Eng Credits WRT’s Strategic “Masterclass” for Second Place

Photo: Mike Levitt/IMSA

Philipp Eng credited Team WRT’s strategic “masterclass” for delivering a second consecutive IMSA WeatherTech SportsCar Championship podium result for the No. 25 BMW M Hybrid V8.

Eng and co-driver Marco Wittmann finished second in Saturday’s Chevrolet Detroit Sports Car Classic, a race dominated by the No. 31 Action Express Racing Cadillac V-Series.R, but saw the two final podium positions in GTP taken by overcut strategies in the 100-minute race.

While having started fourth, Wittmann dropped several positions early in the running, which ultimately put the Belgian squad on an alternative strategy in running long into the the German driver’s opening stint.

It was the last of the GTP runners to make its one-and-only scheduled stop, on Lap 35, which required a significantly shorter energy fill with only 56 minutes remaining in the race.

By comparison, the winning Cadillac pitted ten minutes earlier.

“The first couple of laps, were pretty tricky,” said Wittmann. “I suffered quite a lot to get the front [tires] in [temperature] and actually lost a couple of positions.

“From there on, I decided to save as much energy as possible. At the end, I think the team made a great strategy call to do the over[cut] in going long.

“Obviously with their energy save, we had a shorter stop once we switched to Philipp and I think that was one of the key parts to bringing us back in the game.

“Then Philipp just did an amazing job to bring it home in P2.

“In the beginning it didn’t look that good but to be on the podium now, the second time in a row, it just feels amazing.”

Eng added: “The team did a fantastic job on bringing us in at the right time before we hit GT traffic.

“My job was to just basically to bring it to the end. I think I had the easiest job of everyone.

“I was hearing all the chat on the intercom, on the strategy channel, I must say those guys are so clever. I’m just happy that I only drive around in circles!

“It was a masterclass of the team. It was a great effort by every single member.

“We didn’t make any mistake. The No. 31 Cadillac drove fantastically the whole weekend. They were super fast and they fully deserved the win.

“They were just out of reach for us this weekend.”

When asked about the strategic ability by the Vincent Vosse-led WRT crew, the longtime BMW factory driver said he had seen the team’s prowess long before the German manufacturer united with the team.

“In 2013, I was doing the 24 Hours of Spa with a private team and WRT was next to me. They were just incredible,” said Eng.

“My wish was always to be racing for a team like them.

“It’s not a coincidence that they’re winning in everything they are racing in. It’s just great to be part of that group.

“Hearing what the guys on the strategy [channel], I learn a lot as a driver. I’m not the youngest anymore but there’s always something new to learn.

“It’s just great to be part of such a talented group of people. It’s very cool to be racing for and with them.”

John Dagys

John Dagys is the founder and Editor-in-Chief of Sportscar365. Dagys spent eight years as a motorsports correspondent for FOXSports.com and SPEED Channel and has contributed to numerous other motorsports publications worldwide. Contact John