IMSA Indianapolis: BMW M Team WRT claims first overall victory with BMW M Hybrid V8

BMW M Team WRT has secured its first overall IMSA victory with the BMW M Hybrid V8, as Dries Vanthoor and Sheldon van der Linde won the “Battle on the Bricks” at Indianapolis. Turner Motorsport also celebrated a GTD class victory with the BMW M4 GT3 EVO.

BMW M Team WRT has achieved a major milestone in the IMSA WeatherTech SportsCar Championship, claiming its first overall victory in North America with the BMW M Hybrid V8 at Indianapolis Motor Speedway.

At the penultimate round of the 2026 IMSA season, Dries Vanthoor and Sheldon van der Linde drove the #24 BMW M Hybrid V8 to victory in the 2-hour and 40-minute Battle on the Bricks, delivering BMW M Team WRT its first win in the GTP class during its debut IMSA campaign.

It was also a memorable day for BMW in GT racing, with Turner Motorsport taking victory in the GTD category thanks to Robby Foley and Patrick Gallagher in the #96 BMW M4 GT3 EVO.

Van der Linde delivers late move for victory

BMW M Team WRT arrived at Indianapolis having already scored three podium finishes during its first season in the IMSA GTP category, but the overall victory had remained out of reach.

That changed at Indianapolis.

Vanthoor qualified the #24 BMW in third position, putting the team firmly in contention from the start. During the final phase of the race, van der Linde produced the decisive moment.

With only a few minutes remaining, the South African completed a determined overtaking move to take the lead before controlling the closing laps and bringing the BMW M Hybrid V8 home in first place.

The result marked van der Linde’s first IMSA victory and BMW M Team WRT’s first overall success in the championship.

For Vanthoor, it represented another major IMSA result after winning at Road America in 2025 alongside Philipp Eng.

First IMSA victory for BMW M Team WRT

The Indianapolis triumph represents an important step in BMW M Team WRT’s first season competing in the GTP class.

After showing competitive pace throughout the year, the Belgian squad finally converted its potential into a victory at the penultimate event of the championship.

Team Principal Vincent Vosse highlighted the significance of winning at the same venue where discussions surrounding the team’s IMSA GTP programme had taken place roughly one year earlier.

The victory also continued a strong period for WRT across international GT and prototype racing.

Difficult race for the #25 BMW M Hybrid V8

The second BMW M Hybrid V8 endured a more complicated afternoon.

Philipp Eng and Marco Wittmann, competing in the #25 entry, finished tenth in the GTP class after an incident involving the Aston Martin.

Wittmann lost control while attempting an overtake and made contact with the rival car, resulting in a drive-through penalty.

The German driver accepted responsibility for the incident after the race.

Turner Motorsport wins GTD at Indianapolis

BMW’s success was not limited to the prototype category.

In GTD, Robby Foley and Patrick Gallagher delivered victory for Turner Motorsport in the #96 BMW M4 GT3 EVO.

The result ended a winless streak of more than two years for the team in IMSA competition.

Foley and Gallagher remained in contention throughout the race before taking advantage of the final restart to establish a small gap at the front.

Foley then controlled the closing phase and crossed the finish line first in class.

The victory also moved the Turner Motorsport pairing into the lead of the GTD championship standings ahead of the season finale at Road Atlanta.

Paul Miller Racing remains in GTD PRO title fight

There was more frustration for Paul Miller Racing in GTD PRO.

Neil Verhagen and Connor De Phillippi spent much of the Indianapolis race fighting for a podium position in the #1 BMW M4 GT3 EVO.

Their chances were damaged during the closing stages after several incidents involving rival cars, with the BMW eventually forced off track.

They finished sixth in GTD PRO.

The result cost the pairing the championship lead, but the title remains within reach heading into the final round of the season.

BMW turns attention to Petit Le Mans

The IMSA WeatherTech SportsCar Championship will conclude at Road Atlanta, where the traditional Petit Le Mans will decide the remaining 2026 titles.

BMW will arrive at the finale with renewed momentum after its double success at Indianapolis.

Turner Motorsport will fight for the GTD crown, while Paul Miller Racing remains firmly in contention in GTD PRO.

For BMW M Team WRT, the Indianapolis victory represents a breakthrough moment in its debut IMSA campaign and proof that the BMW M Hybrid V8 package can fight for overall wins in North America.

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