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BMW M Motorsport teams delivered a standout performance at the iconic 24 Hours of Daytona, even as the race ended in heartbreak. With impressive pace and a near-flawless strategy, BMW M Team RLL and Paul Miller Racing were poised for victory, but late-race incidents left them short of the podium. Despite the setbacks, the resilience and potential displayed by the BMW M Hybrid V8 and BMW M4 GT3 EVO stood out as a testament to their engineering excellence.
The #24 BMW M Hybrid V8 started from the pole, with Dries Vanthoor at the helm, setting a commanding lead in the early hours. A series of yellow flags compressed the gap, but the car maintained its competitive edge. Unfortunately, a collision during a second-place fight necessitated repairs, relegating the team to a fourth-place finish. Meanwhile, the sister car, the #25 BMW M Hybrid V8, showcased remarkable speed, including the fastest lap of the race, but finished seventh after grappling with incidents and pit stop challenges.
In the GTD-PRO class, Paul Miller Racing’s #48 BMW M4 GT3 EVO overcame a mass collision and extensive damage thanks to the dedicated efforts of the mechanics. Although it finished 12th, the car’s pace was undeniable. The #1 BMW M4 GT3 EVO, driven by Kelvin van der Linde, climbed from 13th to contend for victory before a late-race spin ended their bid, leaving them in fourth place. Turner Motorsport’s #96 BMW M4 GT3 EVO also fought valiantly, finishing fifth in the GTD class after leading late into the race.
While the results fell short of their ambitions, BMW teams take pride in their remarkable performance. The race demonstrated the reliability and speed of BMW’s cars, setting an optimistic tone for the season ahead. The 24 Hours of Daytona served as a platform to refine strategies and gather insights for future challenges, with all eyes now set on the next opportunity to convert their potential into victory.
