The BMW M Team RLL line-up for the season opener of the IMSA WeatherTech SportsCar Championship 2022 has been decided. At the new BMW M4 GT3’s debut in the also-new GTD PRO category, two strong quartets of BMW M works drivers will be doing battle for the podium. In the #25 MOTUL BMW M4 GT3, Connor De Phillippi, John Edwards (both USA), Augusto Farfus (BRA) and Jesse Krohn (FIN) will take turns at the wheel; in the #24 car, Philipp Eng (AUT), Sheldon van der Linde (RSA), Marco Wittmann (GER) and Nick Yelloly (GBR) will be in action. Turner Motorsport is fielding a BMW M4 GT3 with the drivers Bill Auberlen, Robby Foley, Michael Dinan (all USA) and Jens Klingmann (GER) in the GTD class.
“It hasn’t even been two months since we bid farewell to the BMW M8 GTE at Petit Le Mans, and we’re already in the critical phase of preparing for the first major IMSA highlight for the new BMW M4 GT3,” said Mike Krack, head of BMW M Motorsport. “With our drivers who will be competing in the two BMW M Team RLL BMW M4 GT3s, we have opted for speed and experience – both at Daytona and with the new car. Almost all of our BMW M works drivers have already contested the 24 Hours of Daytona and will be working together to find the perfect set-up for the BMW M4 GT3 at the International Speedway during the ‘Roar before the 24’ already. I am confident that we will be very well prepared going into the GTD PRO premiere of the IMSA series. I’m also looking forward to seeing how Turner Motorsport fares in the GTD class.”
Six of the eight drivers who will compete at Daytona (USA) also contested the endurance classic in the BMW M8 GTE in 2021. Joining the team are van der Linde and Yelloly. However, they have both already been in action in the IMSA series. Van der Linde contested the GTD class of the 24-hour race in 2018, so is familiar with the Daytona track. Yelloly drove Turner Motorsport’s BMW M6 GT3 in Sebring (USA) in 2020. Krohn and van der Linde will only be racing for BMW M Team RLL at Daytona, while the other six drivers will also share the cockpits of the two BMW M4 GT3s at the 12 Hours of Sebring in March. BMW M Motorsport will once again be supported by strong partners MOTUL, Akrapovič, H&R and Puma in the IMSA series. The two BMW M4 GT3s will race in MOTUL’s colours. Long-time Official Supplier Puma provides new teamwear for the 2022 season. The iconic M design will make its debut at Daytona and will be seen in many racing series all over the world during the year.
Turner Motorsport is taking on the GTD class with a BMW M4 GT3 at Daytona, where pro and amateur drivers share cars. The Americans Bill Auberlen, Robby Foley, Michael Dinan and BMW M works driver Jens Klingmann will share the #96 car.
Another highlight of the weekend is the season-opener of the IMSA Michelin Pilot Challenge. On Friday before the Daytona 24 Hours, the 4-hour long BMW M Endurance Challenge At Daytona will kick off the 2022 race for the title. Again, several BMW M Motorsport teams are competing with the BMW M4 GT4 in the series.
Overview of driver line-ups:
#24 MOTUL BMW M4 GT3, GTD PRO:
Philipp Eng (AUT)
Sheldon van der Linde (RSA)
Marco Wittmann (GER)
Nick Yelloly (GBR)
#25 MOTUL BMW M4 GT3, GTD PRO:
Connor De Phillippi (USA)
John Edwards (USA)
Augusto Farfus (BRA)
Jesse Krohn (FIN)
#96 BMW M4 GT3, GTD:
Bill Auberlen (USA)
Robby Foley (USA)
Michael Dinan (USA)
Jens Klingmann (GER)
Source. BMW
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