IMSA Laguna Seca: 5 things to look out for

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The IMSA WeatherTech SportsCar Championship storms into the sun-soaked hills of Monterey County, California, where the iconic WeatherTech Raceway Laguna Seca awaits with its two-year-old repaved surface and legendary twists.

With sand-swept straights and the infamous Corkscrew primed to test the limits of man and machine, round four is shaping up to be a high-stakes chess match. As teams fine-tune their strategies and push for every last tenth,

I’ve zeroed in on five key storylines to watch, five threads that could define a weekend poised for drama, grit, and unforgettable moments on one of North America’s most challenging circuits.

Can BMW overcome issues to finally challenge Porsche?

If there’s one thing that’s become undeniable in 2025, it’s this: BMW’s V8 Hybrid package has found its stride—and then some. After a rocky introduction just two years ago, the Munich marque has come roaring back with blistering pace, locking out every pole position to start the season. The speed is there. The intent is clear.

But raw pace doesn’t win championships. Execution does. And that’s where BMW has faltered. Costly pit lane miscues and on-track incidents have repeatedly undercut their potential.

Team owner Bobby Rahal didn’t mince words when speaking to Only Endurance, acknowledging the setbacks while making it clear the team has tightened the screws. With lessons learned and momentum building, BMW looks poised to mount a serious challenge to Porsche’s early-season dominance.

'We've seen Dries' [Vanthoor] pace in qualifying, and he's obviously the fastest guy out there; that's been a plus. After Long Beach, we've highlighted areas we need to focus on, pit lane in particular. 

'I think we're going to come to Laguna Seca with some more things on that front. It's just a constant state of trying to improve, not just the car but ourselves.'

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Laguna Seca repave

The 2024 season ushered in a new era for WeatherTech Raceway Laguna Seca, as the iconic circuit underwent a dramatic facelift in 2023. A fresh layer of asphalt smoothed out the once-brutal surface, and added runoff in Turns 5 and 6 brought a modern touch to a historic layout.

Once infamous for shredding tires like a cheese grater, the newly repaved track delivered newfound grip—and with it, some of the most compelling racing the circuit has seen in years.

But in California, time and heat are ruthless. As teams prepare for battle this weekend, the track presents more questions than answers. Grip levels, tire wear, and strategy are all moving targets, making Laguna Seca a beautifully unpredictable wildcard in the heart of the championship chase.

Can the Fords bring the fight to AO Racing?

After a rough opening act at the Rolex 24, AO Racing has flipped the script on their 2025 campaign with a run of form that demands attention. Their GTD Pro triumph at the 12 Hours of Sebring served notice, and they doubled down with a hard-fought win in Long Beach—this time in the GTD class—outdueling Vasser Sullivan Racing in a street fight that proved they can win in any setting, any class.

While AO Racing is the talk of the paddock, it was Multimatic Motorsports who laid down the season’s first marker with a masterclass at Daytona. A dominant GTD Pro win, a third-place from their second car, and a pole position underscored the kind of operational excellence that defines champions.

Now, as the championship caravan heads west to Laguna Seca, the standings are tight and the stakes are rising. AO is closing in on Multimatic’s lead entry, but the battle is far from binary. Multimatic’s second car is lurking just 36 points back from the championship lead.

There’s one more wrinkle worth watching. Laurin Heinrich, now spearheading AO’s charge, knows this track well. He won at Laguna Seca last season alongside Sebastian Priaulx, who now sits fourth in the title hunt—this time wearing Multimatic colors. It's a collision course layered with history, form, and a whole lot of unfinished business.

Winward Racing's quiet consistency is key to their championship lead

Winward Racing has quietly built one of the most consistent resumes of the 2025 IMSA season, stringing together results that speak louder than headlines. A hard-earned fourth place at the Rolex 24 set the tone, followed by a commanding victory at the 12 Hours of Sebring that solidified their status as true GTD contenders. Their fourth-place finish at Long Beach may not have grabbed the spotlight, but it came with an asterisk—trailing only the two Vasser Sullivan Racing entries, who were doubling up in the GTD ranks and AO Racing who also dropped down a class to compete.

That kind of steady form is no accident. Winward’s strength lies not just in outright speed but in execution—sharp strategy calls, clean pit work, and a driver lineup of Philip Ellis and Russell Ward that delivers under pressure.

Can Anyone Dethrone Porsche?

It’s the question echoing through every paddock and press room this season—repeated often, but still unanswered: can anyone stop Porsche?

Three rounds into the 2025 campaign, the German powerhouse has been untouchable when it counts, sweeping the race wins with a clinical mix of pace, precision, and poise.

BMW, armed with a blisteringly fast V8 Hybrid, has claimed every pole position to date—proving they can be quickest over one lap—but race day has told a different story. Execution has lagged behind ambition, and while the team insists they're closing the gap, the scoreboard remains one-sided.

But perhaps the real threat to Porsche's stranglehold is quietly mounting from within the Cadillac camp. While Wayne Taylor Racing has stumbled in its return to the General Motors stable, Action Express Racing has emerged as a model of consistency.

Led by the ever-impressive Jack Aitken, the No. 31 Whelen Engineering Cadillac has quietly stacked up finishes of ninth and fourth, twice—enough to sit third in the championship and well within striking distance.

They haven't stolen the headlines yet—but if momentum means anything in this game, Action Express might just be the sleeper poised to wake the giants.

Laguna Seca isn’t just another stop on the calendar—it’s a turning point. With title fights tightening, Porsche’s reign under threat, and a freshly repaved circuit full of unknowns, this weekend promises to shake up the championship. Expect drama, surprises, and, perhaps, a new narrative by Sunday’s checkered flag.