Munich. Following the first BMW M8 GTE victory and a third
place at the previous round at Virginia International Raceway (USA),
BMW Team RLL heads to this weekend’s IMSA WeatherTech SportsCar
Championship round at Laguna Seca Raceway (USA) with a lot of
momentum. Team Principal Bobby Rahal (USA) and his squad aim to
extend the success streak on the iconic Californian circuit within
sight of Monterey Bay.
It was an historic moment when the #25 BMW M8 GTE crossed the
line at Virginia International Raceway on 19th August when Connor De
Phillippi (USA) and Alexander Sims (GBR) celebrated the maiden victory
for the all-new GT car. Their team-mates Jesse Krohn (FIN) and John
Edwards (USA) completed the success in the #24 sister car by finishing
third and thus securing the maiden double-podium for the BMW M8 GTE.
Laguna Seca has seen two BMW victories in recent years. The BMW
Z4 GTLM won in 2015 with Edwards and Lucas Luhr (GER) behind the wheel
and the BMW M6 GTLM was victorious last year. Edwards shared the 2017
win with Martin Tomczyk (GER). This year, the two BMW Team RLL M8 GTEs
are driven by De Phillippi/Sims (#25) and Krohn/Edwards (#24). In
addition, Bill Auberlen and Robby Foley (both USA) will team up in the
#96 Turner Motorsport BMW M6 GT3, again in the GTD class, at Laguna Seca.
Quotes ahead of the Laguna Seca race:
Bobby Rahal (Team Principal, BMW Team RLL): “As a
team, or for me as a driver, historically, we have had great success
at Laguna Seca. Last year’s win with John Edwards and Martin Tomczyk
was a tremendous strategic victory for us and John did a fabulous job
getting the maximum mileage that was necessary to realise that
strategy. I have to say it was probably one of the most satisfying
wins I have ever had as a driver or a team owner so we look forward to
returning to Laguna Seca, especially given the performance of the BMW
M8 GTE at VIR. We hope to be in the hunt for the win again.”
Connor De Phillippi (#25 BMW M8 GTE): “Laguna Seca
has always had a special place in my racing career since it is the
first ever track I drove a race car on. It is one of my top three
favourites on our calendar and it definitely is one of the most iconic
circuits in North America. Coming off our first win at our last event,
I’m looking forward to keeping this momentum rolling and aiming for
another one at my second ‘home’ race of the season on California soil.”
Alexander Sims (#25 BMW M8 GTE): “After we secured
the maiden win for the BMW M8 GTE last time out at VIR I’m hopeful
that we can get the car dialled in to the very different
characteristics of Laguna Seca. It’s a wonderful circuit that’s fun to
drive but will pose plenty of challenges for everyone. We need to work
hard to optimise the car and our driving to be on the front foot come
race day.”
Jesse Krohn (#24 BMW M8 GTE): “Laguna Seca is an
amazing track that even non-racing fans know about. The team has done
a great job over the last few months and the results were starting to
show at VIR. I am confident we can keep a similar performance level at
Laguna Seca and I am looking forward to the weekend.”
John Edwards (#24 BMW M8 GTE): “Laguna Seca has
treated me very well in the past! We had a win last year in a black
BMW M6 GTLM and we’re coming back with a black BMW M8 GTE after a
double podium at VIR so we have great momentum. I think we have a good
shot at the first win for the #24 car this weekend. The GTLM field has
been super-tight the past few races so it will definitely be an
intense fight.”