Daytona Beach, Fla. — Tensions boiled over during the Rolex 24 at Daytona as Corvette Racing’s Tommy Milner expressed his frustration with the No. 48 BMW team, accusing them of holding him up and disrupting his race. The outspoken comments came over the team radio and were later confirmed in Milner’s post-stint debrief, where he called for the BMW to be removed from the event entirely.
The Incident
The flashpoint occurred during a congested mid-race stint, where Milner’s No. 3 Corvette C8.R was running in contention for a podium spot in the GTD Pro class. As Milner approached the No. 48 BMW M4 GT3, he became visibly frustrated after being held up through several corners. The delay reportedly cost the Corvette team valuable time and momentum during a critical phase of the race.
“It’s ridiculous,” Milner said over the radio. “The 48 car isn’t even on the same lap as us, and they’re racing like they’re defending for a class win. This kind of driving doesn’t belong in endurance racing.”
A Call for Action
Milner’s frustration didn’t stop there. After completing his stint, the veteran driver doubled down, suggesting that the BMW team’s actions were unacceptable and calling for officials to intervene.
“The 48 car should be pulled from the race,” Milner said. “If they’re not going to respect the faster cars and the flow of traffic, they don’t deserve to be out there. It’s dangerous and it ruins the race for teams who are competing for a win.”
BMW Team Response
The BMW team defended their actions, arguing that the traffic and tight racing conditions made it difficult to yield position cleanly. A representative from the No. 48 team stated, “It’s an endurance race, and everyone has a right to be on track. We weren’t intentionally holding anyone up—we’re out there racing, just like everyone else.”
Officials Weigh In
Race officials have yet to issue a penalty to the No. 48 BMW, though the incident remains under review. In endurance racing, slower cars are expected to allow faster cars to pass when possible, but the responsibility is often shared between both parties.
The Bigger Picture
Milner’s comments highlight the challenges of multi-class racing, where drivers must navigate traffic from both faster and slower cars while maintaining focus on their own race. With emotions running high in the Rolex 24, moments like this are not uncommon, though public calls for a car’s removal from the race are rare.
As the race continues, Corvette Racing remains in contention, but the incident has added another layer of tension to an already dramatic event. Whether officials take further action or let the teams sort it out on track, the Rolex 24 continues to deliver the intensity and unpredictability that makes it one of motorsport’s crown jewels.
