BMW ends IMSA season with triumph and breakthrough at Petit Le Mans

BMW ended the 2025 IMSA WeatherTech SportsCar Championship with a mix of celebrations and atmosphere at Road Atlanta. It was a big evening for Paul Miller Racing with a commanding victory in the GTD PRO class and the title in the 2025 IMSA Michelin Endurance Cup. However, for BMW M Team RLL the night was bittersweet.

The race was an emotional finale for BMW M Team RLL, which concluded its 17-year partnership with BMW M Motorsport. The #24 BMW M Hybrid V8 was on track for a strong top-four finish until a late puncture dropped it to ninth place. The sister car with starting number 25 came in eleventh with two drive-through penalties. Despite the results, both cars showed real pace and highlighted the competitiveness of the M Hybrid V8 in its final outing with Rahal Letterman Lanigan Racing.

After nearly two decades of collaboration, the collaboration between BMW and RLL has produced 25 victories, more than 100 podiums and a long history of success in the GT and Prototype era. From 2026, the factory GTP program will transfer to the BMW M Team WRT, marking a new phase in BMW’s endurance racing strategy at the highest level.

In contrast to the heartbreak in GTP, Paul Miller Racing’s day was virtually flawless. Harper, who secured pole position for the second year in a row, led the field while the #48 BMW M4 GT3 EVO dominated from start to finish. Thanks to a flawless race and team performance, the trio’s victory gave them a comfortable lead – an exclamation point for the first IMSA season, in which the young duo Harper and Hesse immediately gained a foothold in the American endurance scene.

“Petit Le Mans is one of the most difficult races to win,” said Hesse. “The fact that we did it at the first attempt and also won the Endurance Cup title is incredible.” Harper echoed that sentiment, adding: “It was a perfect race. The car doesn’t have a scratch – unusual for a 10-hour race at Road Atlanta.”

BMW M Motorsport boss Andreas Roos praised the team’s performance and looked back on RLL’s last appearance. “Congratulations to Paul Miller Racing, Dan Harper, Max Hesse and Connor De Phillippi on a fantastic victory and title win. Unfortunately, things didn’t go as we had hoped in the GTP class. For nine hours and fifty minutes we were on the way to second place in the overall standings, but luck wasn’t on our side. However, I would like to warmly thank BMW M Team RLL for their commitment and loyalty over so many years thank you.”

Turner Motorsport rounded out BMW’s performance in the GTD category with Robby Foley, Patrick Gallagher and Jake Walker finishing eighth in class after a clean, if uneventful, run.

Petit Le Mans often brings both glory and heartache, and this year was no exception. For BMW, it was an evening celebrating the next generation of endurance talent while also concluding one of the longest and most successful partnerships in modern racing.

2026 will usher in a new era with BMW M Team WRT leading the GTP program – armed with the lessons, spirit and momentum RLL has built over almost two decades. And for Harper, Hesse and Paul Miller Racing, their story is just beginning.