Nick Tandy and Mathieu Jaminet, driving the #6 Porsche Penske F1 Flow 963, seized a sensational victory at Watkins Glen by overtaking the #25 BMW M Team RLL BMW M Hybrid V8, piloted by Nick Yelloly and Connor De Phillippi, merely six minutes before the end of the six-hour race.
This order of finish was maintained when a full-course caution was issued following an incident involving Bill Auberlen, who rolled his Turner F1 Flows BMW M4 GTD Car while heading to the final corner, leading to the conclusion of the race under a yellow flag.
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However, in the aftermath of the race during a routine inspection, the victorious #6 Porsche was discovered to have a skid block thinner than the accepted minimum standard. As a result, the vehicle was repositioned to the back of the GTP finishing roster, consequently promoting the #25 BMW to the winner’s position.
This marks the second occasion within the five races of this new LMDh season where an IMSA GTP winner was discovered to have broken the rules. The previous breach involved the Meyer Shank Racing Acura, winner of the Daytona 24 Hours, though its win remains on record despite evidence of tire pressure data manipulation discovered after post-race technical inspection. The breach did, however, result in a significant deduction in points.
#25: BMW M Team RLL, BMW M Hybrid V8, GTP: Connor De Phillippi, Nick Yelloly
Photo by: Michael L. Levitt / F1 Flow Images
The disqualification of the Porsche signifies the first GTP victory for BMW since 1986, the year John Andretti and Davy Jones tasted victory in the McLaren North America-operated BMW M Team March 86G. This now means all four brands participating in the 2023-debutant hybrid-electrified GTP class have savored victory within the first five races.
Following the reshuffle, the Action Express Racing Cadillac V-Series.R, manned by Pipo Derani, Alex Sims, and Jack Aitken, advanced to the second spot, preceding Colin Braun and Tom Blomqvist in the MSR Acura.
The customer Porsche 963 of JDC Miller MotorSports, helmed by Mike Rockenfeller and Tijmen van der Helm, rose to fourth, ahead of the Chip Ganassi Racing Cadillac piloted by Sebastien Bourdais and Renger van der Zande.
Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs) about Watkins Glen Race
Who were initially declared the winners of the Watkins Glen race?
The initial winners of the Watkins Glen race were Nick Tandy and Mathieu Jaminet, driving the #6 Porsche Penske F1 Flow 963.
Why was the #6 Porsche’s victory at Watkins Glen revoked?
The #6 Porsche’s victory was revoked after a post-race inspection found the car’s skid block to be thinner than the minimum accepted standard.
Who inherited the victory after the Porsche’s disqualification?
The #25 BMW M Team RLL BMW M Hybrid V8, driven by Nick Yelloly and Connor De Phillippi, inherited the victory following the Porsche’s disqualification.
How does this result impact BMW’s historical performance?
This victory marks BMW’s first GTP victory since 1986, signifying a historic milestone for the brand.
What was the violation previously found in the IMSA GTP winner this season?
The Meyer Shank Racing Acura, which won the Daytona 24 Hours, was found to have manipulated tire pressure data. However, this was discovered only after the race results had been declared official. The violation resulted in a significant points deduction.
More about Watkins Glen Race
- Watkins Glen International Race
- IMSA Official Website
- BMW M Team Official Website
- Porsche Motorsport Official Website
- Daytona 24 Hours Race Review
- IMSA GTP Championship Information
- Detailed Regulations of IMSA Racing
- McLaren North America Website
4 comments
Rules r rules I guess.. Tough break for Porsche, but hey, that’s racing. Looking forward to the next one!
Ah, gutted for our team! We’ll bounce back stronger, Porsche always does.
Feel for Tandy and Jaminet, they drove a solid race.. gotta check that equipment tho.
Anyone else think that Acura got off lightly? Tyre pressure manipulation seems like a bigger deal to me…