BMW’s victory in the Six Hours of Sao Paulo was powered by a standout opening stint from Kevin Magnussen, according to team principal Vincent Vosse, who said the No. 15 crew executed a flawless race even though their car wasn’t the outright fastest on track.
The No. 15 BMW M Hybrid V8 came home first at Interlagos, a result achieved by Magnussen alongside Raffaele Marciello and Dries Vanthoor. Although the car had qualified in fourth position, Magnussen seized the initiative at the start, jumping one of the cars that had stood on the front row and making a bold move on Earl Bamber at Turn 6 during the opening hour. That early overtake effectively split the two Hertz Team JOTA Cadillac V-Series.Rs that had locked out the front row in qualifying, giving BMW an opportunity to strike when the Cadillacs encountered trouble during the first pit stops.
Vosse reflected on Magnussen’s early surge, saying the Dane’s efforts in the opening stints and his ability to gain positions set the tone for the race. “He put in a strong start and grabbed positions,” he noted. “All of our drivers delivered exceptional performances, but Kevin’s start was crucial, giving us track position from the outset.”
Looking back, Vosse admitted it was hard to say whether BMW would have prevailed without Cadillac’s pit-stop difficulties that sent the American cars backward, but he stressed that BMW’s performance was solid throughout. “We were not the fastest car, but we ran a faultless race—tight, yes, but enough to secure the win,” he said.
Magnussen, who secured his first World Endurance Championship victory in Brazil, said the Sao Paulo round held special significance for him. The Brazilian crowd has always left a strong impression on him, and a pole position for Haas in 2022 at Interlagos had already etched itself into his memory. “The support from the Brazilian fans is incredible every time I race here,” he commented. “When we claimed pole with Haas, we were the underdogs and the roar from the stands was immense. It felt amazing then, and it still does each time I hear them chant my name.”
The Sao Paulo triumph was particularly rewarding for the No. 15 crew after their Le Mans disappointment and a narrow loss at Spa, where their sister BMW was edged to victory by Rast/Frijns and the No. 7 Toyota. Magnussen explained that the Spa outcome had left them feeling as though they were on track to win, only for the sister car to snatch the victory at the last moment. “Of course, a one-two would have been fantastic for BMW, but we felt we’d been denied a bit,” he admitted, underscoring how sweet this Sao Paulo success was in contrast.
Vanthoor, who crossed the line to take the chequered flag, revealed he had been feeling unwell in the final stint. He described a sense of dizziness and a stomach issue that hampered his ability to enjoy the run to the finish, yet he was proud to have delivered the win for the team and grateful that his car could complete the race. “Today wasn’t my best day in the car, health wise, but I’m incredibly happy to have brought it home for the squad,” he said. “It’s been a long time coming, and this win means a lot to us.”
With the Sao Paulo result, Magnussen and Marciello move up to sixth in the drivers’ standings, 25 points behind the joint leaders Rast/Frijns and the No. 7 Toyota. Vanthoor sits a further six points adrift after missing the Imola round due to a clash with the IMSA WeatherTech SportsCar Championship schedule.
