SHERIDAN, WYOMING – April 8, 2025 - BMW celebrates milestones and motorsport success at Sebring
BMW M Motorsport marked a weekend of both triumph and resilience at the iconic Twelve Hours of Sebring, coinciding with the 50th anniversary of BMW of North America. The event brought memorable highlights for BMW fans, including a standout pole position, a fifth-place finish for the BMW M Hybrid V8, and impressive double podium results for the BMW M4 GT3 EVO in the GTD PRO class.
BMW M Hybrid V8 claims pole and top-five finish in GTP class
The race weekend kicked off with a strong performance from Dries Vanthoor, who clinched a second consecutive pole position in the IMSA WeatherTech SportsCar Championship with the #24 BMW M Hybrid V8. Despite a promising start, the race brought challenges.
The #24 entry, piloted by Vanthoor, Philipp Eng, and Kevin Magnussen, was forced into a lengthy repair following a collision in the pit lane. Eng remarked, “Our weekend started perfectly... Then, unfortunately, a competitor took us out in the pit lane. That's extremely disappointing. We had a bad day today, but we also showed with both cars that we are fast and reliable.”
Meanwhile, the #25 BMW M Hybrid V8, driven by Sheldon van der Linde, Marco Wittmann, and Robin Frijns, demonstrated consistency throughout the race. Frijns made a late push, moving up to fifth in the final minutes. Reflecting on the race, Wittmann shared, “It looked good for a while… But in the end, it was 'only' fifth place... It’s a bit of a shame because we all had higher hopes after qualifying.”
GTD PRO class: Double podium for BMW M4 GT3 EVO
Paul Miller Racing delivered a remarkable performance in the GTD PRO class, securing second and third positions with their BMW M4 GT3 EVO cars. This result solidifies the new model's impressive debut season.
Dan Harper, who finished second alongside Max Hesse and Jesse Krohn, said, “P2 for us and P3 for our sister car here in Sebring – a great result for the team. We can be delighted with the results as we also scored important points... Although we didn’t have a perfect race, we can be happy to spray some champagne.”
Neil Verhagen, part of the third-place team with Madison Snow and Connor De Phillippi, echoed the sentiment: “It’s a great way to end the Sebring 12 Hours... Big thanks to all the guys at Paul Miller Racing for all the hard work.”
Debut victory for BMW M4 GT4 EVO in the Michelin Pilot Challenge
Success extended beyond the 12-hour race, as the new BMW M4 GT4 EVO claimed its first victory during Friday’s IMSA Michelin Pilot Challenge. CarBahn Racing w/ Peregrine Racing, with drivers Sean McAlister and Jeff Westphal, took the top spot. Turner Motorsport added to the celebration with a third-place finish, and Auto Technic Racing secured fourth.
A historic celebration with eyes on the future
The Sebring event was more than just another race weekend—it marked half a century since the founding of BMW of North America. The presence of legends like Jochen Neerpasch and 1975 Sebring winner Brian Redman brought a sense of legacy to the occasion. BMW M Motorsport honored this history with special anniversary liveries on both BMW M Hybrid V8 cars.
Andreas Roos, Head of BMW M Motorsport, summed up the weekend: “The double podium by Paul Miller Racing... is definitely pleasing. It's a great result at the 12 Hours of Sebring... Additionally, there was a first victory to celebrate... Congratulations to CarBahn Racing w/ Peregrine Racing and also to Turner Motorsport for the first podium with our new GT4.”
As BMW M Motorsport reflects on its mixed results at Sebring, the team looks ahead with optimism. Both the GTP and GT programs showed strong pace and reliability—setting the stage for exciting battles in the rest of the IMSA season.
For more updates and information, visit: www.bmw-m.com/motorsport