New BMW M8 GTE races to first podium finish at Sebring.

Sebring. At the classic 12 Hours of Sebring (USA), the new BMW
M8 GTE celebrated its maiden podium finish. After 328 laps,
Alexander Sims (GBR) finished round two of the IMSA WeatherTech
SportsCar Championship second in the GTLM class at the wheel of car
number 25. He had shared driving duties with fellow BMW Team RLL
drivers Connor De Phillippi and Bill Auberlen (both USA), leading
the pack in some phases of the race. The number 24 BMW M8 GTE –
driven by Jesse Krohn (FIN), John Edwards (USA) and Nick Catsburg
(NED) – had to retire in the final hour of the race. The number 911
Porsche secured victory, just 6.230 seconds ahead of the
second-placed BMW M8 GTE.


 
De Phillippi, Sims and Auberlen did a flawless job in the
cockpit after starting from pole position. Their BMW M8 GTE mastered
the tough 12 hours of racing without major technical issues. Following
a brake change towards the end of the first half of the race, the trio
lost a lap to the leaders, but managed to keep their cool and fought
back into the group of front-runners. Sims was able to secure the
first podium finish for the newly developed BMW M8 GTE as final-stint
driver. In total, it was the 69th podium for BMW Team RLL
and the 26th runner-up finish since 2009.
 
For
car number 24 the race took a decisive turn after four hours and 17
minutes, when there was a collision between the BMW M8 GTE and the
number 66 Ford GT. Edwards had to head back to the pits with a water
leak and some extensive repair work followed. The car rejoined the
race nine laps down from the leaders. Edwards, Krohn and Catsburg
ultimately had to retire in the final hour of the race. However, the
trio recorded the fastest GTLM lap – a 1:57.622 set by Krohn on lap
21. Car number 24 had also led the field in the early stages of the race.

The Turner Motorsport team delivered a fighting
performance in the GTD class. From 16th place on the grid,
Don Yount (USA), Dillon Machavern (USA) and Markus Palttala (FIN)
improved to 11th position with the number 96 BMW M6 GT3. In
the Continental Tire SportsCar Challenge race on Friday, Classic BMW’s
Toby Grahovec and Jayson Clunie (both USA) had reason to celebrate
after finishing second with the number 26 BMW M4 GT4.
 
The
IMSA WeatherTech SportsCar Championship will resume on
14th April with round three of the season held at Long
Beach (USA). One week prior, the BMW M8 GTE will continue “Mission8”
at the Prologue for the FIA World Endurance Championship (WEC) at Le
Castellet (FRA) on 6th April.
 
Jens Marquardt (BMW Motorsport Director): “We have
seen another exciting and extremely tough 12-hour race here at Sebring
– and we can take many positives back home. Congratulations to BMW
Team RLL and our BMW Motorsport crew on the maiden podium finish for
our new BMW M8 GTE. The 12 hours here is more demanding than many
24-hour races on other circuits. That makes this result even more
special. Far more important than the result are two other findings: On
the one hand, the BMW M8 GTE was able to show its potential, which is
underlined by the fact we recorded pole position and the fastest race
lap. On the other hand, the GTLM field was far better balanced than it
was at Daytona. The fans saw a thrilling race with close battles and
excitement to the very last lap. This is what we all want. We are now
looking forward to the upcoming races. At Long Beach we will go flat
out again.”
 
Bobby Rahal (BMW Team RLL, Team Principal): “After
Daytona, this has been a much more competitive race for us. Naturally
when you are that close you are disappointed not to win. But if you
look at the big picture, we made a lot of progress. It’s been a lot of
hard work put in by a lot of people. I’m just pleased we are able to
bring home a second place. This is a pretty good Sebring.”

Connor De Phillippi (#25 BMW M8 GTE,
2nd place): 
“This whole weekend has been super
memorable for me. First pole as a BMW works driver, and our first
podium position for the new BMW M8 GTE. I’m very proud of the guys.
They deserve this one. We will celebrate tonight.”
 
Alexander Sims (#25 BMW M8 GTE,
2nd place): 
“It was very nice to be in the hunt
for the win. The fight with Nick Tandy was fun. Ultimately they turned
on the pace a lot in the last stint, so I couldn’t catch him really.
Second place is pretty good. The BMW M8 GTE was working well, BMW Team
RLL did a great job. We are in the mix now.”
 
Bill Auberlen (#25 BMW M8 GTE,
2nd place): 
“You just have to be happy with this
result. The BMW M8 GTE ran flawlessly from beginning to end. I’m happy
for everyone. The guys worked very hard for it.”