On a special weekend for BMW M Motorsport, BMW of North America and the IMSA series, the MOTUL BMW M8 GTE took its final bow from racing as a pole-sitter and podium finisher. After a dominant performance by Krohn in qualifying on Friday that was awarded with pole position in GTLM class, both cars struggled to match their oppenents’ pace in the last ever GTLM contest. BMW Team RLL kept fighting until the end and was awarded with a late promotion to P3 in the race. Farfus had the honour of finishing the last stint of the last race for the BMW M8 GTE.
The #25 MOTUL BMW M8 GTE made good progress from the P6 starting position on the GTLM grid. Unfortunately, the car had to be retired following an incident involving Connor De Phillippi (USA), leaving him and his fellow drivers Bruno Spengler (CAN) and Philipp Eng (AUT) disappointed. After the farewell of the BMW M8 GTE, BMW Team RLL now sets sights towards its future in GTD Pro with the BMW M4 GT3 in 2022 and in the LMDh class with the BMW M LMDh in 2023.
Turner Motorsport had a disappointing final weekend of the IMSA season with DNFs with the BMW M6 GT3 in GTD class as well as with both BMW M4 GT4s in Friday’s IMSA Michelin Pilot Challenge season finale.
Special guests of BMW of North America at Petit Le Mans were Jochen Neerpasch, founder of BMW Motorsport GmbH in 1972, and the current BMW Junior Team drivers Dan Harper (GBR), Max Hesse (GER) and Neil Verhagen (USA).