BMW M Hybrid V8 claims pole position and podium finish at Laguna Seca

BMW M Team RLL secures fourth pole in a row and a dramatic third-place finish at Laguna Seca with the 24 BMW M Hybrid V8.

BMW continues to make a strong impression in the 2025 IMSA season. At Laguna Seca, the BMW M Team RLL once again found itself at the center of attention: Dries Vanthoor and Philipp Eng, driving the #24 BMW M Hybrid V8, claimed their fourth consecutive pole position, demonstrating excellent pace in qualifying. This result stands as clear proof of the car's consistent performance in the competitive GTP class.

The race itself delivered a level of drama worthy of a championship finale. Vanthoor took the lead from the start and maintained it confidently for the first 50 minutes. But once traffic from lapped cars came into play, the field closed in, triggering an intense battle for the podium. After the first driver change, Philipp Eng rejoined in third place, and in the final laps, Vanthoor launched an aggressive charge against the two leading Porsches.

The climax came in the very last corner. Vanthoor, attempting an overtake, was tagged by a competitor and spun off. Despite the contact, he managed to recover quickly and still crossed the finish line in third. This marked the duo’s second podium finish of the season, following their result in Long Beach.

BMW’s second entry also impressed. Sheldon van der Linde and Marco Wittmann in the #25 car started sixth and opted for an alternative strategy with an early pit stop. Their persistence paid off as they climbed to fourth place — their best result of the season so far. Wittmann's final stint, in particular, saw several overtakes that pushed them into the leading group.

BMW M Motorsport head Andreas Roos emphasized that the team’s performance at Laguna Seca confirmed how close they are to victory. The drivers’ consistency, strategic execution, and technical strength of the BMW M Hybrid V8 suggest that the upcoming round in Detroit could be their breakthrough moment of the season.

Source: bmwgroup.com