In a race crammed with drama, technique, and nail-biting finishes, BMW M Crew WRT delivered a standout efficiency within the second spherical of the 2025 FIA World Endurance Championship (WEC) at Imola. An incredible racing technique took the #20 BMW M Hybrid V8 from thirteenth on the grid to a spectacular second-place end, whereas the #46 BMW M4 GT3 EVO narrowly missed out on victory in LMGT3, settling for second.
Hypercar Heroics: From Injury to Podium
The Autodromo Enzo e Dino Ferrari hosted a chaotic and charming “6 Hours of Imola,” the place racecraft and pitwall precision formed the end result. The #20 BMW M Hybrid V8, pushed by Robin Frijns, René Rast, and Sheldon van der Linde, confronted adversity early. A collision involving Rast, deemed a racing incident, severely broken the automobile’s rear wing. The WRT crew executed a full rear part substitute through the pit cease in report time, minimizing the setback.
Regardless of the incident, BMW’s tempo steadily improved, and a daring resolution to short-fuel through the penultimate cease paid off. Van der Linde unleashed a collection of qualifying-speed laps to construct a buffer, enabling the group to regain observe place throughout others’ remaining stops. The technique elevated them to P2 by the end, simply 8.4 seconds behind the profitable #51 Ferrari 499P of James Calado, Antonio Giovinazzi, and Alessandro Pier Guidi.
BMW’s second entry, the #15 M Hybrid V8 shared by Kevin Magnussen, Raffaele Marciello, and Dries Vanthoor, began robust from third on the grid. It held that place till the ultimate hour, however a drop in efficiency noticed them fade to sixth by the checkered flag.
LMGT3: Rossi’s Heartbreaker, Van der Linde’s Cost
Within the LMGT3 class, BMW was once more within the thick of the motion. The #46 BMW M4 GT3 EVO, piloted by Ahmad Al Harthy, Valentino Rossi, and Kelvin van der Linde, began from pole and led for vital parts of the race. Al Harthy delivered a flawless opening stint, and Rossi dazzled in entrance of his dwelling crowd with assured, aggressive driving. Nonetheless, an tried overtake on the #21 Ferrari led to contact and a pricey stop-go penalty for WRT.
Undeterred, van der Linde launched a surprising comeback within the closing phases. In a remaining stint, he chased down the main #92 Manthey EMA Porsche and pressured Richard Lietz all the way in which to the end line. The margin? Simply 0.3 seconds—one of many tightest finishes in WEC LMGT3 historical past. In the meantime, the sister #31 BMW M4 GT3 EVO, which scored a podium in Qatar, had a irritating race marred by incidents and penalties, ultimately ending in twelfth place.
Ferrari Victorious on Residence Soil, Alpine Completes Podium
Whereas BMW celebrated a hard-fought podium, it was Ferrari’s day at dwelling. The #51 AF Corse Ferrari 499P claimed its first win since Le Mans 2023, holding off late challenges because of sharp technique and robust tyre administration within the remaining hours. Alpine, working the A424 with Jules Gounon, Mick Schumacher, and Frédéric Makowiecki, completed third—marking their finest WEC outcome but and finishing a various, multi-manufacturer podium.
