Riding Momentum, Eng Looks to Repeat IMSA Win at Indy
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By Dennis Krause
There’s no question that the No. 24 BMW M Team RLL Hybrid V8 driven by Philipp Eng and Dries Vanthoor has been fast this season in the Grand Touring Prototype (GTP) class of the IMSA WeatherTech SportsCar Championship. But converting its one-lap pace into race wins has been an issue.
Coming off last month’s win at Elkhart Lake’s Road America, Eng feels good about this weekend’s TireRack.com Battle on the Bricks at the Indianapolis Motor Speedway road course as the team looks to repeat its Indy win of a year ago and to make a run at the GTP championship, despite being down 181-points to Mathieu Jaminet and Matt Campbell in the No. 6 Porsche Penske Motorsports Porsche 963.
“Yeah, where we've had really good momentum. I think we've had a strong first part of the season, especially in qualifying, but then to convert the strong qualifying results into a victory and to more podium positions in Laguna Seca, Detroit and Long Beach was really good. Unfortunately, we lacked a bit of execution, let's say of the races, and that's why we are 180 points behind our friends from Stuttgart.
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“Nevertheless, we believe that our car is really strong,” said Eng. “I think as a team, we've progressed a lot during the progress of the season, and our goal is definitely to win the championship. It will not be easy, because the competition, I think, especially in IMSA, across all classes, is insanely high. And it's so cool to be part of of that era of sports car racing.
“We at BMW, we feel strong, we feel confident. From a driver perspective, I can tell you that the car feels feels really good, especially in the last event at Road America. We had really good pace. We had really good drivability. And I hope we can convert that aspect into a very good end of the season, which would mean to win both remaining races. And we need some luck in the end, because 180 points in this championship is a lot, but we are certainly not giving up. We will fight very hard as a team.”
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Eng, and co-driver at the time Jesse Krohn, won last year’s Indy race that saw rain and then drying conditions, to claim BMW’s second win of ‘24 in the GTP class. Like those who win at Indy, both in the 500 and Brickyard 400, it was a major achievement for the Austrian driver - one that he’d like to repeat.
“I was over the moon, and I still am, when I think about this race, because it was such an up and down of emotions - we're at the front, we're at the back,” reflected Eng. “So it was a race which was very, very hectic, but we managed it very well together as a team, also my teammate last year, Jesse Krohn, he did an incredible job keeping the car on track with with slicks when it was drying up, and that all contributed to a very successful day. And I will never forget this day. I think it's, it's a very special feeling to win at at Indianapolis, and I really hope that we can win again this year.
“That's, the clear goal, because it's such a fantastic track. I personally like it. It's very technical, and it's quite a bit different to, you know, Road America, our last race, where it's all high speed, it's all medium speed. You really need to, you know, I always feel you have to grab the steering wheel and squeeze everything out that there is in the high speed corners and in Indy, it's more about being delicate, being calm on the steering wheel, calm on your inputs.
“But nevertheless, I enjoy the track, and I would really like to relive that moment from from the win last year.”
Not only would a repeat win at the Brickyard be special for Eng, it would serve as a tribute to team co-owner Bobby Rahal and his Indianapolis-based team, as BMW M Motorsport will be moving its IMSA program to a different team in 2026.
“Yeah, it's my 10th season with the team,” noted Eng. “My first race was Daytona 2018 with the M8 GTLM, first ever race of that race car. I have a very emotional connection to that car and to that team, because it was the first time I was really involved in a proper works environment.
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“With BMW and RLL, we’ve won Daytona together [Grand Touring Le Mans in 2019] and we've had some great success in GTP,” Eng continued. “I've had a really good time during the M8 program. It really made me a better driver, because I got to experience what it means to race for a works team, and not only try and drive as fast as possible around in circles, but also to be trying and lead a team and leading a direction in the development of a race car, which was the first time for me.
“So looking back at the 10 years, it's been extremely helpful making me a better race driver. And it's such a privilege to be racing for Bobby Rahal. He's a legend. He's a legend, not only as a team owner, but he's a legend as a racing driver. And I respect him so much for everything he has achieved, maybe as a race driver, but also as a team owner. And I've made so many good friends in the last 10 years with mechanics, engineers, with Bobby and the management team.
“So I don't want to think about end of race Petit Le Mans, because it will be definitely a little bit emotional.”
While no announcement has been made regarding next year’s BMW lineup, Eng is hopeful to stay with the manufacturer.
“Well, we have to wait and see,” said Eng. “I think it's still quite early, but yeah, my goal is always to be racing at the top level. And IMSA is the top level for me, together, obviously, with WEC [World Endurance Championship].
“But yeah, I feel that I'm really enjoying myself in IMSA. I think it's a very good match. Maybe it's because of Arnold Schwarzenegger, being Austrian, has left some some footprints in in the United States. But I really like the country. I really like the racing in IMSA. I like the people. And my goal is definitely to be back in 2026.”
Dennis Krause has spent decades covering all forms of motorsports, including over 40 Indianapolis 500s, with stints at WIBA Radio, PIT PASS - Radio’s Premier Motorsports Magazine and Motorsports Minute. Follow him on X @DennisKrause500 or motorsportsminute.bluesky.social or motorsportsminute on Threads or MotorsportsMinute+ on Facebook.