IMSA: Vanthoor masterclass at Laguna Seca puts pressure on Porsche

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Coming into the Monterey weekend, the big question hanging in the California air was simple: if BMW could just keep it clean, what could they really do? I mean, four poles in a row, including right here at Laguna Seca—that's shouting something, right?

You couldn't help but wonder if they were finally ready to turn that raw speed into a trip to the top step of the podium.

Then came the inevitable hand of the Balance of Performance, a familiar equalizer in this competitive grid. The previously untouchable Porsche 963, a paragon of early-season dominance, was dealt a significant blow—a substantial 14.7 horsepower reduction in its initial power delivery.

While its minimum weight remained static at 1049 kg, a mere 0.5 percent increase in second-stage power felt like a polite nod in the face of a blunted weapon.

Across the garage, the BMW M Hybrid V8 faced its own adjustments. A six-kilogram weight increase was coupled with a 6.7 horsepower boost in the initial surge.

Dries Vanthoor: BMW's not-so-secret weapon

Enter Dries Vanthoor. The young Belgian, a blur of talent and aggression, seemed determined to wring every last tenth from his machine. Tasked with a herculean effort, he took the reins from Philip Eng with less than 45 minutes remaining in the sprint, a daunting 12-second chasm separating him from the leading Porsche Penske Motorsports duo.

BMW M Team RLL’s strategic roll of the dice—another driver swap to unleash their undisputed ace—was a clear statement of intent. What followed was a masterclass in high-speed pursuit.

Vanthoor, relentless and precise, hunted down the Porsches; his presence brought strong pressure on the Porsches. Victory ultimately eluded him, but it wasn’t without trying.

In the final corner, Vanthoor lunged for second, aiming to unsettle championship rival Nicky Tandy. A moment of hesitation from Tandy, caught behind lapped traffic, proved pivotal.

Contact was made, sending Vanthoor spearing into the gravel trap. While Vanthoor didn’t come away with a win, he left Laguna Seca with a strong statement: that BMW and RLL are hot on Porsche's heels.

'“It was a good race,' said Tandy afterwards.

'It wasn’t filled with caution and everybody stopping together which makes it a bit more open with strategy.

'It got a bit tight towards the end when the BMW was coming, and we had to push a bit harder through traffic. Overall, I had fun.'

For Porsche, raw speed had been their constant companion throughout the race. It makes you wonder what the order might have been if the #6 Porsche Penske entry hadn't executed an undercut at the first round of stops, to leapfrog their teammates.

WTR learning more about Cadillac

Further back, the Cadillacs and the Acuras clearly did not have the same pace as the Porsches's and Vanthoor's BMW. Unfortunately for Wayne Taylor Racing, their qualifying pace over a single lap did not translate into race pace.

That said, WTR's drivers think they're making progress with adapting to the Cadillac.

'I think we’re making progress generally with the car. We’ve gotten glimpses of where we really want to be. Unfortunately today, the pieces didn’t fall into place, but I think we had a stronger qualifying.

'We seem to be figuring out what makes the car go fast and what we need from the car to perform. I think it’s just a matter of putting it together a bit more and take it to the other guys.'

Late switch to Vanthoor the right call

Crucially, BMW M Team RLL did not stumble. Their pit stops were flawless, their on-track conduct disciplined amidst the swirling chaos. Their gamble on Vanthoor, while perhaps costing them precious seconds in the exchange, was undeniably the right strategic call.

No disrespect to the extremely capable and rapid Philipp Eng, but currently is Vanthoor operating on another planet.

While the top step of the podium remained out of reach, BMW M Team RLL left Laguna Seca with their heads held high. They executed flawlessly. And if the Porsche Penske Motorsports team weren't already looking over their shoulders, they certainly are now.

The gloves are off, and the battle for the 2025 IMSA WeatherTech SportsCar Championship has just intensified.

See the full results from the race on the IMSA website, and the race replay on IMSA's YouTube channel.