Both BMWs Penalized; Corvette Inherits GTLM Pole

BMW Team RLL has lost its GT Le Mans class pole position for the IMSA Road Race Showcase at Road America after a post-qualifying scrutineering check.

The No. 25 BMW M8 GTE’s ride height was found to be non-compliant with the 50mm limit stated in the WeatherTech Championship technical regulations, warranting a penalty to send it to the back of the class grid.

This came after Tom Blomqvist set a new class lap record around the four-mile Road America circuit to pace the GTLM qualifying session on Saturday afternoon.

BMW’s sister No. 24 car, which was qualified on the second row of the grid by Jesse Krohn, has also been sent to the back for the same infraction.

It means the No. 4 Chevrolet Corvette C7.R will start from pole position after Oliver Gavin initially qualified second-quickest with a time of 2:00.633.

Gavin will be joined on the front row of the class grid by Ryan Briscoe in the No. 67 Ford GT, while the sister No. 66 Chip Ganassi-run Ford will start third.

Dirk Mueller is set to share row two with the No. 912 Porsche 911 RSR of championship leaders Laurens Vanthoor and Earl Bamber.