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BMW's Dramatic Last-Minute GTP Win at IMS
21 Sep
Summary
- Sheldon van der Linde secured a thrilling GTP class victory in the final minutes.
- The No. 31 Cadillac Whelen's championship lead was extended despite finishing second.
- IMS hosted 54,000 fans, marking its highest attendance since IMSA's return.
In a nail-biting finish, Sheldon van der Linde piloted the No. 24 BMW M Team WRT to victory in the GTP class at Indianapolis Motor Speedway's Battle on the Bricks. With less than five minutes left in the race, van der Linde made a decisive inside pass on the No. 31 Cadillac Whelen, driven by Earl Bamber, to claim the win. This marked a significant achievement for BMW M Team WRT, securing their first victory in the IMSA GTP series.
Earl Bamber and Jack Aitken, driving the No. 31 Cadillac Whelen, secured second place, which was crucial for Aitken's championship aspirations. Aitken now holds a substantial 147-point lead over Laurin Heinrich heading into the season's final race, the Petit Le Mans at Road Atlanta on October 3. The No. 6 Porsche Penske Motorsport car, shared by Heinrich and Kevin Estre, finished third.
Other class winners included the No. 18 Era Motorsport car in LMP2, the No. 64 Ford Mustang in GTD Pro, and the No. 96 Turner Motorsport car in GTD. Christian Rasmussen, a late addition to the No. 18 LMP2 team, credited a strong fuel-saving strategy for their win. The IMS weekend saw a remarkable turnout of 54,000 spectators, the highest attendance since IMSA's return to the track in 2023.
