The penultimate round of the 2023 IMSA WeatherTech SportsCar Championship (IMSA series) leads BMW M Team RLL to an iconic race track: the Indianapolis Motor Speedway (USA), also known as ‘The Brickyard’ hosts this coming weekend’s event (15th to 17th September). BMW M Team RLL aims to return to the IMSA GTP podium with the new BMW M Hybrid V8 at Indianapolis.
Munich. The penultimate round of the 2023 IMSA WeatherTech SportsCar Championship (IMSA series) leads BMW M Team RLL to an iconic race track: the Indianapolis Motor Speedway (USA), also known as ‘The Brickyard’ hosts this coming weekend’s event (15th to 17th September). BMW M Team RLL aims to return to the IMSA GTP podium with the new BMW M Hybrid V8 at Indianapolis. The #25 BMW M Hybrid V8, victorious this season at Watkins Glen (USA) and on the podium at Sebring, Long Beach (both USA) and Canadian Tire Motorsport Park (CAN), will again be driven by Connor De Phillippi (USA) and Nick Yelloly (GBR). Augusto Farfus (BRA) and Philipp Eng (AUT) share duties in the #24 car.
Recently the team participated in a two-day test at the Speedway with drivers De Phillippi, Colton Herta (USA), and Jesse Krohn (FIN). The second day of the test ended with the #25 and #24 BMW M Hybrid V8s at the top of the timing sheets. Eng, Farfus, and Yelloly completed ‘Driver In Loop’ tests for Indianapolis to continue the development of the team’s race performance.
BMW Team RLL team members do have history at ‘The Brickyard’. Team Principal Bobby Rahal (USA) won the 1986 Indy 500. De Phillippi and Farfus won the 8 Hour Intercontinental GT Challenge race at Indy in 2020, driving a Walkenhorst Motorsport BMW M6 GT3 along with Nick Catsburg (NED). Yelloly finished second in the team’s sister BMW, co-driving with David Pittard (GBR) and Marco Wittmann (GER).
In the GT Daytona class, three BMW M4 GT3s will compete. With five victories in this season so far, Bryan Sellers and Madison Snow (both USA) continue to lead the GTD class points with the #1 Paul Miller Racing BMW M4 GT3. Turner Motorsport brings two BMW M4 GT3s for Robby Foley and Patrick Gallagher (both USA) and for Bill Auberlen and Chandler Hull (both USA).
The two-hour-and-forty-minute race at Indianapolis gets underway on Sunday, 17th September at 12:10 local time (19:10 CEST).
Quotes ahead of the Road America race.
Bobby Rahal, BMW M Team RLL Team Principal: “Indy is an iconic place. We tested there recently and it went very well. As is every IMSA race we go to it will be a tough fight. If we have the pace at Indy as we did at another fast circuits like Watkins Glen I have every reason to believe we’ll have a good weekend.”
Connor De Phillippi (#25 BMW M Hybrid V8): “The Speedway is always a special place to race and I’m aiming to continue the success I’ve been fortunate to have there. Last month, we had a productive test and the BMW M Hybrid V8 has been testing in Europe which has been valuable. I’m excited to be back on track after the summer break to continue chasing race wins.”
Nick Yelloly (#25 BMW M Hybrid V8): “I was not there for the GTP test, but I understand it went very well. I hope we can hit the ground running and get another good result for BMW.”
Philipp Eng (#24 BMW M Hybrid V8): “’'m very excited to finally get the chance to race at Indianapolis. Indy is often referred to as the ‘world centre of racing’ and an incredibly iconic track. I can’t wait to turn my first laps in the BMW M Hybrid V8 there and hopefully secure a podium with my teammate Augusto. I believe we’ve deserved it. We’ve been on an upward trajectory in the past few races, but unfortunately, we had a bit of bad luck at Road America. A podium for us or the sister car would be a boost for all of us. However, I’m feeling positive. I’ve heard that the Indy test went very well. I’m looking forward to my next race with BMW M Team RLL and hoping for a strong result.”
Augusto Farfus (#24 BMW M Hybrid V8): “The team showed good pace in the test which gives us hope for a strong weekend. I did race the Indy road course in 2020 with Connor and Nicky Catsburg to a win in the 8 hour Intercontinental GT Challenge win. It will good to be back at Indy.”
