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Krohn Added to BMW Team RLL Lineup

Jesse Krohn joins BMW Team RLL alongside De Phillippi, Edwards, Sims…

Photo: Vision Sport Agency

Jesse Krohn will compete with BMW Team RLL in the IMSA WeatherTech SportsCar Championship next year, joining Connor De Phillippi and returning drivers John Edwards and Alexander Sims.

The Finnish driver replaces Martin Tomczyk in the lineup, who has been moved to the manufacturer’s FIA World Endurance Championship program.

Philipp Eng, Augusto Farfus, Bill Auberlen and Nicky Catsburg will join the IMSA lineup for the endurance races.

Only Sims and Edwards remain in the lineup from the 2017 season, with De Phillippi, who was confirmed last month, effectively taking the seat of Auberlen, who will return for endurance races while becoming a BMW North America brand ambassador.

Krohn, a former BMW junior driver, has raced the BMW M6 GT3 in several series this year, including the Asian Le Mans Series, Blancpain GT Series and most notably the WeatherTech Championship.

He won the GT Daytona class at Road America in August, driving Turner Motorsport’s car alongside Jens Klingmann.

“The commitment in North America remains a central pillar of the BMW Motorsport racing programme in 2018,” commented BMW Motorsport director Jens Marquardt.

“In Connor De Phillippi, we have brought another absolute GT specialist into the team. I am also pleased to see our former BMW Motorsport Junior Jesse Krohn promoted to the works program.

“At this point, I would like to once again express my respect for Bill Auberlen. No other driver has been as closely associated with BMW as he has. 400 races for one manufacturer – that is unique.

“It is nice to have him on board at the big races again in 2018.”

The BMW M8 GTE will make its race debut in the Rolex 24 at Daytona next month.

Jake Kilshaw is a UK-based journalist. He is a graduate of Politics and International Relations.

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