrid V8: 'Our test at Road Atlanta a couple of weeks ago was good. We tested many things and found the car in a very good window. This track and car combination is phenomenal, and I can't wait for 10 hours of racing.'
Augusto Farfus, driver No. 24 BMW M Hybrid V8: 'We had a very good test at Road Atlanta recently, so we are looking to finish off the season with our best performance.'
Marco Wittman, driver No. 24 BMW M Hybrid V8: 'I'm very much looking forward to the season finale at Petit Le Mans. It's been a while since Sebring but obviously it's always a pleasure to race with our LMDh car and the RLL crew. I hope we will have a good and successful weekend and to finish the first GTP season on a high for Augusto, Philipp and myself and also the aim is to help the sister car as they still are in the fight for the title.'
In the GT Daytona class BMW will have three BMW M4 GT3 entries. With five victories so far this season Bryan Sellers and Madison Snow (with Corey Lewis) have secured the GTD class title with the No. 1 Paul Miller Racing BMW M4 GT3. Turner Motorsport brings two GTD class entries. The No. 96 LIQUI-MOLY BMW, of Robby Foley, Patrick Gallagher will add Michael Dinan. The No. 97 McIntosh BMW, of Bill Auberlen, Chandler Hull, adds Thomas Merrill at Petit. Foley and Gallagher stand fifth in GTD driver points.
Practice begins on Thursday, Oct. 12 followed by qualifying on Friday. The ten-hour MOTUL Petit Le Mans takes the green flag at 11:40 a.m. Sunday, Oct. 14th. The race will be streamed live on Peacock and broadcast on the USA network from 6:30 p.m. to the finish.
BMW Group in America
BMW of North America, LLC has been present in the United States since 1975. Rolls-Royce Motor Cars NA, LLC began distributing vehicles in 2003. The BMW Group in the United States has grown to include marketing, sales, and financial service organizations for the BMW brand of motor vehicles, including motorcycles, the MINI brand, and Rolls-Royce Motor Cars; Designworks, a strategic design consultancy based in California; a technology office in Silicon Valley and various other operations throughout the country. BMW Manufacturing Co., LLC in South Carolina is the BMW Group global center of competence for BMW X models and manufactures the X3, X4, X5, X6 and X7 Sports Activity Vehicles as well as the BMW XM. The BMW Group sales organization is represented in the U.S. through networks of 349 BMW passenger car and BMW Sports Activity Vehicle centers,146 BMW motorcycle retailers, 104 MINI passenger car dealers, and 38 Rolls-Royce Motor Car dealers. BMW (US) Holding Corp., the BMW Group's sales headquarters for North America, is located in Woodcliff Lake, New Jersey.
Rahal Letterman Lanigan Racing
BMW's partner, Rahal Letterman Lanigan Racing, based in Zionsville, Indiana and co-owned by three-time INDYCAR Champion and 1986 Indianapolis 500 winner Bobby Rahal, former CBS Late Show host David Letterman and Mi-Jack co-owner Mike Lanigan, has been competing for over three decades. Prior to the start of their 32nd season of competition in 2023 and their 15th with BMW, the team had compiled 54 victories, 67 poles, 225 podium finishes, three series championships (1992, 2010, 2011), claimed two Indianapolis 500 victories (Buddy Rice in 2004, Takuma Sato in 2020) and two Rolex 24 at Daytona victories. In 2009 the team joined BMW of North America to campaign the new BMW M3 in the American Le Mans Series. The following year the team won both the Manufacturer and Team Championships in the GT category and swept all three GT titles - Manufacturer, Team, and Driver – in 2011. In 2012, the team finished second in the Team Championship and third in the Manufacturer Championship and in 2013, the team finished second in the Driver, Team, and Manufacturer Championship. From 2014 to 2021, BMW Team RLL competed in the GTLM class of the IMSA WeatherTech SportsCar Championship with a two-car program. In 2022, BMW M Team RLL competed in the GTD PRO class in
IMSA while simultaneously ramping up for a two-car program in the much-anticipated GTP class in IMSA for 2023. In total, the team has earned 22 wins – including the 2019 and 2020 Rolex 24 at Daytona endurance races, 30 poles and 96 podium finishes prior to the start of the 2023 season. BMW M Team RLL highlights also include second place finishes in the Manufacturer, Team, and Driver championships in 2015 and 2017 and being named the 2020 Michelin North American Endurance Champions.
Photo credit: BMW
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Connor De Phillippi and Nick Yelloly will add Sheldon van der Linde to the No. 25 BMW M Hybrid V8 for Petit with the trio's focus on a possible GTP driver's championship. Currently in third place, only 38 points from the lead, De Phillippi and Yelloly will need to add one more great finish to their season, that has already seen one victory among five podium finishes.
Nick Yelloly, driver No. 25 BMW M Hybrid V8: 'I have tested at Road Atlanta, but not raced there as yet so I am looking forward to Petit Le Mans. Connor and I are in the fight for the driver's title so it's all to play for. After the Rolex 24 and our disappointing day I would not have guessed our season would have gone so well, but BMW and RLL have given us a car and strategy that has kept us in the mix for the remainder of the season.'
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