During the first four races of the 2018 season, the BMW M8 GTE scored
a second place finish at the 12 Hours of Sebring (USA) with the #25
car of Bill Auberlen (USA), Connor De Phillippi (USA) and Alexander
Sims (GBR) after starting from De Phillippi’s first GTLM class pole. A
second pole by Edwards in the #24 BMW M8 GTE and De Phillippi and
Sims’ second place finish in the #25 BMW M8 GTE at the most recent
race at the Mid-Ohio Sports Car Course (USA) in early May showed the
programme’s continuing competitiveness.
De Phillippi and
Sims are sixth in GTLM driver points, while Edwards and his team-mate
Jesse Krohn (FIN) stand eighth. BMW holds the fourth spot in GTLM
manufacturer points. BMW NA Ambassador Auberlen will rejoin the #25
team for the six-hour race at Watkins Glen and BMW works driver Tom
Blomqvist (GBR) will co-drive the #24 BMW M8 GTE. The 24-year old is
making his first start in the United States. He drove the #82 BMW M8
GTE at Spa-Francorchamps in the opening round of the 2018 FIA World
Endurance Championship (WEC).
Bobby Rahal (BMW Team RLL, Team Principal): “In
general we have had good qualifying performances over the years at
Watkins Glen whether it was the BMW M3, Z4 or M6. Our finishing
positions are kind of inconsistent although we won last year for the
first time after a good qualifying performance. It’s an extremely fast
circuit and it really comes down to handling on fast corners and I
think the M8 GTE is quite good at that so that could certainly help.
Mosport is another one where we have qualified reasonably well year in
and year out but have had difficulty in finishing. If you think
Watkins Glen has fast corners, then Mosport really has a lot of fast
corners. I think the new car’s long wheel base is made for that kind
of a corner. We will just hope we have as good a performance as we did
last year at both tracks.”
Connor De Phillippi (#25 BMW M8 GTE): “Watkins Glen
is one of those great American tracks that every driver loves. It will
be my first taste of ‘The Glen’ and the last new track for me to learn
on this year’s calendar. In recent years it has been a strong track
for our BMW race cars, which means a win is most definitely possible
with our new BMW M8 GTE. Mosport is one of the events I’ve been most
excited for on our calendar. It will be my first experience driving a
GT car around this high commitment circuit which requires strong
aerodynamics and engine power. With the M8 GTE delivering both of
those things, I believe we are in a strong position to battle at the front.”
Alexander Sims (#25 BMW M8 GTE): “I’m extremely
motivated for our return to both the Watkins Glen and CTMP races. It
was a real highlight for us last year and I sincerely hope we can
recreate some of those performances. Both circuits are unbelievably
good to drive and I’m just eager to get the BMW M8 GTE out on track
and get our teeth into the weekend.”
Bill Auberlen
(#25 BMW M8 GTE): “I can’t wait to get started with
the Watkins Glen six hour race. We are coming off a victory last year
and knowing how amazing the all-new BMW M8 GTE is I hope we can hit
the ground running and start the drive to Victory Lane.”
John Edwards (#24 BMW M8 GTE): “Watkins Glen and CTMP
are two of my favourite tracks in North America, and IMSA schedules
them back to back, so I guess you could say these are two of my
favourite weekends in the year. Watkins Glen always suited the BMW M6
GTLM so I expect the new BMW M8 GTE will adapt quickly. After being
quick at Mid-Ohio, we weren’t able to capitalise on a result so Jesse
and I are hungry for redemption over the next couple of weeks.”
Jesse Krohn (#24 BMW M8 GTE): “I am looking forward
to getting back in the car after a long summer break. Both tracks will
be new for me but I have already done a few laps in the simulator to
be as well prepared as possible. In the past Watkins and Mosport
seemed to have suited BMW well so I am hoping the same will continue
this year with the new and improved BMW M8 GTE.”
Tom Blomqvist (#24 BMW M8 GTE): “I have never raced
in the States before and I am very excited that Watkins Glen will be
my first track. My teammates have told me about this old-school type
circuit and I look forward to seeing it myself.”