The BMW M8 opens its counter in Virginia

New this year in GTLM / GTE, the BMW M8 had to wait until August to win its first laurels in the category. And if the propeller cars appeared behind at Silverstone for the 6 Hours counting for the WEC, M8 from Team RLL showed good form at the VIRginia International Raceway in IMSA.

The first part of the race saw the #25 BMW of Alexander Sims and Connor de Phillippi penalized with a drive-through after contact with the #66 Ford GT of Dirk Müller and the #3 Lexus RC F GT15 – 3GT Racing.

@AlexanderSims #25 M8 GTE makes contact with GTD Lexus after going off track. Drops one position to #5. Collects drive through penalty. #VIR #BMWMotorsport #BMWM8GTE #MISSION8 #michelinVIR

— BMWUSA Motorsport (@BMWUSARacing) August 19

But at the end of the race, Sims took advantage of an offbeat strategy with a final stop made less than 30′ from the end of the race to emerge with around ten seconds ahead of Jan Magnussen (Corvette C7.R n°3).

A lead that the Briton will manage to perfection to win under the checkered flag ahead of the Magnussen – Garcia duo and the second #8 BMW M24 – Team RLL of Jesse Krohn and John Edwards.

The No. 66 Ford GT – Chip Ganassi Racing of Joey Hand and Dirk Müller finished 4th and saved the honor of the blue oval clan, the No. 67 of Westbrook – Briscoe, long leader, saw its progress slowed down by a probable clutch problem.

Laurens Vanthoor and Earl Bamber hoist the best Porsche 911 RSR No. 912 in 5th place, after having experienced a complicated start to the race, with contact with Corvette No. 4, the latter spinning into the grass.

A few meters further on, a puncture sent Bamber onto the grass, and if the New Zealander was able to restart, he was given a drive-through for having caused the first contact with the Corvette.

No more success for the No. 911 Porsche 911 RSR of Patrick Pilet and Nick Tandy. One time leading the race, Tandy was forced to stop at the side of the track, with smoke escaping from the car.

In GTD, the suspense lasted until the end, but the No. 3 Lexus RC F GT14 – 3GT Racing of Dominik Baumann and Kyle Marcelli won ahead of the No. 911 Porsche 3 GT58 R – Wright Motorsports of Patrick Long, associate to Christina Nielsen, and author of an overtake on the last lap on the No. 86 Acura NSX of Katherine Legge and Alvaro Parente.

Race ranking

Discover the full report of the VIRginia International Raceway event, in issue 2179 of AUTOhebdo, available tomorrow evening in digital version and this Wednesday on newsstands.