BMW M Motorsport enjoyed a strong two weeks of customer racing across the globe. Neil Verhagen and Connor De Phillippi took a podium and extended their IMSA GTD PRO lead at Canadian Tire Motorsport Park, while the cult BMW M3 Touring 24H charged up the hill at the Goodwood Festival of Speed. Further podiums followed in GT World Challenge Asia, the ADAC GT Masters and several national series.

BMW M Motorsport rounded off a busy fortnight with results spread across North America, Europe and Asia, headlined by a double podium in the IMSA WeatherTech SportsCar Championship and a headline-grabbing run for the BMW M3 Touring 24H at Goodwood.

Double podium in IMSA at Mosport

At the sixth round of the IMSA WeatherTech SportsCar Championship at Canadian Tire Motorsport Park (10–12 July), BMW M works drivers Neil Verhagen and Connor De Phillippi (both USA) finished third in the GTD PRO class in the #1 BMW M4 GT3 EVO run by Paul Miller Racing. It was their third podium in six races, and the result extended their championship lead. Verhagen also took the second pole position of his IMSA career at the venue.

“The Paul Miller Racing team gave me an outstanding car today,” said the 25-year-old after qualifying. “I can’t thank them enough. Both of my poles have come here at Mosport, which is pretty funny. I guess this is my track.”

In the GTD class, Robby Foley and Patrick Gallagher (both USA) brought the #96 BMW M4 GT3 EVO home third for Turner Motorsport, completing a double podium for the brand. In the IMSA Michelin Pilot Challenge, Austin Krainz (USA) and Steven McAleer (GBR) finished second in the #27 BMW M4 GT4 EVO for AutoTechnic Racing.

The M3 Touring 24H climbs the hill at Goodwood

The BMW M3 Touring 24H, which began as an April Fool’s joke before finishing fourth overall and winning its class at the Nürburgring 24 Hours, was one of the crowd favourites at the Goodwood Festival of Speed (9–12 July). BMW M works driver Jordan Pepper (RSA) tackled the famous hillclimb, setting a time of 46.54 seconds — the fifth-fastest overall — and winning his class in the timed shootout.

“It was my first time at Goodwood and what an incredible event it was,” said Pepper. “It was a very special moment to take the BMW M3 Touring 24H up the hill, push this incredible car to its absolute limits and put on a good show for everyone. It is a car that has already cemented itself in endurance racing history.”

Podiums and wins in Asia and Europe

In GT World Challenge Asia at Fuji (10–12 July), Max Hesse (GER) and Cunfan Ruan (CHN) took third in the Pro-Am class in both races in the #89 BMW M4 GT3 EVO for KRC, with Sunday’s finish also good for an overall podium. Team-mates Maxime Oosten (NED) and Brian Lee (TPE) won the Silver-Am class on both days in the #10 car.

Elsewhere, Casals Motorsport swept both GT4 Italy Series races (4–5 July) with Giacomo Maman and Gustavo Sandrucci (both ITA) in the #16 BMW M4 GT4 EVO. Hofor Racing by Bonk Motorsport won the GT4 class at the 12H Nürburgring (3–5 July). In the ADAC GT Masters at the Nürburgring (10–12 July), Leyton Fourie (RSA) and Tim Zimmermann (GER) took third in the opening race for FK Performance Motorsport and now sit just one point off the championship lead with two rounds to go. Gamota Racing added a Pro-Am podium in the International GT Open at the Hungaroring (3–5 July).

What the manufacturer says

Björn Lellmann, Head of Customer Racing at BMW M Motorsport, said the appearance of the M3 Touring 24H at Goodwood was “a spectacular highlight” of two “exciting and successful weeks”, adding: “We now carry this momentum into the coming weeks as we aim for more victories and podium finishes together with our strong customer teams.”

BMW M Motorsport returns to action with its customer teams over the coming weekends.

Source: www.press.bmwgroup.com