Dries Vanthoor was handed a drive‑through penalty following IMSA’s decision that his #24 WRT BMW bore responsibility for the contact that pushed his car into brother Laurens at the Detroit street circuit.
Vanthoor’s account of the Turn 3 incident
While braking for Turn 3 and attempting to pass two GT rivals, Dries reported that a Ford Mustang clipped the rear of his vehicle, forcing him into Laurens’ Porsche. “The Mustang’s impact stopped my braking ability, turning me into an involuntary passenger,” he told Motorsport.com.
He argued that external camera angles would clearly show the Mustang’s push from behind, a perspective he believes race control overlooked in favor of his onboard footage.
IMSA’s justification and the penalty framework
IMSA Race Control, assisted by a panel of former endurance champions, cited two separate incidents involving the #24 car – one at the 54‑minute mark with the #14 Lexus and another at 1 hour 25 minutes with the #6 Penske Porsche – as the basis for the penalties. Their statement confirmed that the full suite of data was reviewed before deeming the BMW’s actions a breach of driving standards.
Earlier clash with the Vasser‑Sullivan Lexus
Prior to the Mustang encounter, Dries’ BMW collided with the #14 Vasser‑Sullivan Lexus, prompting an earlier drive‑through. Although the Lexus sustained only minor wall damage, it later retired after additional contacts while contesting the lead.
Consequences for the #24 WRT BMW
Two drive‑throughs combined with an early pit stop for low tyre pressures relegated the #24 to ninth place, despite its status as the second‑fastest car behind Action Express’s Cadillac. Meanwhile, teammate #25 capitalised on the situation to secure a runner‑up finish.
Outlook for the Vanthoor brothers and BMW
Dries maintains that the penalty was disproportionate, especially given Laurens continued without reparative stops and fought for a class win until near the race’s conclusion. The unresolved dispute underscores the ongoing tension between drivers and IMSA’s adjudication process as the championship progresses.
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