The spell is broken! BMW M Team WRT celebrated its first victory in North America with the BMW M Hybrid V8 at the penultimate race of the IMSA WeatherTech SportsCar Championship season at Indianapolis. Dries Vanthoor and Sheldon van der Linde triumphed in the 2-hour 40-minute ‘Battle on the Bricks’. There was also a victory to celebrate in the GTD class. Robby Foley and Patrick Gallagher crossed the finish line first in the #96 BMW M4 GT3 EVO from Turner Motorsport.
For the fourth time in its debut season in the GTP class of the IMSA Series, BMW M Team WRT made it onto the podium – and for the first time, they claimed the top step. Vanthoor secured a strong starting position with third on the grid in qualifying, whilst van der Linde took the lead with a determined overtaking manoeuvre just a few minutes before the end and safely drove home to claim his first IMSA victory. Vanthoor had already won in 2025 with BMW M Team RLL alongside Philipp Eng at Road America. Eng, alongside Marco Wittmann in the #25 BMW M Hybrid V8, had an unfortunate race at Indianapolis. The pair finished tenth.
Turner Motorsport also had reason to celebrate. Robby Foley and Patrick Gallagher secured the team’s first victory in the GTD class for more than two years in the #96 BMW M4 GT3 EVO. Thanks to this triumph, the duo took the lead in the GTD overall standings ahead of the season finale at Road Atlanta in two weeks’ time. Paul Miller Racing, in the #1 BMW M4 GT3 EVO, was in contention for a podium finish in the GTD PRO class for much of the race, but was struck by several rivals in the closing stages and was ultimately even forced off the track. Neil Verhagen and Connor De Phillippi ultimately finished sixth. Although this meant they lost their lead in the GTD PRO overall standings, they still have every chance of winning the title at the season finale.
Congratulations to BMW M Team WRT on their first victory with the BMW M Hybrid V8 in the GTP class of the IMSA Series. It was about time! We’ve come close a few times, but were unable to convert our potential into a win. We’ve finally cleared that hurdle. We’re all absolutely delighted and relieved. Dries Vanthoor and Sheldon van der Linde drove a brilliant race. Many thanks to everyone who worked tirelessly to make this triumph possible. I’d also like to extend my warmest congratulations to Turner Motorsport on their victory in the GTD class.
A huge thank you goes to everyone in the team who has been involved in this project for almost exactly a year. It was right here in Indianapolis that we had our first discussions about an IMSA GTP programme. To be celebrating this victory here now is incredible. The drivers did a fantastic job. Sheldon’s overtaking manoeuvre at the end was brilliant. We know exactly what we’ve got in them. They’ve earned this victory.
Driver statements.
Dries Vanthoor (#24 BMW M Hybrid V8, BMW M Team WRT, winner): “I still can’t quite believe it. It’s a huge relief for Sheldon and me. We’ve been right up there so often this season, but we’ve never quite got it right together. This time it finally worked out. I’m incredibly proud of everyone!”
Sheldon van der Linde (#24 BMW M Hybrid V8, BMW M Team WRT, winner): “My first IMSA win – amazing! I had goosebumps when I overtook Earl Bamber a few laps from the end. I really had to make sure I stayed focused. I had a bit of bad luck with traffic during my stint at first, but I knew my time would come. The car and our strategy were perfect today. I’m absolutely delighted for the team, who more than deserve this victory. People often forget that WRT are competing in their first season in the IMSA Series. What they’re achieving here and in the FIA WEC with their victories this year is fantastic. I’m proud to be part of this team.”
Marco Wittmann (#25 BMW M Hybrid V8, BMW M Team WRT, 10th place GTP): “First of all, congratulations to Dries, Sheldon and the team on their first win of the season! Unfortunately, our race didn’t go to plan. I lost control of the car whilst trying to overtake the Aston Martin and made contact with it. I take full responsibility for that. The drive-through penalty was justified, and I have, of course, apologised to Aston Martin.”
Robby Foley (#96 BMW M4 GT3 EVO, Turner Motorsport, GTD class winner): “A brilliant day for the Turner Motorsport family. We had a great race, were always right up there at the front and, after the restart, managed to build up a small lead, which I was then able to hold on to until the finish. Now we’re fighting for the title at Road Atlanta.”
Neil Verhagen (#1 BMW M4 GT3 EVO, Paul Miller Racing, 6th place GTD PRO): “I really don’t know what to say. We actually had a clean race and were in the leading group. Then, in the closing stages, our rivals started using us as a punching bag. One after the other, the other cars crashed into us. That’s obviously the last thing you want when you’re leading the championship. We’ve now got a tough task ahead of us at the season finale, but we’ll give it our all there.”