BMW M Team WRT has scored its maiden overall victory in the IMSA WeatherTech SportsCar Championship, with Dries Vanthoor and Sheldon van der Linde winning the ‘Battle on the Bricks’ at Indianapolis in the #24 BMW M Hybrid V8. It is the Belgian squad’s first GTP triumph in its debut season in the series, and a first IMSA win for van der Linde. BMW had a second reason to celebrate as Turner Motorsport ended a two-year drought with victory in the GTD class.
The penultimate round of the 2026 IMSA WeatherTech SportsCar Championship finally delivered the result BMW M Motorsport had been chasing all year. Over the 2-hour 40-minute ‘Battle on the Bricks’ at Indianapolis, Dries Vanthoor (BEL) and Sheldon van der Linde (RSA) converted a season of near-misses into the first North American overall win for the BMW M Hybrid V8.
A late move settles the GTP race
Vanthoor set up the win in qualifying, putting the #24 car third on the grid. Van der Linde handled the decisive phase, taking the lead with an overtake just a few minutes from the flag and then holding station to the finish. It was the South African’s first IMSA victory; Vanthoor had already won in the series in 2025 at Road America with BMW M Team RLL alongside Philipp Eng (AUT).
The podium was BMW M Team WRT’s fourth of its debut GTP campaign, but the first time the team has stood on the top step.
“It was about time! We’ve come close a few times, but were unable to convert our potential into a win. We’ve finally cleared that hurdle,” said Andreas Roos, Head of BMW M Motorsport.
The sister #25 BMW M Hybrid V8 of Eng and Marco Wittmann (GER) had a far more difficult afternoon and came home tenth. Wittmann took responsibility for the incident that shaped their race, saying he lost control of the car while attempting to pass an Aston Martin and accepting the resulting drive-through penalty as justified.
Turner Motorsport ends a long wait in GTD
In the GTD class, Robby Foley and Patrick Gallagher (both USA) took the #96 BMW M4 GT3 EVO to Turner Motorsport’s first IMSA win in more than two years. Foley described building a small margin after a restart and managing it to the flag.
The result moves the pair to the top of the GTD standings heading into the season finale at Road Atlanta in two weeks’ time.
A costly afternoon for Paul Miller Racing
Things went the other way for Paul Miller Racing in GTD PRO. The #1 BMW M4 GT3 EVO of Neil Verhagen and Connor De Phillippi (both USA) ran in podium contention for much of the race before contact from several rivals in the closing stages pushed the car off the track. The pair finished sixth and lost the championship lead, though they remain in title contention at the finale.
“We actually had a clean race and were in the leading group. Then, in the closing stages, our rivals started using us as a punching bag,” Verhagen said.
What it means for the finale
For BMW, the timing matters. The M Hybrid V8 has been a regular podium presence without converting, and breaking that pattern at the second-to-last round gives the programme momentum into Petit Le Mans. Team principal Vincent Vosse noted that the IMSA GTP project was first discussed at Indianapolis roughly a year ago, making the venue a fitting place for the breakthrough.
With both Turner Motorsport and Paul Miller Racing still fighting for GT honours in the BMW M4 GT3 EVO, the marque arrives at the decider with live title prospects in more than one class.
Facts: BMW at IMSA Indianapolis
- Race: ‘Battle on the Bricks’, IMSA WeatherTech SportsCar Championship, Indianapolis (USA), 18–20 September 2026
- Distance: 2 hours 40 minutes
- GTP winner: #24 BMW M Hybrid V8, BMW M Team WRT — Dries Vanthoor / Sheldon van der Linde
- Second BMW GTP entry: #25 BMW M Hybrid V8, Philipp Eng / Marco Wittmann — 10th
- GTD winner: #96 BMW M4 GT3 EVO, Turner Motorsport — Robby Foley / Patrick Gallagher
- GTD PRO: #1 BMW M4 GT3 EVO, Paul Miller Racing, Neil Verhagen / Connor De Phillippi — 6th
The 2026 IMSA season concludes with Petit Le Mans at Road Atlanta in two weeks.
Source: www.press.bmwgroup.com