BMW Bookends The GTLM Class At 57th Rolex 24 At Daytona

The GTLM Class Winning BMW M8 GTE and BMW Team RLL crew on the podium at Daytona.  Image Credit: BMW Group USA

BMW Bookends The GTLM Class At 57th Rolex 24 At Daytona

Words By: Brandon O'Brien

Images By: BMW Group USA

With all nine GT LeMans (GTLM) entries still running at the end of the rain shortened
Rolex 24 hours endurance race held at Daytona, BMW placed first with the No. 25 BMW M8 GTE while the troubled No. 24 BMW M8 GTE was at the rear in ninth place.

Conner De Phillippi (USA), Augusto Farfus (BRA), Phillip Eng (AUT), and Colin Herta (USA) enjoyed a largely trouble-free race.  Herta set the fastest GTLM lap time of 1:42.908 minutes on lap 64.  For much of the race the No. 25 maintained a mid-GTLM pack position.

During the night rain started to fall causing the track conditions to rapidly deteriorate.  With seven hours to go race control stopped the race for safety reasons.

When the race was re-started the BMW drivers avoided making any major errors on the slippery surface and established the No. 25 BMW M8 GTE  in the leading group. Augusto Farfus, who was in command during his stint, slowly moved the No. 25 up from third to second ... and then with what was to be the final lap into first.

Moments after taking the coveted position the race was red flagged for the second time and was never resumed.

The GTLM Winning No. 25 BMW M8 GTE in the rain at night during the Rolex 24 Hours of Daytona.  Image Credit: BMW Group USA

The No. 24 BMW M8 GTE being driven by Alessandro "Alex" Zanardi (ITA), John Edwards (USA), Jesse Krohn (FIN), and Chaz Mostert (AUS) did not have the luck of it's sister car.

Early in the race the car was dropped off the air jacks at the very moment that Alex Zanardi, who lost both legs in a racing incident in 2001, was pushing his specially adapted steering wheel into place on the column.  As a result of the jolt, the column was damaged and Zanardi was unable to engage the steering wheel correctly.  "We really tested countless possible scenarios in the run-up to the race, and then something happens in the first pit-stop which has never happened before",  stated Zanardi after the race. This required a time-consuming complete replacement of the steering column.

Alex Zanardi driver exchange during the running of the Rolex 24 Hours of Daytona.  Image Credit: BMW Group USA

Watching the live race feed of Zanardi driving at night was magical.  His ability to accelerate using his left hand on the steering wheel,  braking using the specially designed brake lever with a down-shift button with his right hand made not having legs seem immaterial.

The No. 24 BMW M8 GTE getting serviced during the Rolex 24 Hours of Daytona.  Image Credit: BMW Group USA

By the first race-suspension the No. 24 was already several laps behind the GTLM leaders.  As the race continued, the BMW M8 GTE dropped further back as a result of several smaller incidents.  With all the work, testing, and practice by BMW to make this car adaptable for Zanardi and the other three drivers it was a shame that it was unable to be in the lead group, primarily due to a never before seen issue.  To quote Zanardi again, "But that is motorsport for you".

Augusto Farfus pointing to the tribute to the late BMW Team Schnitzer principal carried on the back of both BMW M8 GTE's at Daytona.  Image Credit; BMW Group USA

The race weekend was overshadowed by the news of the death of long-term  Schnitzer team principal Charly Lamm.  In his memory, BMW Team RLL, competed with the words "Godspeed Charly" on the rear of both BMW M8 GTE's at Daytona. Culture, at times, becomes the most important word in motor culture.

Godspeed, Charly.



TAGS: Agusto Farfus, BMW, M8, GTE, Alex Zanardi, GTLM, Conner De Phillippi, Phillip Eng, Colin Herta, Team RLL, Rolex 24 At Daytona, 57th, Brandon O'Brien

BMW M8 GTE Has Strong Debut At Daytona

BMW Team RLL as they pose for the pre-event photo before the Rolex 24 hours of Daytona. Image Credit: BMW Group USA (2018) 

BMW M8 GTE Has Strong Debut At Daytona

Words By:  BMW Group USA
Image Credits By: BMW Group USA (unless otherwise specified)
Curated By: Brandon O'Brien

The new BMW M8 GTE kicked off at the season opener of the IMSA WeatherTech SportsCar Championship in Daytona (USA) this weekend. At the Daytona International Speedway, Jesse Krohn (FIN), John Edwards (USA), Nick Catsburg (NED) and Augusto Farfus (BRA) finished seventh in GTLM class after 773 laps, sharing driving duties at the wheel of the number 24 car. Their team-mates, Alexander Sims (GBR), Connor De Phillippi (USA), Bill Auberlen (USA) and Philipp Eng (AUT) came ninth with the second car entered by BMW Team RLL. The number 67 Ford GT claimed victory in the 24-hour race.

The seventh place finishing BMW M8 GTE during a nighttime stint in it's inaugural race at daytona.  Image Credit: 2018 BMW Group USA

Both cars showed great reliability and managed to complete the tough endurance classic without major technical issues in the maiden race appearance for BMW Motorsport’s new GT flagship car. No other new BMW GT race car has ever been more reliable on its debut. This was the good news for all involved at BMW Motorsport and in BMW Team RLL. Considering the given Balance of Performance (BoP), it was obvious, even before the start of the race, that the two BMW M8 GTE cars would be out of contention for top positions. More important was the fact that the new car was able to master the challenge of a 24-hour race from the word go.

 “Our BMW M8 GTE successfully completed its baptism of fire here at Daytona,” said BMW Motorsport Director Jens Marquardt. “To finish such a tough debut race with both cars after 24 hours without major technical problems is something we can be more than proud of. Everything has been said with regards to the reasons for the gap in performance compared to the competition. The car couldn’t show its true potential yet. That’s why BMW and IMSA will continue their productive and open talks and have agreed to find an appropriate BoP assessment for the upcoming events starting with Sebring, allowing the BMW M8 GTE to show its true performance for the benefit of the series, BMW and all of our fans.”

  

BMW and IMSA have been working together for years in a very positive and constructive manner. The BoP system is an integral part of global sports car racing including the IMSA WeatherTech SportsCar Championship. BMW and IMSA will continue productive, open talks and have agreed to find an appropriate BoP assessment for the upcoming events starting with Sebring (USA), allowing the BMW M8 GTE to show its performance for the benefit of the series, BMW and the fans.

The spectators were treated to a kind of unusual season opener. The anticipated rain didn’t come on Sunday. Only a heavy shower at the start of the sixth hour brought extra action in the pit lane. In addition, many teams suffered punctures over the course of the 24 hours of racing. Apart from that, relatively few incidents occurred, with only four full-course cautions. Never before were more laps completed at Daytona than in this year’s edition of the race.

The ninth place finishing BMW M8 GTE at Daytona.  Image Credit: 2018 BMW Group USA

In the sixth hour, the four drivers of car number 25 suffered a blow, when the BMW M8 GTE’s right front tyre burst after Auberlen hit debris on the track. Following 30 minutes of repair works, the BMW NA Brand Ambassador was able to rejoin, 17 laps behind the leaders. A strong result was impossible after that early setback. More repair pit stops followed as a result of that incident. Ultimately the number 25 BMW M8 GTE took the chequered flag in ninth after 731 laps.

The drivers of car number 24 delivered a consistent and flawless performance, trying to get the maximum out of the race under the given circumstances. Final-stint driver Edwards crossed the line in seventh.

TAGS: BMW, BMW Motorsport, BMW Group, BMW Group USA, Daytona, IMSA, M8, M8 GTE, WeatherTech Sports Car Championship, Brandon O'Brien