BMW M Hybrid V8 Secures Third Pole and Debuts on 2025 Podium at Long Beach

BMW M Hybrid V8 clinches third pole and first 2025 IMSA podium at Long Beach. Vanthoor leads qualifying, Eng finishes third. Read the full race story.

Three consecutive pole positions, a front-row lockout, and yet – only third and fifth places at the finish. The weekend for BMW M Team RLL at Long Beach was spectacular but fell short of the triumph hinted at in qualifying.

Dries Vanthoor continues to prove that the BMW M Hybrid V8 is a qualifying powerhouse in IMSA. After commanding performances at Daytona and Sebring, he again set the fastest time on the Long Beach street circuit, securing pole position for himself and teammate Philipp Eng. Alongside the #25 crew of Sheldon van der Linde and Marco Wittmann, BMW controlled the entire front row, laying down a serious challenge to the competition.

But the race told a different story. During the first yellow phase, both BMW cars lost valuable positions in the pits. Eng managed to recover to finish third in the #24 car, while Wittmann had to fight back from tenth to finish fifth.

According to BMW M Motorsport head Andreas Roos, the team still has the pace, but must eliminate strategic errors to convert speed into victories. The drivers did not hide their frustration — after dominating practice and qualifying, the outcome felt like a missed opportunity.

In the GTD class, Turner Motorsport also missed the podium, with Robby Foley and Patrick Gallagher finishing fifth in the BMW M4 GT3 EVO.

The next round is at Laguna Seca. Historically a strong track for BMW, it now offers the team a chance to turn qualifying speed into its first win of the season. But for that, flawless strategy will be just as crucial as raw pace.

Source: bmwgroup.com