IMSA: BMW wins at The Glen after Penske Porsche fails inspection (Update)

Penske Porsche Statement

“Following post-race inspection at Watkins Glen International, IMSA has penalized the No. 6 entry in the Sahlen’s Six Hours of the Glen citing that the front skid wear of the No. 6 Porsche 963 was less than one millimeter outside the legal tolerance. The rear skid wear was noted to be well within the legal tolerance. Porsche Penske Motorsport plans to collect all of the data and follow the protest procedures.”

It was a bad weekend for the Penske name.

Roger Penske’s son’s DS Penske Formula E team was caught cheating in Portland and Roger’s team failed post-race inspection at the Glen and lost the win.

The No. 6 Penske Porsche 963 crossed the finish line first but later lost its victory 5-hours later in Sunday’s Sahlen’s Six Hours of The Glen due to a technical infraction, handing the win to BMW M Team RLL’s Connor De Phillippi and Nick Yelloly.

Announced by IMSA on Sunday evening, the Nick Tandy and Mathieu Jaminet-driven Porsche was found with a skid block measuring less than the permitted minimum thickness during post-race technical inspection. As a result, the car has been moved to the rear of the GTP class finishing order.

The No. 31 Action Express Racing Cadillac V-Series.R of Pipo Derani, Alexander Sims and Jack Aitken have been elevated to a second place finish, with the Tom Blomqvist and Colin Braun-driven No. 60 Meyer Shank Racing Acura ARX-06 now completing the top-three.

Reactions to the post-race victory:

Andreas Roos (Head of BMW M Motorsport): “Wow! The first victory for the BMW M Hybrid V8 – a historic day for BMW M Motorsport and a significant milestone for our LMDh project! Congratulations and thank you to everyone at BMW M Motorsport in Munich, the BMW M Team RLL, and drivers Connor De Phillippi and Nick Yelloly! While we would have preferred to win on the track, this success is the result of long, hard work and the well-deserved reward for the fantastic performances of everyone involved in this program. I am particularly delighted that our pace was consistently strong throughout the weekend, and we set the top times. We have been improving from race to race, and we have earned our first victory in the GTP class. I am incredibly proud of our entire crew!”

Nick Yelloly (#25 BMW M Hybrid V8, 1st place): “I am incredibly happy for the entire team, who have more than earned this victory through their hard work. We have been steadily improving, and the first win was within reach. It wasn’t the way we wanted to win, as we prefer to win on the track and celebrate on the podium. However, we gladly accept the victory nonetheless – after all, it is the first for the BMW M Hybrid V8 and also my first in the IMSA series. Therefore, it holds a special significance for all of us.”

Vasser Sullivan Stands atop the Podium in Both GTD PRO and GTD

What a performance Sunday by Vasser Sullivan and Lexus.

While Jack Hawksworth held off a fierce challenge to win the Grand Touring Daytona PRO (GTD PRO) class, teammate Aaron Telitz cruised to victory in the GTD class in the Vasser Sullivan sister Lexus RC F GT3 for a rare team double victory in the Sahlen’s Six Hours of The Glen at Watkins Glen International.

Telitz, with help from co-drivers Frankie Montecalvo and Parker Thompson, found himself with a comfortable 35-second lead in GTD late in the six-hour race. He idled to victory after a late crash involving Bill Auberlen that caused the race to end under caution.

“Everything was working,” Telitz said. “I think this is the best day Lexus Racing and Vasser Sullivan has ever had. … Pit stops were amazing, strategy was amazing, the car was hooked up. Everything finally fell our way today.”

Telitz moved the car into the lead in the first hour and – with help from Montecalvo and Thompson – didn’t give it up for long after that. With slightly more than two hours remaining, Thompson regained the lead from Jan Heylen and the No. 16 Wright Motorsports Porsche 911 GT3 R (992), and the No. 12 Lexus began to pull away.

The result was Montecalvo’s first victory with Vasser Sullivan since 2020.

Completing the Vasser Sullivan sweep wasn’t as easy as it appeared.

Jack Hawksworth had to chase down and pass the No. 3 Corvette Racing C8.R GTD driven by Antonio Garcia late in the race, then defend against a strong pursuit from Daniel Serra in the No. 62 Risi Competizione Ferrari 296 GT3.

“The car was great,” Hawksworth said. “We just kept pushing. I’ll never give up. That’s what this team is all about. A win for the 12 and a win for the 14. This is the best day in Vasser Sullivan and Lexus Racing history. What a day.”

The team was leading the GTD PRO class when Hawksworth had to serve a penalty for a pit lane speed violation. That dropped the No. 14 Vasser Sullivan Lexus behind Garcia’s Corvette.

“I still can’t quite believe it. We don’t really know what happened,” Hawkworth said of the penalty. “For a couple of laps there when we lost that 15-second lead and I was in second, I was devastated.”

Instead of sulk, Hawksworth began chasing. He passed Garcia with 23 minutes remaining, but so did Serra, who then began to pursue Hawksworth for the lead.

With less than 4 minutes left, the No. 95 Turner Motorsport BMW M4 GT3 flipped on the exit of Turn 10. Auberlen emerged from the wreckage, but the resulting yellow flag let Hawksworth and Barnicoat celebrate victory and an increase in their lead in the GTD PRO championship points standings.

“We just keep doing our thing and keep on turning out these great results,” Barnicoat said. “Today showed that more than ever.”

Serra held on for second with co-driver Davide Rigon, while Garcia maintained the podium finish with co-driver Jordan Taylor.

In the end, Barnicoat was shouting praise for Hawksworth.

“Even when he’s in second, there’s no better man for the job than Jack,” Barnicoat said. “I knew it was going to be OK.”

Race Results