BMW M Hybrid V8 Scores Back-to-Back Second Place at Long Beach

The BMW M Hybrid V8 continues its impressive run in the 2023 IMSA WeatherTech Sports Car season. Following an optimistic sixth-place finish at Daytona and a second place at Sebring, the #25 car secured another runner-up position. Connor De Phillippi and Nick Yelloly drove the electrified race car to complete 78 laps in the 100-minute event, concluding under a yellow flag.

The BMW M Hybrid V8 #24, piloted by Philipp Eng and Augusto Farfus, finished fourth in the race. Both cars briefly led before pitting. On lap 33, De Phillippi took over from Yelloly, who gave him the fourth-place car. De Phillippi advanced to third on lap 52 but made an error, which caused the BMW M Hybrid V8 to run off on lap 58, resulting in a drop to fourth. Eventually, he reclaimed third and secured second place with just minutes remaining.

At lap 35, Farfus made a pit stop, and Eng rejoined the race in seventh place. A pair of rivals also made a late stop, enabling Eng to advance two positions to fifth. He ultimately finished fourth in his Long Beach debut, mirroring his teammate Augusto Farfus’s performance. Moreover, Nick Yelloly also competed at this venue for the first time.

Connor De Phillippi, the driver of the No. 25 BMW M Hybrid V8, stated that he found himself in a challenging position when he tried to overtake the Porsche and ran long. However, he got back on track after discovering the TC-off button and spinning the car around. With 30 minutes left in the race, he put in a great effort and was pleased with the car’s performance, demonstrating their competitiveness.

The No. 25 BMW M Hybrid V8 driver, Nick Yelloly, expressed satisfaction with securing a second consecutive second-place finish. While he had high expectations, he believed they exceeded his hopes. Additionally, competing at Long Beach was a first-time experience for him, making his first podium finish there all the more special.

The No. 24 BMW M Hybrid V8 drivers, Philipp Eng and Augusto Farfus, shared their thoughts on the race. Eng stated that the team had improved since the Sebring race and congratulated the No. 25 team on their success. He also hoped that the next race would be an opportunity for the No. 24 car. Farfus had a positive experience racing at Long Beach and was pleased with the team’s progress as a whole, describing the day as seamless.