Dries Vanthoor had a stellar start to the 2025 IMSA GTP season by winning the pole position for the first three races of the year in his Rahal Letterman Lanigan BMW. The Rolex 24 Hours of Daytona and Mobil 1 12 Hours of Sebring were grueling endurance contests that led into the 100-minute Acura Grand Prix of Long Beach weekend where we met up with him just after his pole-winning press conference. Vanthoor would go on to earn a third-place podium finish at Long Beach, third in the next event at Monterey and finally getting to Victory Lane at Road America. This guy is impressive in that he had not raced at Long Beach prior to this event. How did he get pole and what was his preparation? Tune in and find out here. Enjoy!
NOTE: It was announced that the BMW GTP program would be moving on from RLL racing after the conclusion of this season. Belgium based, BMW M Team WRT has been named the team that will be taking over the IMSA program with a new team shop in Charlotte, NC. Will Dries Vanthoor continue in the new team? As of press time, no official announcements have been made.
By Larry Mason
Copyright © 2025 Larry Mason
Dries Vanthoor is happy yet a bit reserved in this photo taken just after the post, pole-winning press conference. To win three poles in a row and beat the best of the best in your first time at Long Beach is sensational!
Dries Vanthoor flies over the curbs in Turn 10 at Long Beach on his way to pole position.
Dries Vanthoor leads his teammates and the rest of the field just prior to the green flag at Long Beach.
In front of a huge crowd with the iconic Wyland painted Long Beach arena in the background, Vanthoor and his teammate Philipp Eng would go on to score a third-place podium finish in the race.
The Aquarium of the Pacific fountain provides the backdrop for Vanthoor to make his way around the tight confines here.
Interview and photos Copyright © by Larry Mason (unless otherwise noted)