BMW drivers Connor De Phillippi and Nick Yelloly have reason to celebrate as they have been awarded their first Grand Touring Prototype (GTP) victory. Despite finishing second to the #6 Porsche 963 in the race, the Porsche was found to have a chassis skid plate that was thinner than the legal minimum during post-race technical inspection. As a result, the Porsche was moved to the rear of the class finishing order, elevating the #25 BMW to first place.
After receiving official notification from IMSA (International Motor Sports Association) regarding the post-race technical penalty, Porsche Penske Motorsport (PPM) requested a protest. IMSA supervisory officials reviewed the documents provided by PPM but found no grounds to overturn the penalty decision. The official race results and point standings were released on Thursday morning, confirming the penalty upheld.
“Obviously, we are pleased by IMSA’s technical group decision,” said BMW M Team RLL team principal Bobby Rahal. Rahal expressed his satisfaction with the pace of the BMW M Hybrid V8 throughout the Watkins Glen race. He thanked everyone at BMW who worked diligently on the new-era GTP program, with the team starting their involvement in Munich in July, assisting with car builds. Testing began in October after receiving the cars in September. Rahal expressed his gratitude for the hard work and dedication put into the program.
The penalty decision has had a significant impact on the #25 BMW duo, De Phillippi and Yelloly. Although they were initially crushed to have missed out on claiming victory on the track at Watkins Glen, they were later provisionally awarded the win after learning of the Porsche’s infraction. This victory has propelled them from fifth to second in the GTP standings, with a 64-point gap between them and the leaders, Pipo Derani and Alexander Sims in the #31 Whelen Engineering Cadillac.
The Road to Victory
De Phillippi expressed his surprise at the feat they have achieved, considering they were the last manufacturer to start the program. He acknowledged the relentless effort they put in, especially after facing challenges at the season-opening Daytona 24 in January. De Phillippi emphasized their legitimate pace in the last few races, proving that they are now a force to be reckoned with. He stated their determination to continue pushing and their ambition to dominate the championship and secure more race wins. The team has proven that they can punch above their weight class, particularly since the Sebring race onwards. They take pride in their accomplishments so far but will not stop pushing until they reach their ultimate goal.
BMW drivers Connor De Phillippi and Nick Yelloly have been awarded their first GTP victory after the #6 Porsche 963 was penalized for having a chassis skid plate below the legal minimum thickness. Despite initially finishing second, the BMW team has now moved up to first place. The penalty decision has significantly improved their standings and has made them a serious contender for the championship. The BMW team is determined to continue their success and become dominant in the GTP series.
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