KYB Partner BMW M Team WRT Takes Another Podium

Also Wins the IMSA Michelin Sustainability in Racing Award

Greenwood, IN, May 11, 2026 – After a thrilling GTP (Grand Touring Prototype) battle for the lead, the Monterey dust settled with BMW M Team WRT on the podium. The strategy employed by the team paid off as they fought their way to the front. The team ran both its cars longest in the first stint, well over an hour into the race, 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 second 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 the Philipp Eng and asked about the EPS system equipped on the BMW M Team WRT Hybrid V8 that competes in the top IMSA class. Philipp praised the Electronic Power Steering system supplied by KYB. He remarked 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 across the country. The highly competitive series includes driving on an incredible variety of circuits with extremely different characteristics and demands.

The premier endurance racing series in America brings out the best global manufacturers to test their machines and teams in demanding circumstances. The first round is the iconic 24 hour race in Daytona, where cooler temperatures and long hours of winter darkness combine with a technical infield section and the high banked oval that encourages blistering speeds. The second round stays in Florida for the 12 hour race at the historic Sebring venue. The bumpy airfield provides a challenging racing surface for the team, where navigating through the mixed concrete and asphalt can punish these high tech cars. A jaunt to the west coast starts with a short sprint on the tight street course of Long Beach. The season’s third event brings the glamour of sports car racing to the twisty section of harborside roads. Traveling up the coast to Monterey, the fourth round of the season is held on the legendary Laguna Seca road course. The team found their way to the front in the hotly contested GTP category, and took home a trophy for the first time this season. The team credits strategy, reliability, and excellent driving to come home in third.

The BMW M Team WRT 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 for that race. This is the first time a team has won the award without winning the race to prove the importance of efficiency. The team achieved this award along with their second podium of the season through a strategy of conserving tires, energy, and driver patience through multiclass racing traffic. It’ll be fascinating to see if anyone else can achieve the feat in the remaining five GTP rounds.