After a thrilling GTP (Grand Touring Prototype) battle for the lead, the Monterey dust settled with the BMW M Team WRT bringing home third place.

The strategy employed by the team paid off as they fought their way to the front. The team ran both cars long in the first stint, going well over an hour into the race. They pitted again during the race’s only full-course caution, and then brought the No. 25 car in with 37 minutes remaining for its third and final stop. Saving tires and time on pit road meant drivers Philipp Eng and Marco Wittmann were able to fight at the front of the field late in the race and earned the team’s first podium of the year. 

KYB provides the Electronic Power Steering for the car and is proud to be part of the effort. This is part of a two year partnership between KYB and BMW M Motorsport, combining KYB’s precision S-EPS steering technology with BMW’s world-class motorsport performance.

KYB recently caught up with Philipp Eng and asked about the EPS system. Philipp praised the Electronic Power Steering system supplied by KYB, remarking on how important the EPS system is for driver feel. This feedback from the car to the driver has been critical to performance as the first four rounds have taken the series on an incredible variety of circuits with extremely different characteristics and demands. 

The BMW M Team WRT also won the IMSA Michelin Sustainability in Racing Award for the event as well.

The award is measured in three metrics: Tire Use, Energy Use, and Current Running Order/Finish Position, all ranked equally by tracking real-time data. The lowest score achieved in GTP wins the award for that race. This is the first time a team has won it without winning the race, proving the importance of efficiency.

The team achieved this award along with their first podium of the season through a strategy of conserving tires, energy, and driver patience through multiclass racing traffic. 

About KYB

KYB Corporation produces ride control, hydraulic, and electronic products for use as original equipment and replacement parts in automobiles, motorcycles, trucks, specialty vehicles, buses, aircraft, railroad cars, industrial applications, agricultural applications, and civil engineering projects. KYB global headquarters are located in Tokyo, Japan.

By consistently developing world class ride control products, KYB has become the world’s largest supplier of OE and aftermarket shocks and struts. Today, our annual sales exceed $4.2 billion. We have thirty-two facilities in twenty-one countries, and 15 manufacturing plants in Asia, the United States, and Europe. The varied uses and applications of KYB products and equipment demonstrate our commitment to helping create a safer, more efficient, and more comfortable society.