MONTEREY, CALIF. (May 3, 2025) – Turner Motorsport’s Dillon Machavern and Luca Mars were victorious at WeatherTech Raceway Laguna Seca, claiming the top step of the podium in Round 3 of the IMSA Michelin Pilot Challenge and giving the team the championship points lead.
Machavern and Mars captured their first win together in the No. 95 BMW M4 GT4 EVO in the WeatherTech Raceway Laguna Seca 120 after executing a perfect race. Machavern started the two-hour contest from eighth and kept the car clean as others triggered lengthy cautions. The 2017 GS Champion made his way into podium position just before the lone pit stop, where the Turner crew executed flawless service to leapfrog into the lead.
Mars handled pressure from behind with composure, extending the gap while driving through TCR traffic. The reining GS Champ ultimately secured a 4.083-second win, giving the team its first GS class win at the “Home of the Corkscrew.” The result also marked the 31st class win in team history and its first since Machavern’s victory in the four-hour endurance race at Mid-Ohio SportsCar Course in 2025 with Francis Selldorff.
Meanwhile, in the No. 96 BMW M4 GT4 EVO, Vin Barletta started from 24th and gained six spots before handing the car over to Robby Foley. When a third caution came out, the No. 96 dove into the pits for fuel, making a big leap into ninth with just under an hour remaining when the race returned to green. Foley made steady progress, gaining positions to become the biggest mover of the race, leading those on the two-stop strategy, and climbing into the top five.
In Sunday’s WeatherTech SportsCar Championship race, Patrick Gallagher started the No. 96 BMW M4 GT3 EVO from seventh in class and quickly advanced into fourth. Foley took over battling traffic and fierce competition and ultimately finished seventh. The team now sits in second in the championship points standings after four races.
The IMSA season continues June 5-7 in Lexington, Ohio at Mid-Ohio SportsCar Course for a four-hour endurance race for Michelin Pilot Challenge.
Luca Mars, Driver of the No. 95 BMW M4 GT4 EVO
“The Turner Motorsport guys had the car on the rails. It was super easy to drive, and I was super confident in the car through all the corners, especially when the tires kind of fell off. Huge thanks to Dillon and the whole team for all their hard work this weekend.
“It’s been an incredible start to the year with a fourth, third, and first. Dillon and I are obviously working really well together. The whole team is just coming together, and it’s been awesome to be a part of. It’s good momentum for the rest of the year, giving us the championship points lead, and we’re just going to continue to do our best and see if we can win the championship.”
Will Turner, Team Owner
“I’m very proud of the team, the results speaks for itself, but the team did amazing in the pits – over four seconds faster than the competition, which moved us to the front, and Luca was consistent and could do no wrong to stay out front.”
