The BMW M6 GT3 had already made a clear statement of intent in qualifying, with pole position for Catsburg, De Phillippi and Farfus, and third place on the grid for their team-mates. The race saw flawless performances from all the drivers, despite rain and some difficult conditions in the first few hours, and they soon established themselves at the front of the field. Changing track conditions made tyre selection tricky, but the team made all the right decisions. The fact that the opposition were struggling with issues meant that both BMW M6 GT3s were able to control the race in the closing stages and secure a memorable one-two.

This was Walkenhorst Motorsport’s maiden victory in the team’s second full season in the IGTC. For Catsburg, who tasted success at the Nürburgring with ROWE Racing last weekend, this was a second win in a week. After failing to finish the season-opener at Bathurst back in February, this victory puts regular drivers Catsburg and Farfus right back in the title race, along with team-mates Pittard and Tomczyk, who did not start at Bathurst. The highlight of the IGTC season – the 24 Hours of Spa-Francorchamps – takes place in just a few weeks. The title will then be decided at the season finale at Kyalami in December.

“To have won a prestigious endurance race with the BMW M6 GT3 for the second time in just a week is awesome. Congratulations to Walkenhorst Motorsport on a commanding and flawless performance at Indianapolis. It was a pleasure to see the team and drivers do such a perfect job. Looking at the overall standings in the Intercontinental GT Challenge, this success was hugely important. I can now hardly wait to see the two Walkenhorst Motorsport BMW M6 GT3s in action again at the 24 Hours of Spa-Francorchamps in just three weeks’ time. The Indianapolis success was perfectly rounded off by the 1-2 result for the BMW M4 GT4 in the GT4 class. Congratulations also to BimmerWorld Racing and ST Racing.”

“We are overjoyed. It was a sensational team effort to claim a one-two here at Indianapolis after the 24-hour race. We obviously always dreamed of this, but to actually achieve it in this manner was really excellent. We did not make any mistakes, were strategically very well prepared, and the drivers and whole team did a mega job. I believe we fully deserved to finish first and second. We are pleased that BMW put their faith in us and that we have been able to pay them back with this success. I am now really looking forward to the 24 Hours of Spa-Francorchamps and many more challenges.”

“The guys at Walkenhorst Motorsport are Nürburgring specialists, and they proved that emphatically today. After all, we had Nürburgring conditions here at Indianapolis. One moment it was wet, the next it was dry again. Tyre selection and tyre strategy were key, and the team did a virtually perfect job when some stages of the race were pretty eventful. Unfortunately, the safety car periods did not always play into our hands, and the Acura in third place was able to close in on us. When the track dried out, the BMW M6 GT3 got faster and faster and, when our rivals had their issues, we were able to control the race.”

“I think our set-up gave us a slight advantage over the other Walkenhorst car on a wet track. You could see that, particularly at the start of the race, when Martin Tomczyk did a fantastic job in difficult conditions and handed the car over to Nick Yelloly in the lead. The drier it became, the more the balance of power shifted towards the #34 car. It is fantastic for the team to be able to split the strategy that way. It ultimately worked in favour of our team-mates, but on the whole it was a fantastic result for Walkenhorst Motorsport.”

“It was another great race and a great event. It was great fun to drive at Indianapolis. That is something I have always wanted to do. And then to claim a one-two for BMW, after Nick and I won on the Nordschleife last week – that is simply a dream week. In the end, we were not quite able to match the other Walkenhorst car, as we took different approaches in terms of the set-up. We were quicker at the start, but they really upped their pace when the track dried out. I am overjoyed. That is my second podium with Walkenhorst Motorsport and quite simply a superb performance from the whole team.”