2025 IMSA Motul SportsCar Grand Prix | Race Recap | WeatherTech Championship | Elkhart Lake, WI

Look at the prototypes, two different classes, GTP up front, then LMP2, a little less horsepower, but cornering speed for the LMP2 machines is massive because of the downforce and then there will be a gap back to the GT-based machinery on pole, the Acura, the red, white, and black 93. And Dick Yellenlein from the get-go on it immediately and already trying to find some temperature in those Michelin tires, moving back and forth, and BMW teammates looking side-by-side into one. That was really tight there. Big move around the outside. You see that metallic blue car, that's Philippe Albuquerque on the attack, side-by-side with Colin Brown, as they hit the brakes on for turn three. Now one of the Penske machines gets to the inside, and Goldberg, the championship leader in LMP2, is off the road. And this is the second problem for Daniel Goldberg in the last five minutes. When they went out on the first pace lap, he spun coming out of turn six and now has had another problem, but he has contacted the wall. Rear-wing seat. He seems to be missing off of the 22. Goldberg comes around the outside there. There's just not enough room there. There's also track limits that all of the drivers are aware of on the exit of turn one, so it was a bold move by our championship leader. Here we go. Up front, Nick Yellenlein aboard the 93, the Acura, pulls the trigger, trying to get temperature. You saw him coming up into the restart zone, moving back and forth, trying to get some temperature. He gets a good run. in. Albuquerque. Both Taylor Racing cars like to stay out there. It's like they've changed their mind. It was going to be really tight, Brian. We talked about energy safe here. That was on everyone's mind coming in, because the way you cut it, if you go flat out in one of these GTP machines, you're only going to get about 48 minutes stint. That doesn't work if you're trying to do on two stops on a 160 minute race, two hours 40, of course. I think this will allow these drivers and teams to have a little more flexibility with their pit stop windows moving forward. you also get the class reset. So even though that looks like they're going to be buried in these GT field, they'll get the class reset before we give them back to green. Be right behind those cars who stayed out. Kevin, there's a lot of tankers as we get. Oh, not quite a mid way through a stint. It's fuel only, and the 24 BMW is going to win the race off of this group. Then it's a 31 to 60 and 6 7 all the way in the back of this group. Nick Yellowley up front in the Acura, the 93 waiting, waiting, waiting, waiting until late in the restart zone. And was it too late? Although I saw a little wheel spin from Sheldon Vanderland just behind him aboard the number 25 BMW, and that may have thwarted his run up the front straightaway to Wayne Taylor Racing cars running in third for Jordan Taylor, the bitter run of Felipe Albuquerque. He gets proactive with that racing line in and turn running into the break zone. Cars that stayed out in G. T. P. 93 25 40 10 and 23 23. Aston Martin has been super quick all weekend long. The development of that car continuing to progress and progress rapidly. First six cars leaving the field right now did not hit pit lane. You see the yellow car, the J. D. C. Miller Motorsport entry forces the issue almost like a can opener down in the inside. Picking up a position as well. Side by side, up the hill into six. He clears the 52 has had a problem. Carousel. This is where Tony's had his down as well, and it doesn't take much. And as the race wears on, Brian, you get more and more of that. Those marbles out there. It's like you're just skating. So can they get this car, the 22 out in the next 37 minutes? 38 minutes. Basically, on the racetrack, they would pick up a position and it seasons in that position. Maybe the difference in second in the championship or taking the big trophy home. Kevin, it's pretty tight up here with all the G. T. P. S. Pitted here together. The Porsche Penske are a pit out a little further back there. You see the race leading number 93. Meyers Schenck. Accurate. They're making a change. Ranger Vanderson is getting in the car for the 25 B. M. W. With R. L. L. And they are in second. Marco Whitman is getting in the car, so solid sniff for them and the race off pit road. Good exit for the 31. But the six is gonna beat everybody out, followed by the 31 to 10 to 7 40. And then the 93. What a good job. Look at that as he heads up the hill. That was masterful there. We've been around. Suddenly I go. Give him a chance to weave around a little bit more. He's not under pressure. Doesn't have to think about his racing line into that first corner. This is tight there. 60 car Blomquist feeling the heat from behind Roman DeAngelo's the Canadian now on board the number 23 Valkyrie turn three. Get to the inside of the number three. That is our championship leader in the wars. Wow. And it's still continuing down in turn three. Corvette around. Oh, and big contact is they go to avoid him. I'll be so careful here. I mean, I'm sure Nikki's anxious to get going here, but if you try to nose it forward, that pile of GT cars coming through the field, there was contact and a lot of debris scattered. Somebody got together. But right now, the three gonna be stuck in the gravel, and this is a real, real risk of losing a lap. Does he try and go to the outside? He's gonna. Yeah, I think he tries to go to the outside here of Harper is aboard the Paul Miller racing. Get throws very similar to what happens. Kurtz at the beginning of this race in LMP two. That was a very aggressive move there by Alex Sims. He's gonna say inside and cut paste. There is contact. He did get contacted. Get the rear wings above the tire bundle, but you have to worry about that right rear corner. Here's the other Corvette. You can't book right in the mix here. Inside the Lamborghini. Who's wide? I think he kind of cut back across the line a little bit, but Heinrich got into the back of him and turned it all for a great cause. And looks like we're back to green flag. He had that Terminator. Look, guys, we're back to green, back to green. And already you see aggressive by the 40 trying to find a way forward around seven. Look at this. He's in that Terminator mode as well. Right now, he wants a piece of Nick Dandy. Tandy has got to be devastated after that moment they had at Watkins Glen with a big crash. They need a bounce back. They lost the championship lead for the very first time, and he is feeling the pressure right now. Gets defensive and proactive. His line into that break zone. Then he moves back to the middle of the road. 14 on Pit road on board when he's talking about going right, everybody going left. Wow, this is a stack up here. I think the green is out for the prototype cars and fill up Alice. Once this green is not like the initial start, you're allowed to go repeat her up in the paddock. So place your spot around the outside. He gets roughed up again by the 65. This is cut pace from earlier in this race. Who's right there? The four as well. And so for Lauren Heinrich, he's got to go. Man, American muscle is beating me up. Corvette has a draft as a run. What can he do with it? Heinrich to block to the inside. You want it? You got to go around the high side over and under. Is it gonna work? Not this time. And here comes a 93 car ring of Andersander in the Acura. He's gonna get side by side with the Cadillac, but it takes better of it. Pretty aggressive there by Ricky Taylor. He knew that he had it clear or a spotter was giving him that information. Taylor on the attack. He's in the dirt. He's around. Big squeeze there by Tandy. Stews. Look at that one. Pretty aggressive. There was Taylor alongside. Yes, the feeling was by the fact that he turned it around. They got wheels in the grass. It should just be gather the field up prototypes. First, here's what happens. This is, like, hyper, hyper aggressive to me by Nick Tandy, except for the fact he started it early. Started it. Yeah, he was kind of moving that way already. And Ricky just stayed with it. Tried to accelerate alongside him, and the gap was narrowing rapidly like a funnel. Typically, it's gonna be a tough one for them to call. There was contact obviously initiated by Tandy's change of direction. But Nick was moving early. He basically came at turn five and went on the defense issue. And I don't know if obviously, I would think that the officials have that information. Otherwise, they would not leave them out there. That's something that is closely measured. Pits open for prototypes, and it's someone just right side tires, left side tires rather, and the seven gets out in front of the six. I know the six only left side. I think that's the same for the seven, but a flip flop up top top two in the championship, separated by only 12 entering the day, and it might flip back if it stays this way. However, in the 24 25 make it Wow, that was close. That was close. And I tell you what, if you hit one of those RFID readers, those boxes left and right, you come out of pit lane. We saw Rich Westbrook do this at the Glen last year. I think it's a five minute penalty. Look at the run that van der Zander gets on the number seven car, Nick Tandy. And now he's going to go to the outside of the six car of Jaminet. Aji Baji into the turn one brakes on van der Zander on the attack big time and he's outside. He's outside the track limits there. And now we see Nick Tandy serving that. Just the drives here is a stop plus 60. 39 seconds on pit lane plus 60. Put that together is basically a lap. I'm glad we're a long way away from the penalty box because I've got a feeling the temperature inside the cockpit right now for Nick Tandy is not cool by any stretch of the imagination to Earl Bamber just in front as the 57 comes to pit road. Yeah, this is not been the day. I mean, the weekend was just looked incredible in terms of they did some simulation runs in practice. Ward was really quick. He laid down that lap yesterday to grab Paul faster of all both GT classes, and it's just got a little bit pear shaped on them. So there's the star Ellis down the inside. I think he was being squeezed a little bit and they come up the hill. That was a little bit late. Basically, Sam, well, you deserve to. I mean, he lost a position. So, yeah, was he a bit aggressive in defending that line? But it didn't really cost gamble anything. So it seems like that someone in the stewards said, You know what? Enough's enough today. I'm gonna start to put the hammer down a little bit and straighten these boys out. But the 77 there it is. I was getting ready to say you've got to know that Paul Miller team was telling Neil for Hagan. He's going to have to pit. Yeah, he's going to have to pit. Don't do anything crazy. And there it is. They were hoping for some big yellows here to finish off. So days going upside down here a little bit in terms of championship positions. Kevin? Yeah, I think it was pretty obvious they had no chance. They've been out for about an hour, 20 plus minutes. So we always knew they were going to have to come in. What a flip in that championship. It would have been still a chance to try to score some points. So now one of the BMWs and GTD Pro is going to be able to take over with Neil Verhagen and the Paul Miller racing team. This is special. Look at this battle right here. It is intense. Costa was last in this class. He's now battled his way back up to fifth, trying to make a move on the 48 car. Can you believe the championship leaders have got their way back into podium position with Garcia behind the wheel? Now that's battle for third and GTD Pro and the battle for the lead in GTD just behind those five cars. It is intense. And right now, Alec Udall going, Come on, guys, get out of the way because I've got Kenton Cook in this triarchy Ferrari right behind me, really putting pressure on me. But Udall has nowhere to go. Problem for the four. That's mechanical. Here, the engine is shut down and Nicky catcher in the king. There's a safe haven there, so I'm not sure if some marshals can safely get out there and pull that car backwards or if he can find reverse. If the three cars a bit deeper in the pack, maybe that left him there, Brian. But the fact that Garcia is in podium position, you want to keep him going. So get going. Gets that four behind the wall. He's in a safe place, so he'll be a spectator for the next eight and a half minutes or so. And meanwhile, this continues. You tell them you could see his little proactive middle of the road in the break zone. Here comes Kennecook for the lead of the race. They rub Kennecook is through triarchy competition only leads and you tell us off the road momentarily. But they may want to say whatever you do, don't like the 93. But he's got a big run. He has to give it up on the entry of the king. I held my breath for just a second. I thought he was going to stay with it. Yes, Marco Vittman may be told. I don't care how wide that car gets to be. You are going to protect your teammate. You have to be the ultimate wingman right now for Philippine trying to bring a 24 class win for BMW team R. L. L. The 24th for that team. If he can make it through the final couple of quarters and for Philippine, it would be his third class win. And for his teammate, Dries Vanthoor, it would be his first. And what a place to get it done. One corner left. You put the problems behind you. Focus forward. It's exactly what this team has done for BMW team R. L. L. They'll take the win and road America in G. T. P. And it may be a banner day for that mark as we wait for the G. T. D. Pro leaders to find their way onto the front straight away and can Neil Verhagen be at the line first with the checkered flag falls on G. T. D. Pro coming through the final corner, Brian. So he's got to just run up the hill. He's got a massive lane. So what a day for BMW here at Road America. Indeed, Madison Snow has tasted victory at Road America. Neil Verhagen. It's his turn. The teammates claim victory here. BMW wins in G. T. D. Pro, and they'll celebrate the win in G. T. P. As well. Talk about celebrating Spike. The flies across the line in the hands of Dane Cameron. They'll celebrate the victory there two in a row for a racing in Kenton Cook in history. Artsy Ferrari. They will celebrate in G. T. D. At Road America. BMW's side by side. Ah, one to finish. And how special is that for that team? Every team member, the team owner, Bobby Ray Hall, the drivers, the mark in spite of the dark clouds that have formed over the last couple of weeks. Sunshine's brightly here at Road America today. What a season it's been. The pace has always been here for the number 24 BMW and Philip. You brought it home. What are the emotions after being so fast but not being able to convert? It's a big relief for the whole team. Marco Whitman in the other car. First of all, the most important thing is that Nick our our driver help is okay. There was a little incident in the pit lane. And I mean, this guy and the whole team after restarted did such an incredible job passing all those cars and our car was on rails today. The team did a strategic master class boxing us on the very early window. And here we are. I can't be. I can't be happier. And thanks to everyone. Thanks to my family. I think they're watching at home. Drees, you've been fast all year. Now you're in victory lane for the first time here. Yeah, indeed. It's been such a difficult, weird season with a lot of highlights, but a lot of lows as well for us. So it's always come back and, you know, try everything what we can to win. It's not easy, but we just we never gave up. And we had a very, very bad start to the race with an issue at the pit stop. Luckily, the mechanic is okay. So, yeah, not really know what to say. I mean, the car was just amazing today. Philip did a good job. And the strategy was we anyway had to take risks because we were last. So then, of course, it can work out sometimes. And today it did. So, yeah, amazing. So super happy we finally could get a win home after many polls, but never really a win. We could we could bring it home today. Congratulations. Well done. A little bit of gamble on strategy, the caution they needed and the pace to keep it out front for a win for BMW and Team R. L. And the points get thrown in the Cuisinart. It's crazy with the problems for the seven. They drop well back and Ng and Vanthoor move up. Yellowley and van der Zandt have moved down. Yeah, that 12 point league gets blown out to 75. And with that victory, it's them an outside shot. If they could go to Indy and repeat on what they did here last year, that was certainly tied up to be within arm's length within the point swings. We call it going to Michelin Raceway Road Atlanta. But like you said, you never want to go to Petit Le Mans having to perform. You'd like it a little more comfort level. Let's check in with the winners in L. M. P. Two. The twenty twenty four GTP champion Dane Cameron. The new boss looks a lot like the old boss. Your fourth win here. Was this just a perfectly executed race by you and PJ? Yeah, about perfect, to be honest. Most for is great to get that first one out of the way. I didn't really love that. It felt like a gift, so I wanted to do it again and make sure there was there is no doubt what this team was capable of. So, yeah, honestly, couldn't be any better. My favorite kind of race. You get to the lead. You have to play with the fuel, run the pace. Yeah, spectacular. So proud of everybody here. PJ did an awesome job. Points now and let's see what happens. So you came in in second. Now you're going to leave unofficially with a championship standings. Has this team gone to another level because of the confidence from the win at Canada? Yeah, I think so. I mean, I think it's just that that self-doubt kind of gone until you get the first one. Right. So they were always a little short and trying to get over that hump is so hard sometimes. So everybody was just executing perfectly. There's you see that little bit of lightness that weight is off of everybody's shoulders now that they know they can do it. And now we proved again and again now that we can do it. So, you know, hopefully this carries forward to to go. Yeah, I'd love to get I'd love to get another one here. So some Luke, possibly a third generation racer. How would you describe Dad's performance and the win here today? I don't know. He's just he's just a good driver and I'd love to have him as my dad. Absolutely. I think the proudness even more. He loves to have Luke as his son. Emotion and victory lane. That's what this IMSA WeatherTech racing is all about. Love it. About family, that's for sure. So thank Cameron. Big hugs there. Big time celebrations they'll continue to celebrate. And from LMP to take a look at the points. Now, Daniel Goldberg, I don't think you did anything wrong at the start, but you sit back at your second guess a little bit. You go, maybe next time I wouldn't do that. Yeah, you got the championship lead. It was a bold move. Obviously, you got the little bump from George there. No penalty call. But you can see it's turned the championship upside down from a 78 point lead coming in now 100 markers plus heading to the next round at Indy. We said all the championships still wide open. They certainly are indeed in LMP two. Let's check in now with the winners in GTD Pro. We're still waiting for Madison Snow to get here, but he's been here, done that in IMSA. But for Neil Verhagen, it's the first when he gets a Paul Miller racing and BMW American kid. But you've raced a lot in Europe. What's the significance of this for you? Yeah, I mean, this is incredible. Obviously, first win here in IMSA. You know, Madison's got a couple under his belt. So I'm going to start trying to catch up. So it's been great to be working with him this year. And I mean, it feels so awesome. I felt like we had some momentum going our way in my sport with the pole and to pull off the win here is just phenomenal. And Madison, the 77 was out front. I didn't think they could make it, but they were trying. If they got a big yellow, were you getting a little bit worried about Rexy? For sure. I was worried. I mean, I was worried before that last step when there was 10 minutes or 15 minutes till a yellow. There was a lot of nervous moments in this race, but we had it played out. It was awesome. Congratulations. Now both of the Paul Miller racing BMWs have a win in GTD Pro this season. They do, and it mixes things up a little bit. Remember the problems that we saw for Corvette racing throughout the day. Garcia and Sims stay up top that lead 30 over Albert Costa right now. Even back to Rockefeller and Prio. This this championship is far from over. I would even say back as far as fifth and six. Mathematically, you could get it done. Remember, smaller fields in GTD Pro, so a little bit harder to make up that ground. But yeah, this is going to go all the way to seasons in. Let's check in now with Matt and our GTD winner. Cook and Triers. It sounds like a law office can walk us through how you set up and made the pass. Not a whole lot of time to spare to get the. Oh, man. Yeah. What a race. It was a blast, first of all, and extremely thankful to be a part of the TRC family here in a Ferrari 296. It was it was a hoot. Yeah, it was. It's definitely interesting understanding where the strengths and weaknesses are between between the manufacturers. And we had some bottom end, not quite the top, but the Corvette didn't have the bottom. I have the top. So when I when he got inside in the middle of the road there for five, got him to block a little bit. He just didn't get the run off. I got there and I was going. So we had a fun time. And yeah, very proud of this guy for can put it up there and qualifying and gave me a great car to race with. So you know what it was like to score your first win close at the gland. What does today mean to you with all the hard work that you have put into it up to this point? It means everything to us. I mean, the team couldn't deserve it more. We worked so hard to be here. We knew our time was coming. We just didn't know when and we just kept fighting for it. And it's the best feeling in the world. Best feeling in the world, indeed. And to do it at such a special racetrack in North America, road America. Yeah, they got three more opportunities to do it again. So we go to V. I. R. Then Indianapolis. Then Michelin Raceway Road Atlanta for Petit Lamar. Only the second time in this car for Kit Cook. What a great job he did. Here's a look at the points. Even with the problems that the Windward squad had, they still maintain the championship lead. 112 now over Hawksworth and Thompson. And that's the thing. The GTD class is so well subscribed that if you're deep, if your nearest competitors have a bad day, maybe it won't hurt so much. Casper Stephenson right there on the heels of Hawksworth and Thompson. So all four championships still very much alive as we look towards the final few races of the 2025 season. Stars cars. It's what the weather tech sports car championship is all about. Now be sure to join us Sunday, August 24th for the sports car weekend from Road America at two p.m. Eastern on USA streaming on Peacock.