After 24 hours of essentially the most intense hours of racing in current reminiscence, BMW got here away victorious within the GTLM class at Daytona. The group of Krohn, Edwards, Farfus and Mostert drove an ideal race beating out the brand new Porsche 911 RSR-19 in dramatic style. The truth is the 2 had been so shut within the closing hours of the race you’d have assumed every lap was the final.

It is a enormous end result for the group and for BMW general who endured a dreadful 2019 and want to decide on long-term involvement within the sequence later this yr.

Official Launch BMW Wins the 24 Hours of Daytona!

The lead modified arms greater than 40 occasions because the race went proper right down to the wire earlier than triggering wild celebrations. BMW Crew RLL received 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 automobiles in second and third place.

BMW Crew RLL tasted victory at Daytona in 2019. Again then, Farfus gave a formidable ultimate stint to clinch first place on the Florida endurance basic. 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 ultimate 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 received 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 an extended 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 group was difficult for a prime end result 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 precious 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 a particularly thrilling race. The ultimate hours had been significantly tense, with the lead altering arms many occasions. Right this moment’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 group, drivers and our engineers. The operative excellence of BMW Crew RLL was exceptional. 24 hours and not using a single mistake, beneath nice strain all through the complete 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 yr’s triumph. In doing so, it underlined the truth that this automotive is likely one of the prime GT automobiles on the market proper now. The BMW M8 GTE confirmed no indicators of weak spot on this 24-hour dash. It was among the many leaders all race and led for extra kilometres than anybody else. And all that in opposition to extraordinarily sturdy opposition. We definitely placed on a show of nice motor racing for the followers and spectators. That was a robust begin to the yr for BMW Motorsport, together with in different classes. Congratulations to all concerned. Lengthy might it proceed.”

Jens Marquardt (BMW Group Motorsport Director): “Two Daytona wins in a row for the BMW M8 GTE. That may be a sensational effort from BMW Crew RLL, the drivers and our engineers at BMW Motorsport in Munich. It’s arduous 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 yr, we had been among the many front-runners from the opening lap. We led for longer than every other GTLM automotive. The race was outlined by the incredible battle between our #24 automotive and the 2 Porsches. We witnessed arduous 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 complete group 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 end result too. We definitely 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 yr had been proven in any other case in the present day. That was a battle for twenty-four hours. The drivers did a incredible job, and the identical goes for the crew. We didn’t make any errors. I really feel sorry for the fellows 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 group and BMW Motorsport. Congratulations to Porsche and Corvette, who had been good from the phrase go along with their new automobiles. We’re merely very blissful in the present day.”

John Edwards (#24 MOTUL BMW M8 GTE, 1st place): “I’m very hardly ever speechless – however that’s the case in the present day. I had each religion in Jesse bringing it house on the finish. And he did it. It was a extremely arduous struggle, as all the time within the GTLM class. The various battles had been extraordinarily tiring, significantly 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 yr within the GTLM class – and my first victory. We have now come so shut so usually, and now we’ve truly achieved it right here at Daytona. The group 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 not 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 can not afford to make any errors. We drove an ideal race: group, technique, drivers, mechanics. The automotive labored properly all through the complete race. You don’t get by way of the total 24 hours like that fairly often. To win this race twice in a row is outstanding.”

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 by way of this race. Thanks very a lot to BMW Motorsport and RLL for permitting me to be concerned. In 2019, the opposite automotive received. 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 incredible for the group. I could not have received the race, however I’m nonetheless delighted for the fellows. John and Jesse had been usually unfortunate lately, which makes it all of the nicer that they received in the present day. It’s clearly additionally nice for Chaz and Augusto. Personally, I might have preferred a greater end result. Nonetheless, we win and lose as a group. Right this moment, we received 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 constructing a lot progress by way of the sector. Nonetheless, the automotive was excellent and the entire group did a incredible job. I’m very blissful for the crew and my team-mates that we received with the #24 automotive. The fellows deserve that. Congratulations on an important efficiency.”

Philipp Eng (#25 MOTUL BMW M8 GTE): “I’m overjoyed for the fellows 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 mates. One group, one aim – that’s not simply an empty phrase. I’m actually happy for them. What occurred to our automotive is a disgrace. Nonetheless, these items 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 group. 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.”