BMW M Team RLL will compete for a second consecutive IMSA weekend in California, this time in Monterey at WeatherTech Laguna Seca Raceway. The No. 25 MOTUL BMW M4 GT3 will be driven by Connor De Phillippi and John Edwards, the pair still looking for their first podium finish of the season.
This past weekend, both drivers participated in the second round of the German series Nürburgring Endurance Series (NLS) racing two ROWE Racing BMW M4 GT3 machines in their first event at the legendary Nürburgring. De Phillippi and RLL endurance race co-driver Augusto Farfus won the four-hour race to cap a 1-2-3 finish for BMW’s new GT3 racing car. Fifth place went to the second ROWE Racing car with John Edwards, Sheldon van der Linde and Marco Wittmann behind the wheel.
BMW Team RLL has three GT class victories at the classic circuit. John Edwards co-drove to the win in both 2015 (with Lucas Luhr) and 2017 (with Martin Tomczyk). De Phillippi followed with the victory in 2018 (with Alexander Sims). With three events complete so far this season De Phillippi and Edwards stand sixth in GTD Pro points standings.
The 1975 IMSA season saw BMW’s first race at Laguna Seca. The 3.0 CSL racing program was the newly incorporated BMW of North America’s first marketing effort in the US and, celebrating its 50th anniversary this year, BMW M Motorsport’s very first racing program in North America. That first weekend in May of 1975 saw a young Hans Stuck take BMW’s second victory of the season in the second 100-lap heat of the event.
“I feel optimistic every time we go to Laguna Seca,” said Bobby Rahal, Team Principal and Indy Car winner at the track. “We were reasonably competitive at Long Beach and the latest BoP adjustments for this race do not appear to be too onerous. Connor and John have both won there in our cars, so we have to feel positive.”
Connor De Phillippi (BMW M Team RLL, No. 25 MOTUL BMW M4 GT3: “Laguna Seca is a place that has been great for us in the past, and I believe the strengths that the M4 GT3 has will shine bright with the high tire degradation at Laguna. At some point our luck has to turn around, so I’m excited to get back on track!”
Source. BMW
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