Munich. If the colour black is the combination of all colours,
the penultimate round of the IMSA WeatherTech SportsCar Championship
(IWSC) in Laguna Seca (USA) on Sunday was a combination of every
emotion for John Edwards (USA) and Martin Tomczyk (GER) during their
thrilling race to victory in the black-liveried number 24 BMW M6
GTLM.
The duo completed 110 laps of the Laguna Seca circuit during the
two-hour-and-forty-minute race that saw their BMW recover from an off
in the sand at turn one on the opening lap to take a scant 0.152
second margin of victory at the chequered flag after the final stint
of the race was run with a maximum fuel saving strategy. The win was
the first for Edwards and Tomczyk as co-drivers and the
16th for BMW Team RLL since beginning in 2009.
Team-mates Bill Auberlen (USA) and Alexander Sims (GBR) finished
eighth in the number 25 BMW M6 GTLM, two laps down to the leaders,
after Auberlen was spun off the track on lap 57 and had to be pulled
from the gravel trap. Starting the race second in driver points, the
disappointing finish effectively eliminates any chance for the pair to
win the GTLM driver’s title in the season finale Petit Le Mans in two weeks.
In the GTD class, Jens Klingmann (GER) and Jesse Krohn (FIN) were
running second in the #96 Turner Motorsport BMW M6 GT3 until shortly
before the end of the race. However, they were then forced to come in
for another short fuel stop, which saw them drop back to fifth place.
Bobby Rahal (Team Principal, BMW Team RLL): “We were
not the fastest car in the race today, but we had a perfect strategy.
John did an amazing job to save enough fuel to go when he had to.
There cannot be much left in the tank. To win here at Laguna Seca, a
track I love, is very special. This win is one I know we’ll savour for
quite a while.”
John Edwards (No. 24 BMW M6 GTLM, 1st place):
“The last time I drove a black-livered BMW at Laguna Seca
Lucas (Luhr) and I won by 20 seconds. It was spectacular to be able to
do it again – this time with Martin – in a black-livered BMW M6 GTLM.
I believe stressful may be the headline today. I had saved enough
fuel, but I lost some time behind a prototype car and the Ferrari was
right on me in the last corner. Luckily I was just able to hold him off.”
Martin Tomczyk (No. 24 BMW M6 GTLM, 1st place):
“Today was a thrill. John did an amazing job this weekend. My
first victory in the States – it is an amazing feeling!”
Bill Auberlen (No. 25 BMW M6 GTLM, 8th
place): “I was running well in third place when I was hit
from the rear by the no. 67 Ford. I don’t think he was trying to do
anything more than lighten me up and try to go by, but it was enough
to put me in the gravel. Looking for a silver lining, our sister car
ran a magnificent race to get its first win of the year. I think any
hope for the driver’s championship has eluded Alexander and me, but we
will still look for nothing but a win at Petit Le Mans.”
Alexander Sims (No. 25 BMW M6 GTLM, 8th
place): “Today’s race was everything we expected and more
eventful than we had hoped. It was over for us when Bill was spun and
unfortunately a lost result.”