In a weekend filled with fierce wheel-to-wheel action and relentless competition, BMW M Team RLL put up a valiant fight at the fifth round of the IMSA WeatherTech SportsCar Championship on the narrow, unforgiving streets of Detroit. Despite their previous success on the podium at Long Beach and Laguna Seca, the team faced tough battles and strategy setbacks, ultimately securing fifth and seventh-place finishes in the GTP class — a performance that, while short of their expectations, underscores their resilience in one of the most challenging sprint races of the season.

 Chevrolet Detroit Sports Car Classic.Detroit Grand Prix.Detroit Street Course / Detroit, Michigan.May 30 - 31, 2025
 Sam Cobb  

 

Breaking the Podium Streak, Not the Spirit

The #24 BMW M Hybrid V8, co-piloted by Belgium’s Dries Vanthoor and Austria’s Philipp Eng, led the BMW charge with a hard-fought fifth-place finish. Teammates Sheldon van der Linde (South Africa) and Marco Wittmann (Germany) brought the #25 sister car home in seventh, after a post-race penalty knocked them back one spot for overtaking under yellow.

The result marked the first time this season that BMW M Team RLL missed the GTP podium in a sprint event. Notably, it also ended Vanthoor’s remarkable four-race pole position streak — a testament to just how tight and unpredictable the Detroit circuit can be.

“This race didn’t unfold the way we’d hoped,” said Andreas Roos, Head of BMW M Motorsport. “We had a promising start with solid qualifying efforts in both classes, but the race dynamics, with multiple contacts and strategy struggles, worked against us. Nevertheless, we are determined to bounce back stronger at Watkins Glen.”

Race of Attrition in GTD PRO

In the GTD PRO class, it was a day of mixed fortunes for Paul Miller Racing. The #1 BMW M4 GT3 EVO, driven by American duo Madison Snow and Neil Verhagen, encountered debilitating technical problems early in the race, dropping them several laps off the lead and relegating them to 11th in class.

The #48 car, featuring young stars Dan Harper (UK) and Max Hesse (Germany), showed promising pace and even vied for a podium slot. Unfortunately, a late-race collision and subsequent drive-through penalty dashed their hopes, leaving them seventh in class.

 Chevrolet Detroit Sports Car Classic.Detroit Grand Prix.Detroit Street Course / Detroit, Michigan.May 30 - 31, 2025
 Sam Cobb 

Driver Reflections: Learning from the Streets

Dries Vanthoor, reflecting on the #24 car’s performance, was candid in his assessment: “It was a tough race. I lost positions at the start and we didn’t quite nail the strategy. We need to regroup and figure out what others are doing differently. But we’ll come back stronger.”

Van der Linde, despite a brilliant qualifying effort, echoed similar sentiments. “Third place in qualifying was a great result, but we couldn’t convert that into a strong finish. The car has pace — now it’s about execution. I believe Watkins Glen will be our redemption.”

Eyes on the Glen: A New Chapter

With Detroit in the rearview mirror, all eyes now turn to the legendary Watkins Glen International. The historic upstate New York track has traditionally favored BMW machinery, and the team is motivated to reignite their podium streak and reign supreme once again.

As the 2025 IMSA season gains momentum, BMW M Motorsport remains a central force in the championship narrative — a blend of precision engineering, daring driving, and relentless ambition that continues to thrill motorsports fans across the globe.

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