BMW M Motorsport Secures Pole at Sebring but Faces Tough Race

BMW M Motorsport marked BMW North America's 50th anniversary at Sebring 2025 with a pole position for the BMW M Hybrid V8, but race setbacks led to a tough finish. Read the full recap.

The 2025 12 Hours of Sebring was more than just the second round of the IMSA WeatherTech SportsCar Championship for BMW M Motorsport—it marked the 50th anniversary of BMW North America. Expectations were high, especially after Dries Vanthoor secured pole position for the #24 BMW M Hybrid V8. However, the race proved to be an uphill battle. The car suffered a rear-end collision after a pit stop due to an unsafe release by another competitor, resulting in severe damage and forcing the team into a lengthy repair. After more than an hour in the garage, the #24 crew rejoined the race and was classified 12th in the GTP class.

The #25 BMW M Hybrid V8, driven by Sheldon van der Linde, Marco Wittmann, and Robin Frijns, started from 10th place and steadily moved up through the field. Following a final yellow flag period about 45 minutes before the end, Frijns climbed from sixth to fifth place in the closing minutes, securing a respectable finish but leaving the team with mixed emotions.

BMW saw greater success in the GTD PRO class, where Paul Miller Racing celebrated a double podium finish with the BMW M4 GT3 EVO, taking second and third place. Meanwhile, Turner Motorsport put in a solid performance in the GTD class, finishing sixth.

In the IMSA Michelin Pilot Challenge, BMW also made a strong statement. The new BMW M4 GT4 EVO claimed its first victory with CarBahn Racing w/ Peregrine Racing. BMW’s presence was further reinforced with Turner Motorsport securing third place and Auto Technic Racing finishing fourth, adding to the strong debut season of the new GT4 model.

To honor the occasion, both BMW M Hybrid V8s sported a special anniversary livery, paying tribute to BMW’s historic 1975 Sebring victory with the 3.0 CSL. Racing legends Jochen Neerpasch, one of BMW Motorsport’s founding figures, and Brian Redman, a key driver in the 1975 win, were present at the event.

While the weekend brought challenges rather than triumphs for BMW M Motorsport, the team’s qualifying performance remains promising. The key challenge is translating that speed into consistent race results. With a long season ahead, BMW will undoubtedly analyze the setbacks and aim for stronger performances in the upcoming rounds.

Source: press.bmwgroup.com