BMW Team RLL Technical Director John Hennek and driver Connor De Phillippi join RACER’s Ryan Myrehn to discuss preparations for a brand-new venue for the GTP class as well as the intricacies of street course setups. Presented by: RACER’s Trackside …
BMW Team RLL Technical Director John Hennek and driver Connor De Phillippi join RACER’s Ryan Myrehn to discuss preparations for a brand-new venue for the GTP class as well as the intricacies of street course setups.
Philip Eng put the No. 24 BMW M Team RLL M Hybrid V8 on top of the time charts in the second free practice for tomorrow’s 2h40m Motul Course de Monterey Powered by Hyundai N. Eng’s 1m13.349s (109.84mph) lap around the 2.238-mile, 11-turn WeatherTech …
Philip Eng put the No. 24 BMW M Team RLL M Hybrid V8 on top of the time charts in the second free practice for tomorrow’s 2h40m Motul Course de Monterey Powered by Hyundai N. Eng’s 1m13.349s (109.84mph) lap around the 2.238-mile, 11-turn WeatherTech Raceway Laguna Seca was well below last year’s pole time and below the DPi track record of 1m13.924s set by Ricky Taylor in 2022.
Sebastien Bourdais prevented it from being a BMW one-two in the session by posting a 1m13.573s time in the No. 01 Cadillac Racing V-Series.R late in the 90-minutes. It had been both BMWs at the top until that point, with Connor De Phillippi 0.373s off Eng in the No. 25 M Hybrid V8. The two Porsche Penske Motorsport 963s completed the top five in GTP, Dane Cameron in the No. 7 besting Mathieu Jaminet in the No. 6. Pipo Derani posted the sixth-best time in the repaired No. 31 Whelen Cadillac Racing V-Series.R that Jack Aitken crashed in yesterday’s first practice.
Jack Hawksworth led GTD PRO with a 1m20.376s (100.24mph) lap in the No. 14 Vasser Sullivan Racing Lexus RC F GT3, taking advantage of the fresh asphalt to post a time nearly three seconds better than the existing track record. Nicky Catsburg was 0.088s off Hawksworth’s best in the No. 4 Corvette Racing by Pratt Miller Motorsports Z06 GT3.R. Marvin Kirchhöfer showed well for Pfaff Motorsports, turning a 1m20.614s lap in the No. 9 McLaren 720S GT3 EVO for the third-best time in GTD PRO.
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Laurin Heinrich (No. 77 AO Racing Porsche 911 GT3 R), Antonio Garcia (No. 3 Corvette Z06 GT3.R) and Madison Snow (No. 1 Paul Miller Racing BMW M4 GT3) were the next three cars in GTD PRO, but all were behind GTD leader Kyle Marcelli in the No. 45 Wayne Taylor Racing with Andretti Lamborghini Huracán GT3 Evo22. Marcelli was nearly three seconds better than the GTD track record at 1m20.637s.
Anders Fjordbach was second in GTD, 0.380s off Marcelli, in the No. 86 MDK Motorsports Porsche 911 GT3 R, with Loris Spinelli third at 1m21.049s in the No. 78 Forte Racing Powered by USRT Lamborghini. Albert Costa Balboa was fourth in the No. 34 Conquest Racing Ferrari 296 GT3, turning his best lap before the car suffered a right-rear suspension failure in the Corkscrew. The Conquest crew found a couple of sheared bolts on the car and repaired it without leaving pit lane. Manny Franco returned the car to the track to finish the session. Frederik Schandorff completed the top five in the No. 70 Inception Racing McLaren.
The session was interrupted by a single brief red flag for the No. 43 Andretti Motorsports Porsche 911 GT3 R stopped on track.
Qualifying takes place at 4:35 p.m. local time, 7:35 ET and will be streamed on IMSA.tv and on Peacock.
BMW and Ferrari have lost all their IMSA WeatherTech SportsCar Championship and Michelin Endurance Cup manufacturers points from the Rolex 24 At Daytona for the GTD PRO and GTD classes. Both manufacturers were found to have performance in excess of …
BMW and Ferrari have lost all their IMSA WeatherTech SportsCar Championship and Michelin Endurance Cup manufacturers points from the Rolex 24 At Daytona for the GTD PRO and GTD classes. Both manufacturers were found to have performance in excess of IMSA’s expectations. That includes the GTD PRO victory points for Ferrari (Risi Competizione) and third-place points for BMW (Paul Miller Racing). Ferrari had a best finish of second in GTD with AF Corse.
According to the penalty notice for Ferrari: “The IMSA Technical Committee and the IMSA supervisory officials have unanimously determined that Ferrari’s demonstrated performance in the Daytona 24-hour race exceeded IMSA’s expectations as shared in the GT Manufacturers Technical Working Groups. The goal was to ensure the demonstrated performance of the best example of each manufacturer’s car model would be within a targeted performance window — allowing for competitive equivalency.” The notice for BMW read similarly.
IMSA adopted revised GTD Balance of Performance procedures this year for the Rolex 24 at Daytona, with each manufacturer nominating a team and driver to carry out testing during the IMSA homologation test in December. Each had to go through a series of prescribed tests, including qualifying simulation and a full-stint simulation, in order to better hit the marks for the BoP tables. IMSA set the BoP tables for the Roar Before the 24 based on those tests, and further revised BoP ahed of the race weekend.
Last year, teams running several new cars found themselves without much shot at victory, including the BMW M4 GT3 and Ferrari 296 GT3, as well as the 992-generation Porsche 911 GT3 R and the Lamborghini Huracán GT3 Evo2. All found their fortunes greatly turned around for 2024, and Risi Competizione captured the GTD PRO victory with Daniel Serra, Alessandro Pier Guidi, Davide Rigon and James Calado.
The penalties for the manufacturers, which also included a $25,000 fine, do not affect the drivers or team standings, and all will keep their finishes and points.
Nine-time motorcycle grand prix world champion Valentino Rossi has been confirmed for a full-season FIA World Endurance Championship LMGT3 drive in a Team WRT BMW M4 GT3 for 2024. The Italian MotoGP legend joins the WEC fresh from taking part in the …
Nine-time motorcycle grand prix world champion Valentino Rossi has been confirmed for a full-season FIA World Endurance Championship LMGT3 drive in a Team WRT BMW M4 GT3 for 2024.
The Italian MotoGP legend joins the WEC fresh from taking part in the post-season rookie test in Bahrain with WRT earlier this month. Confirmation came when he was named on the provisional series entry list that was released this morning.
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“I am very excited to compete in the FIA WEC,” said Rossi, who enjoyed a hugely successful campaign with WRT in World Challenge Europe this season and will drive the No. 46 M4 GT3 in ’24.
“It is the next step for me to participate in a world championship, not only in Europe but to race globally again. I am already familiar with the car after this season, but the format with three drivers from three different performance categories will be new for me. Overall, I believe we will be very well positioned.”
WRT’s team principal Vincent Vosse was also delighted to share the news of “The Doctor” joining the team for its WEC campaign this morning.
“Starting with Valentino Rossi in the FIA WEC is something truly special. We talked about this at our very first meetings. Now, this circle is closing, and it feels like we’ve already ticked most of the boxes we discussed back then.”
Vosse went on to describe WRT’s four-car FIA WEC effort for 2024 with BMW as a “privilege” for the Belgian team. In addition to running a pair of M4 GT3s in LMGT3, the team has also been selected by BMW to run the pair of M Hybrid V8 LMDh prototypes in the Hypercar class.
“What a privilege for us as a team to be able to field both two BMW M Hybrid V8s and two BMW M4 GT3s for BMW M Motorsport in the FIA WEC!” he said.
“While we have two separate crews for the two projects, it will still be a significant challenge for WRT. But we love challenges! The drivers who will be working with us, we already know very well from previous joint racing commitments.”
In addition to Rossi being listed on the WEC entry, three other drivers have been confirmed for next season. Dries Vanthoor and Sheldon van der Linde will race for WRT in Hypercar, while Brazillian racer Augusto Farfus is the first driver signed to steer the No. 31 M4 GT3.
“With the confirmation of our team for the Hypercar and LMGT3 classes, as well as the initial drivers, our comeback in the FIA WEC takes another important step,” said Andreas Roos, the head of BMW M Motorsport.
“BMW M Team WRT is among the best teams globally in both the prototype and GT3 segments. For sporting and logistical reasons, Vincent Vosse’s team was the logical choice to field both the BMW M Hybrid V8 and the BMW M4 GT3.
“The BMW M works drivers we have nominated possess the necessary driving skills and experience. Sheldon van der Linde is already familiar with the BMW M Hybrid V8, and Dries Vanthoor made a strong impression during test drives. Additionally, he has previously competed at Le Mans in an LMP2 prototype. Valentino Rossi made a strong debut at Le Mans this season, winning immediately in the BMW M4 GT3 (in the Road to Le Mans support race).
“Overall, his first season as a BMW M works driver has been very impressive. I am convinced that he will play an important role and be a crowd favorite in the FIA WEC. Augusto Farfus, with his experience and driving skill, will be a crucial pillar for the LMGT3 program.”
The current points leaders in both GTD PRO and GTD demonstrated a good part of the reason they’re at the front by taking the Motul Pole Awards for Sunday’s Michelin GT Challenge at VIRginia International Raceway. In high temperatures that produced …
The current points leaders in both GTD PRO and GTD demonstrated a good part of the reason they’re at the front by taking the Motul Pole Awards for Sunday’s Michelin GT Challenge at VIRginia International Raceway. In high temperatures that produced different track conditions than the drivers had seen so far this weekend, Jack Hawksworth took the GTD PRO and overall pole for the No. 14 Vasser Sullivan Lexus squad, bringing his total pole count to 10. He would have tied Madison Snow in that statistic, but Snow added another to his total by putting the No. 1 Paul Miller Racing BMW M4 GT3 on the GTD pole, qualifying fourth overall.
Hawksworth’s best lap of 1m44.780s — 112.35mph around the 3.27-mile, 17-turn circuit — didn’t match the quick times from Saturday morning’s session and were well off the 1m43.356s record held by Ross Gunn, thanks to the hot weather. It was enough, though, to snatch the pole by 0.096s from Daniel Juncadella in the No. 79 WeatherTech Racing Mercedes AMG.
“Can’t get better than pole, right? So that was good,” declared Hawksworth. “Mega weekend so far. It’s been brilliant and the boys have been fantastic and the car has been working really well. Heads down for tomorrow now, but very happy with it.
“The temperature outside is absurd. The track grip was a lot different than we had in practice two. It was greasy and I just tried to put a clean lap together. The guys obviously gave me a really fast car; the Lexus was working really well. Just tried not to make any mistakes. It was easy to overdrive, I think.”
For Juncadella, who was quickest in the morning session after the No. 79 suffered a fire yesterday, the results were a disappointment.
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“First, great job by the crew to get the WeatherTech Mercedes-AMG GT3 back together after what happened yesterday,” Juncadella said. “I didn’t have the smoothest qualifying session. I think Road America was better. It was so close to pole that it hurts. Third time this year I have just missed out on pole. I made a small mistake, then on the last lap I was able to get close. It’s a shame to miss out on pole by such a small margin.”
Antonio Garcia was third in the No. 3 Corvette Racing C8.R with a 1m45.133, the last PRO car before six GTD cars. Patrick Pilet (No. 9 Pfaff Motorsports Porsche 911 GT3 R) and Gunn (No. 23 Heart of Racing Aston Martin Vantage GT3) were 10th and 11th overall, respectively.
Snow’s 11th pole position, and second of 2023 – the only GTD driver to have more than one so far this season – came courtesy of a 1m45.225s lap to best Aaron Telitz in the No. 12 Vasser Sullivan Lexus RC F GT3 by 0.153s. Telitz’s second attempt at a flyer was hurt by running wide at the exit of Oak Tree. Loris Spinelli qualified the No. 78 Forte Racing Powered by USRT Lamborghini Huracán GT3 Evo2 third with a 1m45.416s lap.
“The track was definitely slippery out there,” Snow explained. “I had two mock qually runs in the first practice, so I definitely went into qualifying knowing exactly where my brake points were and what I needed to do. [At] he beginning of qualifying, I went out on my first good lap and immediately went wide in [Turn] 1 and realized, ‘OK, I’m going to need to reevaluate what I’m doing out here.’ Just accept the track for what it was, and it was slippery. Super hot, but that is what it is. It was about not making mistakes and just putting a lap together.”
Mike Skeen (No. 32 Team Korthoff Motorsports Mercedes AMG GT3) and Patrick Gallagher (No. 96 Turner Motorsport BMW M4 GT3) completed the top five in GTD. Gallagher had been near the top of the time sheets in the two previous practice sessions, but an off-course excursion during qualifying likely scuttled his chances for pole.
Up Next: A 20 minute warmup at 8:15 a.m. ET ahead of a 2:10 p.m. race start.
BMW’s victory in the Sahlen’s Six Hours of The Glen has been cemented following the denial of Porsche Penske Motorsport’s appeal of its post-race penalty. IMSA certified the results on Thursday morning, allowing BMW M Team RLL and drivers Connor De …
BMW’s victory in the Sahlen’s Six Hours of The Glen has been cemented following the denial of Porsche Penske Motorsport’s appeal of its post-race penalty. IMSA certified the results on Thursday morning, allowing BMW M Team RLL and drivers Connor De Phillippi and Nick Yelloly to officially celebrate their first victory in IMSA WeatherTech SportsCar Championship competition.
The No. 6 Porsche 963 finished first on track after Mathieu Jaminet made a late-race pass of De Phillippi in the No. 25 BMW M Hybrid V8. BMW Team RLL got the No. 25 to the front with solid strategy, but Jaminet got the better of the traffic and caught and passed De Phillippi with only minutes to go. However, in post-race technical inspection, the skid plate of the No. 6 963 was found to be thinner than the specified minimum, and the car was moved to last place in GTP. Porsche Penske Motorsport protested the ruling.
According to IMSA, after receiving official notification from IMSA of the post-race technical penalty in Sunday’s race, Porsche Penske Motorsport subsequently requested a protest. IMSA supervisory officials reviewed documents provided by Porsche Penske Motorsport but did not find anything that would have overturned the penalty decision. Official race results and point standings were released this morning with the penalty upheld.
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“Obviously, we are pleased by IMSA’s technical group decision,” BMW M Team RLL principal Bobby Rahal said. “There is nothing like winning, but I was most happy with the pace of the BMW M Hybrid V8 throughout the Watkins Glen race. My thanks to everyone at BMW who have worked so diligently on both sides of the Atlantic over a very intense period of time on the new-era GTP program. Our guys were in Munich starting last July assisting with the car builds. We received the cars in September and began testing in October. Five races into the season, we are winners.”
The penalty for Porsche is significant, as it marks a 130-point swing in the point standings. Instead of leading the championship, Tandy and Jaminet are now third, behind Action Express Racing’s Pipo Derani and Alexander Sims in first and Yelloly and De Phillippi in second. It also means that all four marques participating in GTP this season have scored a victory.
“Obviously a win is a win, but we certainly didn’t want it to come under these circumstances,” said De Phillippi, who scored his sixth win in IMSA competition but first in the top prototype class. “We would have preferred to hold onto the lead for those last four minutes and I would like to have celebrated with my teammates. But that’s racing. Everybody with BMW M Team RLL did a phenomenal job throughout the race overcoming the issues we had early on with some unlucky contact, so to bounce back with strategy and speed was an incredible feat.
“Maybe we didn’t pick up the win how we would have liked, but we certainly had the speed to represent a win, and I figure it was still well-deserved.”
BMW was the last manufacturer to put its LMDh car on track, and it showed in the season opener at Daytona. But at Sebring the BMWs were in the fight to the end, ending up with a second-place finish when the top three cars went out in a late-race crash. In the third race of the season at Long Beach, it seemed pretty clear that BMW had caught up.
“I think we’ve kind of taken everybody by surprise because we were the last to the party, but we’ve been swinging above our weight class the entire year, especially from Sebring onwards,” De Phillippi added. “That’s something we’re all proud of, but we want to be dominant and we’re not going to stop pushing until we get where we want to be.”
BMW was handed the victory in the Sahlen’s Six Hours of the Glen on Sunday night after the skid block on the apparently-victorious No. 6 Porsche Penske Motorsport 963 was found to be out of tolerance, and the car driven by Nick Tandy and Mathieu …
BMW was handed the victory in the Sahlen’s Six Hours of the Glen on Sunday night after the skid block on the apparently-victorious No. 6 Porsche Penske Motorsport 963 was found to be out of tolerance, and the car driven by Nick Tandy and Mathieu Jaminet was moved to the rear of the GTP class. However, PPM isn’t ready to concede, and BMW isn’t celebrating yet – despite Twitter feeds to the contrary.
PPM has stated it will protest the ruling from IMSA that the wood skid block under the car was out of tolerance in post-race inspection. IMSA specifies a minimum thickness in order to keep teams from running the cars too low – if the skid block is worn too thin, the assumption is that the car was bottoming out too much.
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“Following post-race inspection at Watkins Glen International, IMSA has penalized the No. 6 entry in the Sahlen’s Six Hours of the Glen citing that the front skid wear of the No. 6 Porsche 963 was less than one millimeter outside the legal tolerance,” Porsche Penske Motorsport said in a statement. “The rear skid wear was noted to be well within the legal tolerance. Porsche Penske Motorsport plans to collect all of the data and follow the protest procedures.”
Jaminet made a dramatic late-race pass on Connor De Phillippi in traffic to initially claim the victory for the No. 6, while De Phillippi and Nick Yelloly in the No. 25 BMW M Team RLL M Hybrid V8 believed they had been denied the marque’s first GTP victory. However, five hours after the checkered flag, IMSA announced that the No. 6 963 had failed post-race technical inspection and the BMW was promoted to first.
If PPM’s protest is denied, it will have a significant affect on the championship, as it represents a 120-point swing for the No. 6 team. The No. 31 Action Express Cadillac squad with Pipo Derani and Alexander Sims would move back into first in the championship, with the No. 25 in second.
Sources at BMW, however, indicate that they believe PPM will come well armed with data to the protest, and aren’t quite ready to celebrate the marque’s first GTP win until the protest has been settled. The IMSA sporting regulations do not give a specific time period for when such a protest must be decided.
In the meantime, though, a BMW victory means that in the span of only five races, each of the four manufacturers participating in GTP has won this season – a somewhat remarkable statistic given the state of BMW and Porsche at the season-opening Rolex 24 at Daytona, won by Acura.
Belgian outfit BMW M Team WRT has completed a first test with the M Hybrid V8 at Motorland Aragon in Spain, ahead of its 2024 FIA WEC Hypercar debut. The team, which currently competes in the FIA WEC’s LMP2 class, will run BMW’s works FIA WEC …
Belgian outfit BMW M Team WRT has completed a first test with the M Hybrid V8 at Motorland Aragon in Spain, ahead of its 2024 FIA WEC Hypercar debut.
The team, which currently competes in the FIA WEC’s LMP2 class, will run BMW’s works FIA WEC Hypercar effort next season, including at the 24 Hours of Le Mans.
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Following an initial rollout for the car at the BMW Group plant in Dingolfing in Germany in May, WRT tested with a crew of six BMW factory drivers in Spain last week.
“It is a big step and a step that we all have worked very hard for,” said BMW M Team WRT boss Vincent Vosse. “It is a milestone for the team. Being at Le Mans has always been a goal for the team but being at Le Mans representing a manufacturer like BMW in the top category is a dream come true. And I have the feeling that we have the best manufacturer behind us. And the best group of people – the team.
“The guys did an excellent job building and preparing the car. The rollout went well and then we had the days of testing without any issues and good feedback. It has been an important first step in the preparation for the 2024 season so I am looking forward to it and I want to say a big thank you to all the guys who are involved in this.”
At Motorland, WRT ran the car for three days with Jesse Krohn, Maxime Martin, Sheldon van der Linde, Dries Vanthoor, Dan Harper and Max Hesse all sharing the wheel.
The team gathered valuable data as the car was reported to have run flawlessly, completing significant mileage. The pictures released from the test showed the car running both day and night and in both wet and dry conditions.
“The test was an incredible experience for me,” said Krohn. “It was my first outing in a prototype and also the first collaboration with the WRT team. I had high expectations of their working methods because, as an opponent, I have experienced their strength over the years. And I must say that all my expectations were met. The team works together fantastically, and I had perhaps the smoothest test of my career.
“I quickly found my way in the car and hopefully, I was able to help the team gather important data because that’s what it’s all about in such a first test. I thoroughly enjoyed this great car experience and thank everyone involved for allowing me to contribute to the programme.”
The run in Spain was the first of multiple tests planned for WRT ahead of the 2024 FIA WEC season opener in Qatar next March. Over the course of the test programme, BMW plans to test “as many BMW M works drivers as possible” with WRT.
“The past week was a very good start to our WEC preparation programme,” commented Andreas Roos, the head of BMW M Motorsport.
“The BMW M Hybrid V8 ran smoothly during the first test drives and provided our engineers and the team with the opportunity to gain a wealth of insights right from the start. Many thanks to everyone at BMW M Motorsport in Munich and BMW M Team WRT for making this successful start possible.
“Of course, the experiences we have gathered together with BMW M Team RLL in the IMSA series races have also contributed to this. At the beginning of the LMDh programme, we deliberately chose to compete exclusively in the IMSA series first and later in the FIA WEC. We are now benefiting from this approach. Although the start was successful, there is still a lot of work to be done on the way to the first races.
“We are all highly motivated for the work throughout the rest of the year.”
While RLL’s BMW GTP program in IMSA is fully underway, the Bavarian brand’s FIA WEC Hypercar program for 2024 with Team WRT from Belgium is still coming together behind the scenes. Scheduled to debut at the start of the 2024 season, WRT’s effort …
While RLL’s BMW GTP program in IMSA is fully underway, the Bavarian brand’s FIA WEC Hypercar program for 2024 with Team WRT from Belgium is still coming together behind the scenes. Scheduled to debut at the start of the 2024 season, WRT’s effort with the M Hybrid V8 will be its first in the top class of sports car racing, after spending a decade at the top level of GT3 racing in Europe.
WRT, which is co-owned by Yves Weerts and Vincent Vosse, now has its sight set on winning Le Mans overall and a world championship in the FIA WEC. It has nothing left to prove in the GT sphere, as it had amassed 55 titles in series around the world by the end of last year.
However, putting together a Hypercar programme has been anything but an easy task for WRT, as its original plan fell apart. Initially, WRT was set to spearhead Audi Sport’s return to top-class racing as its defacto factory team, competing in the FIA WEC with a Multimatic chassis-based LMDh prototype, alongside fellow VAG brands, Porsche and Lamborghini.
But it was left scrambling when Audi switched its primary motorsport focus to Formula 1 in 2022, and confirmed that it shelved its LMDh plans in August, just weeks before the test programme was set to begin. This took WRT by surprise.
All of a sudden the team which was once the face of Audi’s GT3 customer racing programme in Europe, was forced to find a new deal with a new brand. By that point WRT had already made a significant commitment to prototype racing too, competing in the WEC and ELMS’ LMP2 categories since 2021 as part of its preparations to join the top class. Getting something together for 2024 wasn’t ideal, but quickly became the priority.
“We had a plan,” Vosse told RACER. “Exactly a year ago it was cut short because of Audi’s decision to withdraw from the programme to concentrate on Formula 1 goals.
“We had to start discussions with different manufacturers and we were lucky enough to find a way with BMW to follow our goals which includes running a team in the GT categories, following the success we had with the other brand for many years.
“It was personally a very difficult decision for me,” Vosse continued, “because we had such a great relationship with our friends from Audi, it was such a great successful partnership. There are a lot of people who became friends during those years and it was a pleasure to be a part of the achievements of Dr. Ullrich, followed by Dieter Gass and Chris Reinke at Audi Sport.
“To stop this collaboration and start something completely new with a new manufacturer, was tough.”
WRT’s transition to racing with BMW has been rapid, the team making its debut with the M4 GT3 back in January at the Dubai 24 Hours having only announced its decision to switch in October 2022. Getting the new deal together on a short call was assisted in no small part by the arrival at BMW of Andreas Roos from Audi, a man who had in-depth knowledge of the capabilities of the Belgian team.
Even with that familiarity, it was still a risk. Moving to a new manufacturer after a lengthy stint with a rival doesn’t always work. Vosse is nevertheless confident in his team’s ability to not only adapt to working with its new partner but expand its operation at the same time ahead of what promises to be the most competitive season in WEC history in 2024.
WRT had been an Audi stalwart for a number of years. Alexander Trienitz/Motorsport Images
“BMW was one of the only manufacturers that could offer us a double programme,” Vosse explained when asked about its appeal. “We are doing GT World Challenge with two Pro cars. We are doing IGTC too with two Pro cars and then Hypercar from 2024. It’s a double program and we keep our GT and LMP2 programs completely separate. BMW was one of the only manufacturers who could give us this opportunity.”
RACER understands that its commitment to GT3 and LMP2 racing looks unlikely to be affected by its Hypercar program, underlining the scale of its ambition. Current plans could see it competing on multiple fronts in ACO competition, in Hypercar, LMP2 (likely in the European Le Mans Series) and in the WEC’s GT ranks once GT3 cars become eligible next year.
The potential for WRT to continue with its LMP2 program could be particularly significant, and see it as an early player in the customer Hypercar arena. How early that move comes, depends principally on the state of the marketplace once it has its feet under the table in the top class.
Thus, seats in all of WRT’s cars, in every category, are hot property, with so many aspirational drivers looking to step up to the WEC’s top class in the coming years. Currently, Vosse is coy about who will drive in its Hypercars next season.
“We have always had a great relationship with drivers. But this is a category where you have to find a balance between experience, speed, knowing championships, and knowing the team, it’s a bit of a compromise. It’s not just in my hands, it’s also in BMW’s, let’s see. But I don’t think you would be very surprised with who we have,” he said.
There is still a long way to go though before it begins racing in Hypercar, almost a full season. Currently the first of its WEC cars is being built in Munich, before being moved to WRT’s LMP2 base, where the program will be run from.
Testing with the M Hybrid V8 is set to begin in May, with the initial rollout of its first car. Details on the venue and the number of days it will be running are still being finaliaed.
Luckily, WRT is already familiar with the M Hybrid V8, having sent staff members to Daytona to support RLL’s effort at the Rolex 24 At Daytona in January, where the car made its global race debut. How much further WRT’s collaboration with RLL will go remains to be seen.
Will WRT head stateside to support RLL’s IMSA title bid? Will RLL start racing in Europe to assist WRT?
“You never know,” Vosse told RACER. “Motorsport always springs a surprise. At the moment, we are fully committed and focused on our WEC programme, and I think RLL is fully focused on IMSA.
“And of course, you will see some similar faces in both championships because yeah, it’s not only RLL, it’s not only WRT, there are some people from BMW who are committed to the programme that you will see in the in both championships. But at the moment, so far, the discussion has been quite clear, we will fully commit to the world championship.”
“That last putt, I couldn’t really see the ball because of my tears.”
Na Yeon Choi wasn’t going to cry. But then after she hit her tee shot on the 18th, Amy Yang said “Good job” and started to sob. Choi followed suit.
“That last putt,” she said, “I couldn’t really see the ball because of my tears.”
Choi’s final LPGA event proved unforgettable for a number of reasons. During the third round, the 35-year-old South Korean aced the par-3 12th at the BMW Ladies Championship to win a BMW X7 SUV.
On Sunday at Oak Valley Country Club, several LPGA players held up a banner as she wrapped up a decorated career that spanned 18 years. Choi finished with a sparkling 68. Among the players who came out to support was Inbee Park, an LPGA Hall of Famer who wasn’t in the field this week.
“I would first like to thank my friends for coming all the way from Seoul,” she said. “My friends really supported me during tough times. To support each other and wish the best for each other whilst playing in the same tour, as professional golfers is actually harder than it looks, but Inbee, So Yeon, Jeongeun have helped greatly with golf and mentally as well. So I am really grateful for the five players who are here today.”
Inbee Park of South Korea, So-yeon Ryu of South Korea and former player Ha-neul Kim of South Korea hold a banner to appreciate Na-yeon Choi (not pictured) who is retiring near the 9th green during the final round of the BMW Ladies Championship at Oak Valley Country Club on October 23, 2022 in Wonju, South Korea. (Photo by Chung Sung-Jun/Getty Images)
Choi won nine times on the LPGA, including the 2012 U.S. Women’s Open, and rose as high as No. 2 in the world. Choi made the decision to retire earlier this season and asked BMW for a sponsor exemption into this week. She said she leaves the tour with no regrets.
Through her popular YouTube channel, Choi learned that she likes to teach. She’d like to do some of that in the future, if she can figure out a way to do it that’s healthy for her.
“My only concern with this is that personally I think I got really worn out from the emotional side of being a golfer,” she said. “For instance, if I don’t play well, then there’s stress, and I’m struggling with all these emotions. It kind of wore me down. My only concern is I might relate too much to the players or kids that I teach, and I do have a fear about me getting into that emotional cycle again.”
She also has an interest in golf commentary in South Korea.
As for immediate plans, Choi said she had wanted to go out drinking with friends.
“I don’t know if this makes me old, but I am getting dental implants,” she said, “so I cannot drink alcohol right now. But other than that, I am loving the fact that I no longer have to get up at 4 or 5 a.m.”
Choi said her ace on Saturday came off as exactly as she’d imagined. She immediately had goosebumps after she struck her 6-iron from 171 yards. Adding to the serendipitous moment was that fact that CME Group donates $20,000 for each hole-in-one made on the LPGA to St. Jude Children’s Research Hospital.
“Of course, whenever you ace a hole, you’re ecstatic,” said Choi. “But at the same time, for me, I think I got kind of emotional because it almost seemed like I was being rewarded for all those years of hard work.”
