Philipp Eng

Philipp Eng Bio

Philipp Eng (born 28 February 1990 in Salzburg, Austria) is an Austrian professional racing driver and BMW Motorsport works driver. Across nearly two decades in motorsport, he has built a versatile résumé that spans karting, open-wheel ladder series, GT racing, endurance events, and touring car competition. He currently drives the No. 24 car for BMW M Team RLL in the IMSA WeatherTech SportsCar Championship.

Early Life and Background

Philipp Eng was born on 28 February 1990 in Salzburg, Austria, where he spent his earliest years before frequent moves became necessary due to his involvement in motorsport. At the age of 13 he relocated to Italy, and in 2004 he won the Italian Open Masters karting championship, a result that helped earn him a place on the Red Bull Junior Team. With Red Bull’s backing, Eng secured his first sponsor and the financial foundation needed to pursue racing as a career.

In 2009 he moved to Mannheim, Germany, and by 2011 he had relocated his main residence to Stuttgart, where he continues to live. Before racing alone could support him financially, he worked as a driving instructor and coach to help cover his costs. Eng also qualified for the FIA Young Driver Academy, where juniors received training in driving technique, technical knowledge, and media relations.

Path to NASCAR

Eng has not competed in NASCAR, the stock-car racing series run primarily across the United States, so this section is not applicable to his career. His professional path has run through European and international series rather than the NASCAR ladder. Readers interested in his American racing activities will find them documented in the IMSA WeatherTech SportsCar Championship, where he has raced since 2023.

Philipp Eng Career

Early Career (2006–2010)

Eng made his car-racing debut in 2006 with ADAC Berlin-Brandenburg in the Formula BMW ADAC series, finishing tenth overall and runner-up to Jens Klingmann in the Rookie Cup, with a podium at Lausitz. He also entered a one-off British round with Carlin Motorsport at Silverstone. In 2007 he stayed in the ADAC series and improved to third in the championship, taking a single victory at Barcelona after Klingmann was penalized.

He won the Formula BMW World Final from pole position at the end of 2007 and earned a test with the BMW Sauber Formula One team in 2008. That same year he contested four rounds of the German Formula Three championship. In 2009, Eng stepped up to the FIA Formula Two Championship and scored a pole-to-flag win at Brands Hatch, the first victory by an Austrian driver in the series since Jo Gartner in 1983. He added three more wins in 2010, finishing sixth in the standings.

Porsche Carrera Cup Germany Breakthrough (2012–2015)

Eng transitioned to GT racing in 2011 with Callaway Competition in the ADAC GT Masters, then shifted focus to the Porsche Carrera Cup Germany in 2012 and 2013 with MRS GT-Racing. Driving for Deutsche Post by Project 1, he won the championship in 2014 and successfully defended the title in 2015, becoming the first driver to win consecutive Porsche Carrera Cup Germany crowns.

In 2015 he added the international Porsche Mobil 1 Supercup title to his résumé, cementing his reputation as one of the strongest Porsche Juniors of his generation. These back-to-back championships drew the attention of factory programs and paved the way for his move into endurance racing with BMW machinery.

Endurance Racing and DTM Era (2016–2022)

Eng joined Rowe Racing for the 2016 24 Hours of Nürburgring, finishing fifth, and that same year won the 24 Hours of Spa-Francorchamps with Alexander Sims and Maxime Martin in a Rowe BMW. From 2018 to 2020 he competed for BMW in the Class 1 DTM, claiming his first podium at the Lausitzring in 2018 and his maiden series victory at Zolder in 2019 on his way to sixth in the standings.

He added a second Spa 24 Hours win in 2018 with Tom Blomqvist and Christian Krognes in a Walkenhorst BMW M6 GT3, and completed the hat-trick in 2023 with Marco Wittmann and Nick Yelloly. By that third triumph he was recognized as the youngest three-time winner in the event’s history. In 2022 he returned to the DTM with Schubert Motorsport, further broadening his touring-car experience.

BMW M Team RLL Era (2023–Present)

Since 2023, Eng has driven for BMW M Team RLL in the IMSA WeatherTech SportsCar Championship. In 2024, alongside teammate Jesse Krohn, he won the GTP-class race at Indianapolis Motor Speedway, becoming the first Austrian driver to win a top-category event at the iconic venue. The result marked a major milestone in his North American racing career.

In 2025, Eng and teammate Dries Vanthoor delivered BMW’s first win of the IMSA season in the BMW M Hybrid V8 at Road America. The result confirmed his continued competitiveness in GTP machinery and underlined the strength of his partnership with the RLL engineering group.

Driving Style and Strengths

Eng is known for a calm, technically precise approach that suits long-distance endurance work and GT racing alike. His Porsche single-make championships highlighted smooth tire management and consistent lap times, while his DTM results showed an ability to attack in traffic. He has built effective working relationships with engineers and co-drivers across multiple factory programs.

Notable Races and Milestones

His three 24 Hours of Spa-Francorchamps victories, in 2016, 2018, and 2023, stand as defining achievements. The 2024 IMSA win at Indianapolis Motor Speedway added a North American headline result, and his 2025 Road America triumph with BMW M Team RLL continued that momentum at the GTP level.

Philipp Eng Career Wins

Philipp Eng’s career win list spans Porsche junior formulae, major endurance classics, and the IMSA WeatherTech SportsCar Championship. His earliest championship successes came in the Porsche Carrera Cup Germany, which he won in 2014 and 2015, the latter alongside the Porsche Mobil 1 Supercup title.

IMSA WeatherTech SportsCar Championship Highlights

Eng secured his first GTP-class IMSA victory in 2024 at Indianapolis Motor Speedway, partnered with Jesse Krohn for BMW M Team RLL. In 2025 he added a win at Road America with Dries Vanthoor, giving BMW its first victory of that IMSA season in the BMW M Hybrid V8.

Other Wins and Performances

Outside IMSA, Eng’s standout results include three overall victories at the 24 Hours of Spa-Francorchamps, in 2016, 2018, and 2023, plus his maiden DTM win at Zolder in 2019. Earlier, he claimed the Porsche Mobil 1 Supercup title in 2015 and multiple race wins during his Formula BMW ADAC seasons, including the 2007 World Final.

Philipp Eng Family

Family Background and Racing Lineage

Eng grew up in Salzburg before relocating several times in pursuit of motorsport opportunities. His early placement on the Red Bull Junior Team in Italy provided a launching pad for his single-seater and GT career. Family details beyond his Salzburg upbringing are not widely documented.

Personal Life

Eng is married and has a son. In addition to his racing commitments, he serves as an expert motorsport commentator on ServusTV, covering Formula One, Formula E, and DTM broadcasts since 2021. He also enjoys road cycling as a fitness discipline alongside his racing program.

2025 Season Performance

Eng’s 2025 season is built around the IMSA WeatherTech SportsCar Championship with BMW M Team RLL, driving the No. 24 BMW M Hybrid V8 alongside Dries Vanthoor. The campaign opened with the established GTP program targeting regular podiums and class wins across the nine-round North American schedule.

A highlight came at Road America, where Eng and Vanthoor delivered BMW’s first victory of the season, confirming the pace of the updated hybrid prototype. The result strengthened BMW M Team RLL’s standing in the GTP manufacturers’ battle and gave Eng valuable momentum heading into the second half of the year.

Looking ahead, Eng will continue balancing his IMSA commitments with his ServusTV commentary role and his BMW factory obligations. With proven endurance credentials and a competitive GTP package, he remains one of BMW’s most versatile works drivers as the 2025 season progresses.