BMW M Team RLL Look To Convert Poles To Race Wins
Photo: Perry Nelson/IMSA LAT Images
By Dennis Krause
There’s no denying the BMW M Team RLL BMW M Hybrid V8 GTP entries in IMSA’s WeatherTech SportsCar Championship have been fast. Dries Vanthoor, driver of the No. 24 car, has won the pole for all three races so far this season. It’s converting those poles into race wins that’s been the issue.
Heading into this weekend’s TireRack.com Monterey SportsCar Championship at WeatherTech Raceway Laguna Seca, team co-owner Bobby Rahal says the team is continuing to work on the little things that have prevented it from beating Porsche Penske Motorsport, the winner of all three races to date.
“You know, you're just trying to improve the car in all ways, trying things. We’ve learned more about the car this year. I think that learning process really took some speed last year about halfway through the year. And then we saw the benefits of that at Indianapolis, where we won. And then, at Petit Le Mans, where we were in the hunt for the lead right to the bitter end.
“It really came in over the winter time, I think, with a better sense of what we need to do to the car to get it to where we want it to go.
“Of course, this year we've been very fortunate. BMW has given us a great driver lineup. I mean, we've seen Dries' pace in qualifying. He's obviously the fastest guy out there, so that's been a plus.
“Long Beach highlighted some areas maybe of where we need to focus a bit more of our efforts in pit lane, in particular. And I think we're going to come into Laguna Seca with some new things on that front. So, it's just a constant state of trying to improve, not just the car, but of ourselves.
“And so, that's why I think the Laguna track really, especially since they repaved it, I think that's kind of come into our wheelhouse a bit, frankly, I mean, the car's been fast since they've done that. So have others as well. But let's face it, I think it's somehow, for us it's kind of been more of a benefit maybe and that's why the pace has been so good. I'm excited about the upcoming week and looking forward to good things.”
Photo: Richard Dole/IMSA LAT Photo USA
Winning has taken on extra importance as Rahal is in negotiations with BMW to continue the partnership in 2026 and beyond, one that began back in the American Le Mans Series days. Rahal says his focus is on trying to win this weekend, not worrying about next year.
“I don't want to get into the specifics of that but we're obviously hoping to continue this long relationship that we've had with BMW that's dated back to 2008. I know there’s been some of these articles and a lot of guessing and a lot of speculation but I think for us there's three quarters of the season left and for us, it’s all about, and I can tell you I think for BMW Motorsport, it's the same thing, everybody's just really focused on this coming race, Laguna Seca, and the race after that, and after that, and after that, there's a lot of racing left.
“I think it’s premature to get too far into that. Obviously, having a podium this past (race at Long Beach), regardless of how disappointing it was to be on the front row and then lose out during a pit stop, having a podium is a nice start. That's a good little bump for the team, especially after the disappointments of Sebring, Daytona.”
One of the technical challenges the Rahal team has is working with BMW Motorsport on decision-making efficiency, especially given the size of the teams and number of personnel in the GTP hybrid era. For Rahal, it’s important that both groups act as one, and not two.
“We've worked with many of the people who are on the motorsport side (that) have been with us for the last, you know, some of them been for quite a while, I mean, over five, six years, seven years maybe. There are some areas where we have newer people because the systems in the cars are different. In fact, I even say maybe we've had people for 10 years. So there's good communication between the two groups.
“You try to do everything you can to try to operate as one group and that just comes from working closely with each other and you just got that sense of teamwork and communication and humility and everything else that goes into it. I mean, the competition is not between each other, it's with the other people out there, right?
"So how do you best achieve that, and working to get everybody to work together seamlessly? I think, for the most part, we're pretty good in our regard. There's always going to be differences of opinion about certain things, but for the most part, I think it's pretty nominal and I think that during the race there's all this communication going on back and forth about all the potentials. What if this happens? What if that happens? Trying to figure out what you want to do in advance of something happening.
“And I think, one of the things we together have worked very hard on is creating a good vibe, a good communication within the organization, within the team, so that we act as one, not as two.”
Photo: Jake Galstad/IMSA LAT Images
Rahal, who will serve as Grand Marshall at Laguna Seca, feels he has strengthened his team with the recent addition of former INDYCAR president Jay Frye (above), who replaces Steve Erickson as RLL president.
“Jay brings so much experience from all types of racing,” commented Rahal, “not just INDYCAR, but NASCAR, and as the guy who led the Red Bull NASCAR team for so many years and worked with Mr. (Rick) Hendrick and others. I mean, Jay just brings a wealth of knowledge. And I think he brings a different perspective having worked with manufacturers as well.
“We're really pleased to have him. And right now he's kind of drinking from a fire hose of all things RLL related. But I'm really pleased we were able to get Jay to join the group and feel very confident that he's going to lead us to good things.”
What does Frye add to the team that it might have been missing? According to Rahal, it goes back to experience and perspective.
“Steve Erickson did a very good job for us and I think that needs to be said. However, I think that Jay brings different perspective, different level of experience and as I say, various categories, various positions - obviously, with INDYCAR, a lot of experience dealing with manufacturers.
“And to a tee, I think everybody was very complimentary of his skills (when the announcement was made) and what he would bring. And I think we're just in the beginnings of that, of those benefits that he can bring to us. So, I just think it's a different kind of, I think maybe a different perspective, maybe the best way of saying it.
“Whether it's him starting, playing all four years in Missouri in college football, or to where he's been through all these other teams, there's just a great sense of building teamwork. And I think that's something that you could never have enough of in motor racing, or any sport for that matter.
“IMSA is maybe a little bit newer for him,” Rahal continued. “But, you know, he's dealt with many of the people within the IMSA organization. John Doonan, (IMSA president) they worked side by side on a lot of things with ACCUS and the FIA.
“I think that maybe on the specifics, I've tried to feed him as much of the history of our relationship with BMW and with IMSA, for that matter. There's only so many hours in a day, so consequently, it makes for busy days, but he's a sharp guy, and I think that, okay, maybe this will be his second IMSA race, at least with us, but (he’s) learning quickly.
“I expect that the relationships that he's built with people at Dallara, for example, who builds a chassis for BMW, that’s a positive, a lot of experience there. I think you have to look beyond just the obvious and look into all the relationships with Xtrac, all the vendors. And I really do believe that it'll be a short learning curve for Jay.”
As far as the future with BMW Motorsport goes, Rahal says there is a one way to make sure it continues.
“We go win some races and that solves a lot of problems. That's what we're intending to do.”
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.