The 2025 Rolex 24 at Daytona proved to be a rollercoaster for BMW Motorsport, with the BMW M Hybrid V8 displaying unimaginable tempo however in the end falling wanting the rostrum after late-race setbacks. Regardless of sturdy performances from each Group RLL entries and the debut of the up to date BMW M4 GT3 EVO within the GTD Professional class, the race ended with disappointment for the Bavarian producer.
Promising Begin for the BMW M Hybrid V8
Group RLL’s No. 24 BMW M Hybrid V8, piloted by Dries Vanthoor, Kevin Magnussen, Philipp Eng, and Raffaele Marciello, began on pole place for the primary time for the reason that LMDh program was reinstated at BMW. The #24 race automobile showcased its one-lap pace early within the race main the pack at instances. The No. 25 sister automobile, pushed by Sheldon van der Linde, René Rast, Robin Frijns, and Marco Wittmann, additionally demonstrated distinctive tempo in the course of the race, setting the quickest lap of the occasion with instances below 1:36 minutes.
Almost 23 hours in and the BMW M Hybrid V8 #24 was nonetheless in rivalry for victory, locked in a fierce three-way battle with the Penske Porsche 963 racing automobiles. Nevertheless, the race took a devastating flip within the closing hour when contact with the No. 021 Ferrari pushed by James Calado induced injury to the BMW’s bodywork, resulting in a puncture. The next pit cease left the workforce a lap down, they usually in the end completed fourth.
The No. 25 BMW had good tempo as nicely, nevertheless it endured an uphill battle as a result of a poor beginning place and in a single day brake change points that value two laps. Contact with the Wayne Taylor Racing Cadillac and a puncture compounded the workforce’s struggles, relegating the automobile to seventh place general.
Heartbreak within the GTD Professional Class
BMW’s fortunes within the GTD Professional class mirrored these in GTP. The No. 1 BMW M4 GT3 Evo, pushed by Kelvin van der Linde, Connor De Phillippi, Neil Verhagen, and Madison Snow, was poised for a category victory. A fierce duel with Corvette Racing noticed the BMW lead a lot of the race, solely to lose its podium probabilities within the closing minutes. Contact throughout a heated battle induced the M4 to spin, ending its bid for a prime end.
The GTD Professional class victory went to Ford Multimatic Motorsports, marking the primary race win for the Ford Mustang GT3. Dennis Olsen, sharing the No. 65 automobile with Chris Mies and Fred Vervisch, took the Blue Oval to glory. A late-race battle for the rostrum turned chaotic when Nico Varrone made contact with van der Linde’s No. 1 BMW, spinning it at Flip 1 and dashing BMW’s hopes.
Within the aftermath, Alex Sims within the No. 3 Corvette completed second, whereas the No. 64 Ford Mustang GT3, pushed by Mike Rockenfeller, Seb Priaulx, and Austin Cindric, accomplished the rostrum.
Porsche’s Triumph and a Historic Victory
Porsche Penske Motorsport emerged victorious, securing its twentieth general win at Daytona. Felipe Nasr, Kevin Estre, and Nick Tandy claimed victory within the No. 7 Porsche 963, with Nasr making decisive overtakes within the closing hour. Tandy’s triumph marked a historic achievement as he grew to become the primary driver to win the distinguished 24-hour races at Le Mans, Daytona, Nürburgring, and Spa.
A Race of Highs and Lows for BMW
Regardless of the disappointing finale, BMW Motorsport’s efficiency at Daytona showcased the potential of the BMW M Hybrid V8 program. The automobile’s outright pace and reliability had been simple, with each entries finishing the grueling 24-hour race with out main mechanical points.
BMW Motorsport is now heading to the 12 Hours of Sebring, however indubitably, they now have their sights grand prize on the iconic 24 hours of Le Mans. [Photos: Dan Levins / @klapped.media]
