IMSA: BMW M Team WRT’s podium streak snapped at Watkins Glen; Paul Miller Racing claims GTD-PRO runner-up finish

BMW M Team WRT’s four-race podium streak in the IMSA WeatherTech SportsCar Championship came to a close at Watkins Glen, where the #24 BMW M Hybrid V8 finished fourth in the GTP class. Sheldon van der Linde (RSA) and Dries Vanthoor (BEL) battled for third place until the final minutes, ultimately falling short. The team struggled with car balance all weekend, qualifying sixth before climbing into the top three during the race. Philipp Eng (AUT) and Marco Wittmann (GER) fared worse in the #25 BMW M Hybrid V8, enduring a tyre puncture and a drive-through penalty to finish ninth. BMW M Motorsport head Andreas Roos acknowledged the disappointment but emphasized the overall positive trend of the LMDh project. “Unfortunately, our podium streak with the BMW M Hybrid V8 has come to an end after four races. That’s a shame, but the fact that we’re disappointed with a fourth place says a lot about the generally very positive trend of our LMDh project,” Roos said. “At Watkins Glen, we weren’t able to find the optimal set-up for our two cars. Nevertheless, the team and drivers fought hard. Many thanks to everyone for their efforts! In just two weeks, we’ll have the chance to do better at the FIA WEC race in São Paulo.” Meanwhile, Paul Miller Racing delivered a strong performance in the GTD-PRO class, with Connor De Phillippi and Neil Verhagen securing second place in their #1 BMW M4 GT3 EVO. The duo started third and executed a flawless race strategy, capitalizing on fuel efficiency and smart pit decisions to climb the order. Their result vaulted them to the top of the GTD-PRO championship standings. “We got the maximum out of today,” De Phillippi said. “The strategy was spot on, and we executed our plan perfectly. We knew we didn’t have the fastest car, but we also knew that with a smart strategy and fuel efficiency, we could stay at the front. In the end, it worked out, and we’re leaving Watkins Glen with the championship lead.” In the GTD class, Turner Motorsport’s #96 BMW M4 GT3 EVO, driven by Robby Foley, Patrick Gallagher, and Francis Selldorff, led briefly before a late pit stop dropped them to seventh. Foley admitted the team gambled on a late-race yellow flag that never materialized. “It looked pretty good for a while, but we were on a different strategy to our competitors and knew we’d need a yellow flag to make it work. That did come, but unfortunately too late for us. We didn’t have the pace to run right at the front, so we took a bit of a gamble. Unfortunately, it didn’t pay off, but we still scored important points for the championship.”