BMW Team RLL Score Second Consecutive Victory at Laguna Seca

By IMSA Wire Service

MONTEREY, Calif. – One race after scoring the first global win for the BMW M8 GTE, BMW Team RLL delivered an encore performance Sunday in the America’s Tire 250 at WeatherTech Raceway Laguna Seca.

Connor De Phillippi and Alexander Sims co-drove to their second consecutive IMSA WeatherTech SportsCar Championship victory in the No. 25 BMW, although unlike its maiden win at VIRginia International Raceway three weeks ago, it took every drop of fuel to bring home the checkered flag.

De Phillippi managed to stretch his fuel over the race’s final 77 minutes, taking the lead with eight minutes remaining when teammate John Edwards – who was on a similar strategy in the No. 24 BMW – was forced to pit road for a splash to get to the finish. From there it was not only about conserving fuel, but also holding off the No. 912 Porsche 911 RSR of Laurens Vanthoor who finished second, 2.488 second back.

The win continues an impressive stretch for BMW Team RLL. Coincidentally, the only thing keeping the team from three consecutive wins was a similar race at Road America when De Phillippi appeared on his way to victory only to be forced to pit lane for fuel with two laps to go.

“We won at VIR on pace, but here I wouldn’t say we were the fastest car,” said De Phillippi. “But we drove smart, mistake free and won on strategy. To get two wins in a row shows the team is learning every weekend and building momentum.

“Maybe we were able to be more fuel efficient than the other car. Maybe they didn’t think they could make it with their mileage or pace and covered both options. If we had another yellow, they had fresher tires and we didn’t. All the cards went our way. We’re not super in the fight for the championship, so we’re just trying to learn so we can be a bit more aggressive.”

Vanthoor was on a similar strategy in a runner-up effort alongside Earl Bamber in the No. 912 Porsche.

With a potential GTLM championship on the line, the No. 3 Corvette C7.R team of Antonio Garcia and Jan Magnussen opted for a more conservative strategy, making an additional pit stop with 45 minutes to go and finishing third for their seventh consecutive podium finish.

It was already a strong points day for the No. 3 Corvette with Ford Chip Ganassi Racing’s pair of Ford GTs – who entered WeatherTech Raceway second and third in the class standings – running into early issues.

An accident at the green flag effectively ended the race for the No. 66 Ford GT of Dirk Mueller and co-driver Joey Hand before it even started. The duo entered the race third in points, nine points back, and leaves WeatherTech Raceway down 15 points, 299-284, after finishing seventh.

The No. 67 Ford GT of Richard Westbrook and Ryan Briscoe, meanwhile, finished sixth after contact between Westbrook and the No. 4 Corvette of Oliver Gavin broke the steering rack 49 minutes into the race.

With only the season-ending Motul Petit Le Mans at Road Atlanta remaining, the No. 3 Corvette Racing team and Garcia and Magnussen lead the No. 67 Ford GT of Westbrook and Briscoe by nine points, 299-290.

“For the championship, another podium is great,” said Magnussen. “It’s not at all what we thought we were going to be able to do here. To be completely honest, I’m a little bit disappointed, but it is what it is. The other cars went really, really long on the last tank – over half of the race distance which is pretty incredible.

“We are in a better position in the points than when we came here, so that’s positive. Off to the last one at Road Atlanta and go for a win there.”