Abu Dhabi. BMW M Team WRT concluded the 2023 season in the
Intercontinental GT Challenge (IGTC) with another podium finish. At
the Gulf 12 Hours in Abu Dhabi (UAE), the #46 BMW M4 GT3 fought for
victory to the finish line. After twelve hours of racing on the Yas
Marina Circuit, Valentino Rossi (ITA), Dries Vanthoor (BEL), and
Nick Yelloly (GBR) secured second place with only a twelve-second
gap. The #32 BMW M4 GT3, driven by Philipp Eng (AUT), Sheldon van
der Linde (RSA), and Charles Weerts (BEL), fell back in the field
after the first third of the race due to an exhaust issue and
finished in 14th place overall (ninth in IGTC ranking). In the IGTC
manufacturer standings, BMW ended the season in second place, while
in the driver standings, Vanthoor, Eng, and van der Linde secured
positions three, four, and five.
From fourth place on the grid, Vanthoor in the #46 BMW M4 GT3
immediately moved up to third place after the start. Thanks to the
strong performance of all three drivers and the team’s clever
strategic work, the #46 car quickly joined the battle at the front.
After seven and a half hours, Rossi took the lead at the end of a
longer FCY (Full Course Yellow) and safety car period. He maintained
that position throughout his entire one-hour stint and handed over the
#46 in the lead to Yelloly. However, a problem with the pedal box cost
a few seconds during the pit stop, and car #46 slipped back to second
place. In the remaining hours of the race, the crew continued to push
and kept the fight for the win alive until the end.
The #32 BMW M4 GT3 was also promisingly positioned in the first third
of the race. However, after four hours of racing, an issue with the
exhaust necessitated a brief repair in the pit and car #32 returned to
the track several laps behind. Eng, van der Linde, and Weerts then
drove a smooth race, gaining positions again. However, the gap was too
large to re-enter the fight for the top positions.
Reactions after the Gulf 12 Hours.
Vincent Vosse (Team Principal BMW M Team WRT): “Of
course, when you come to a race it’s always with the goal to win. And
we don’t see it another way. We got close to it with car #46.
Finishing a 12-hour race 12 seconds behind the leader after we had the
technical issue with that car at a pit stop losing 15 seconds or so
feels a bit bitter-sweet, but at the end we had a strong race. The #32
unfortunately had an exhaust issue that cost us a few laps and we
could never really come back with that car. We did the job. Finishing
second in the manufacturers and finishing the race second is not
exactly what we like but this makes us stronger for next year.”
Valentino Rossi (#46 BMW M4 GT3): “At the end, it was
a great weekend for us. The target was to make it to the podium and we
were very strong, very fast. We had a close to perfect race. We could
have also won and have been in P1. So in the end we are a little bit
upset because we felt the taste of the victory but we had an issue
with the pedal box and lost crucial seconds at the pit stop. This is a
great shame because in the end we missed it by 12 seconds so it could
have been a fantastic battle to the last lap. But anyway, it’s great,
the car was very strong, the teamwork was as always very good and I
enjoyed it a lot to race with Dries and Nick. It is great to finish
the season with a podium. It is the sixth podium of the season. So I
am very happy about this season and about the improvement.”
Dries Vanthoor (#46 BMW M4 GT3): “We finished second
at the end at the Gulf 12 Hours. I think we can be happy with the
result starting from P4. We had a good weekend and our car was
actually really good. So from that aspect we can be very happy, I must
say. It’s just a pity to end up second, missing out on first by only
12 seconds. But I gave it all in my double stint, I think I never gave
so much so I can be happy.”
Nick Yelloly (#46 BMW M4 GT3): “After the long
12-hour race we managed to finish in P2. We can be super happy about
that. It was a great, long, hard fought race. It’s been a pleasure to
work with BMW M Team WRT for the first time in our BMW M4 GT3 and also
with Vale, a real legend, as well as Dries, who is also a legend.
Everyone did a great job over the entire 12 hours and to come away
with a podium is obviously really good for us all.”
Philipp Eng (#32 BMW M4 GT3): “It was, of course,
disappointing that we had the technical issue. It cost us several
laps, and thus, the championship battle was essentially over. However,
we had a good package here, and the car performed well. The highlight
of the season was, of course, the victory at Spa. Additionally, there
was the win at Indianapolis and the podium at Kyalami. I wasn’t
personally present at the season opener at Bathurst. Therefore, it was
fantastic to be in the title fight until the last race in this highly
competitive field despite one race less. But, in the end, it wasn’t
meant to be. I gave it my all, and I can only express my gratitude to
BMW M Team WRT, ROWE Racing, and all my teammates. I’ve driven with
many of them in different combinations this season. Thanks to Marco
(Wittmann), Nick, Dries, Sheldon, Charles, Maxime (Martin), and
Augusto (Farfus). And thanks to BMW M Motorsport for the trust. It was
a cool season!”
