Krohn joins Philipp Eng as the team’s full-season driver in the No. 24 BMW M Hybrid V8 in GTP. The sister car No. 25 prototype will feature the same full-time line-up of Connor De Phillippi and Nick Yelloly.
“I’ve never waited for any season as much as I have for the 2024 one,” said Krohn, winner of the 2020 Daytona 24.
“This is truly a special opportunity for me, and I couldn’t be more grateful to BMW M Motorsport for putting their trust in me. This is basically what I’ve worked my whole life for driving at the pinnacle of sports car racing in the top class, being the fastest car out on track.
“I think it’s also good that I have the IMSA experience from the past from the GT cars because I can put myself on both sides and know what to expect from the GT drivers as we pass them in traffic. There is a lot I can bring in from the past, and going back to racing with BMW M Team RLL is super fun.
I always enjoyed racing in the US, and everybody at BMW M Team RLL is like my second family there, so it’s really exciting to go back there and team up with Philipp for the full IMSA season. I can’t wait to get started; it’s going to be an awesome season.”
Augusto Farfus, who co-drove alongside Eng all of last season, is back in the same car but in a part-time role for the endurance round at Daytona, Sebring, and Road Atlanta. Maxime Martin will join DE Phillippe and Yelloly as part of the team’s co-driving plans for Daytona, Sebring, and Road Atlanta.
“I am very excited about the trust from BMW M Motorsport to be able to compete in IMSA again,” Eng said.
“It’s an extremely cool race series, and it was a lot of fun to race with our new BMW M Hybrid V8 there last year. It hasn’t been an easy season, but we are heading in the right direction, and this year, there can only be one goal: to challenge for wins and the title. That’s the stated objective, and I hope we can achieve it. I’m really looking forward to it.”
Dries Vanthoor and René Rast will also strengthen the team in IMSA’s season opener at Daytona.
“We were happy with the first season with the BMW M Hybrid V8 in the GTP class of the IMSA series – particularly given the difficult preparations,” said Andreas Roos, Head of BMW M Motorsport.
“Despite that, there is obviously plenty of room for improvement when we take the next important step towards our goal to be constantly in contention for race wins and fight for the title in our second season.
“Our drivers will play a big role in this, and we believe we have found a good balance with a mix of continuity and fresh impulses. Jesse Krohn is the only newcomer among the regular drivers. He has a wealth of experience in the IMSA series and impressed us in his test outings in the BMW M Hybrid V8. We are convinced that he and Philipp Eng will complement each other nicely.
“In the No. 25 car, Connor De Phillippi and Nick Yelloly have proved to be a strong and successful duo. Augusto Farfus, Maxime Martin, Dries Vanthoor, and René Rast has all gained experience in our LMDh car and are very strong additions in races for the Michelin Endurance Cup, the profile of which has been raised once again.”
Additionally, BMW M works drivers Neil Verhagen, Sheldon van der Linde, Jens Klingmann, Madison Snow, and Robby Foley compete in the GTD classes with the BMW M4 GT3 at the Daytona season opener.
Verhagen and van der Linde join reigning champions Paul Miller Racing alongside regulars Snow and Bryan Sellers. Klingmann continues with Turner Motorsport with regular driver Foley as well as Patrick Gallagher and Jake Walker.
