Pole position and fifth place for the BMW M Hybrid V8 – Double podium for the BMW M4 GT3 EVO.

Sebring. The anniversary weekend in Sebring (USA), celebrating
the fiftieth birthday of BMW of North America, introduced each
highlights and setbacks for BMW M Motorsport. The 73rd
version of the well-known Twelve Hours of Sebring marked the second
spherical of the IMSA WeatherTech SportsCar Championship (IWSC). As at
the season opener in Daytona (USA), Dries Vanthoor (BEL) within the #24
BMW M Hybrid V8 of the BMW M Group RLL secured the pole place. In
the race itself, the #24 fell far again on account of an unavoidable
collision. The #25 sister automobile completed fifth. The brand new BMW M4 GT3 EVO
celebrated a double podium within the GTD PRO class, with the 2 Paul
Miller Racing automobiles taking second and third locations. Moreover,
there was a primary victory for the brand new BMW M4 GT4 EVO in Sebring
.

From P10 on the grid, Sheldon van der Linde (RSA), Marco Wittmann
(GER), and Robin Frijns (NED) within the #25 BMW M Hybrid V8 persistently
moved ahead. After a closing yellow part about 45 minutes earlier than the
finish, Frijns was in sixth place and managed to realize yet another place
within the closing minutes.

Within the pole automobile with quantity 24, Vanthoor, Philipp Eng (AUT), and
Kevin Magnussen (DEN) began a comeback after a drive-through penalty
and made their manner again to the entrance of the sphere. Nevertheless, about
three hours earlier than the tip, there was a setback. The BMW M Hybrid V8
was hit on the fitting rear by one other automobile after a pit cease. Magnussen
initially returned to the observe, however the automobile was so severely broken
{that a} prolonged restore was needed. Solely after greater than an hour
might the #24 crew rejoin the motion and was labeled twelfth within the
GTP class.

The 2 BMW M Hybrid V8s of BMW M Group RLL have been sporting a
particular anniversary livery since this weekend in Sebring. Precisely 50
years in the past, on fifteenth March 1975, BMW of North America was
based. Just a few days later, with the Sebring victory of the BMW 3.0
CSL, which was displayed over the weekend, got here the primary triumph of
BMW Motorsport in North America. Jochen Neerpasch, co-founder and
first CEO of BMW Motorsport GmbH, and Brian Redman (USA), Sebring
winner of 1975, have been additionally current on the anniversary weekend.

GTD PRO: Paul Miller Racing celebrates a double podium.

The BMW M4 GT3 EVO added two extra podium locations to its already
spectacular success collection in its debut season. The 2 Paul Miller
Racing automobiles took second and third locations within the GTD PRO class. Dan
Harper (GBR), Max Hesse (GER), and Jesse Krohn (FIN) narrowly edged
out their teammates Madison Snow, Neil Verhagen, and Connor De
Phillippi (all USA). Within the GTD class, Turner Motorsport with the #96
BMW M4 GT3 EVO completed sixth.

First victory for the brand new BMW M4 GT4 EVO.

Already on Friday, a two-hour race of the IMSA Michelin Pilot
Problem was on the schedule in Sebring. The brand new BMW M4 GT4 EVO is
additionally in its debut season, and the BMW M Motorsport groups made a giant
impression with the brand new buyer racing automobile in Sebring. The crew from
CarBahn Racing w/ Peregrine Racing achieved the primary victory for the
BMW M4 GT4 EVO with drivers Sean McAlister and Jeff Westphal (each
USA). Dillon Machavern and Francis Selldorff (each USA) additionally reached
the rostrum with Turner Motorsport, ending third. Simply behind them,
the BMW M4 GT4 EVO from Auto Technic Racing, pushed by Austin Krainz
(USA) and Steven McAleer (GBR), completed fourth.

Feedback after the 12h Sebring:

Andreas Roos, Head of BMW M Motorsport: “The beginning
into the Sebring weekend was very optimistic with the pole place by
Dries Vanthoor. Sadly, the race itself within the GTP class was
disappointing – we have now to be sincere. Automotive quantity 24 managed to struggle
again to the entrance after the preliminary penalty however was in the end taken
out of the race by an unsafe launch by a competitor. After the
accident, a prolonged restore was needed, and all possibilities for
consequence have been taken away. Automotive quantity 25 additionally did not have a very
error-free race. In the long run, it managed to complete fifth, however that’s
clearly not what we had hoped for after the nice efficiency of our
BMW M Hybrid V8 in qualifying. Nevertheless, we at the moment are trying ahead, as
our automobiles have been dependable and carried out nicely. The double podium by Paul
Miller Racing with the 2 BMW M4 GT3 EVOs in second and third locations
within the GTD PRO is unquestionably pleasing. It is a fantastic consequence on the 12
Hours of Sebring, and I’m very pleased for the entire crew and the
drivers. Moreover, there was a primary victory to rejoice within the
IMSA Michelin Pilot Problem race for the BMW M4 GT4 EVO.
Congratulations to CarBahn Racing w/ Peregrine Racing and in addition to
Turner Motorsport for the primary podium with our new GT4.”

Marco Wittmann (#25 BMW M Hybrid V8, BMW M Group RLL,
fifth place): “It was a weekend of combined emotions.
On one hand, we have been overjoyed after qualifying in regards to the pole
place for automobile quantity 24. This exhibits that we have now a automobile that’s
extraordinarily good in qualifying for one lap. Sadly, the race
did not go as nicely. It regarded good for some time, we labored our manner again
to the entrance and have been on track for a podium. However in the long run, it was
‘solely’ fifth place for automobile quantity 25. That is considerably disappointing,
as we have been good by way of pace, despite the fact that the Porsches have been
stronger in the long run. Now, we have to make the automobile even sooner within the
race. It’s kind of of a disgrace as a result of all of us had larger hopes after
qualifying and thought we would make it to the rostrum. So the
conclusion is that we drivers remained error-free and ended up in
fifth place.”

Philipp Eng (#24 BMW M Hybrid V8, BMW M Group RLL,
twelfth place): “Our weekend began completely. Our
automobile had an excellent stability from the start, and Dries’ qualifying
was once more nice. We have been additionally doing nicely within the race after a yellow
part that got here on the proper time. Then, sadly, a competitor
took us out within the pit lane. That is extraordinarily disappointing. We had a
dangerous day immediately, however we additionally confirmed with each automobiles that we’re quick and
dependable. I’m certain that higher days will come quickly.“

Dan Harper (#48 BMW M4 GT3 EVO, Paul Miller Racing,
2nd place GTD PRO): “P2 for us and P3 for our
sister automobile right here in Sebring – a fantastic consequence for the crew. We could be
delighted with the outcomes as we additionally scored essential factors on the
4 and eight-hour marks for the Endurance Cup. After our dangerous luck in
Daytona we have been all a bit dissatisfied an knew that we have to get
ourselves again up and operating right here. We achieved that. In the long run, the
profitable Porsche was just a bit bit too fast. Though we didn’t
have an ideal race, we could be pleased to spray some champagne.”

Neil Verhagen (#1 BMW M4 GT3 EVO, Paul Miller Racing, third
place GTD PRO):
 “It is an effective way to finish the Sebring 12 Hours. We
really feel prefer it’s a bit little bit of redemption to be on the rostrum right here now
as we predict we also needs to have been up there in Daytona. Large thanks
to all the fellows at Paul Miller Racing for all of the laborious work that gave
us the chance to make it onto the rostrum. We gave it our all und
simply fell a bit bit quick. We’ll attempt even tougher subsequent time.”