What’s Happening?

The IMSA season continues with the 12 Hours of Sebring this weekend, Saturday, March 15, at 10:00 a.m. EST. 

There are 56 total entries this weekend. Every class will participate. There are 13 GTPs, 12 LMP2s, 11 GTD Pros and 20 GTDs. Here is the entry list for the 12-hour race: Entry List.

Sebring International Raceway is a 3.741-mile, 17-turn course known for its bumpy pavement and variety of corners. It is mostly asphalt but also has 0.7 miles of concrete. 

Starting Positions

Dries Vanthoor of the No. 24 BMW M Team RLL put his car on pole in the GTP class. This is The No. 24 team’s second consecutive pole. The Acura No. 60 and No. 7 Porsche round out the podium. The No. 31 Cadillac Whelen had an electric issue and will start 13th, last in class. 

The No. 11 car of TDS Racing will start just ahead of AO Racings No. 99, also known as “Spike”, in the LMP2 class. United Autosports USA has their cars in 3rd and fourth to begin the race. 

DragonSpeed’s No. 81 Ferrari will start on pole for GTD Pro. The No. 77, “Rexy,” is starting second. Paul Miller Racing’s No. 1 BMW is third. 

AF Corse’s No. 21 Ferrari will lead the GTD field. The Korthoff Competition Motors’ No. 32 and Vasser Sullivan Racing’s No. 12 will start first and third, respectively. 

Storylines

Sebring will introduce the Aston Martin Valkyrie to IMSA. The car’s first race was the 1812 km of Qatar last month in the World Endurance Championship. It is the first car to run under the LMH regulations in IMSA, which all other GTPs utilize. It is also the first car with a V12 engine. 

Porsche has the most wins at Sebring with 18. Nicky Tandy, in the No. 7 Porsche with Felipe Nasr and Laurens Vanthoor, looks to become the 10th driver to win Daytona, Sebring, and Le Mans overall. Porsche finished first and third at the 24 Hours of Rolex in January and is poised to continue their dominance. 

Last year, Wayne Taylor Racing’s Acura No. 40 won at Sebring with Jordan Taylor, Louis Deletraz, and Colton Herta. WTR is now with Cadillac and will start seventh with the No. 40 and eighth with the No. 10. 

The No. 18 of Era Motorsports won the LMP2 class last year. The No. 14 Lexus of Vasser Sullivan Racing won in GTD Pro, and the No. 57 of Winward Racing won in GTD. 

Antonio Garcia has won the 12 Hours of Sebring four times. His No. 3 Corvette, with Alexander Sims and Daniel Juncadella, will start fifth in GTD Pro. 

Season Points

After the Rolex 24 Hours of Daytona, here are the top three teams in each class:

GTP:

1. No. 7 Porsche Penske Motorsport(380)
2. No. 60 Acura Meyer Chank Racing(345)
3. No 6 Porsche Penske Motorsport(321)

LMP2:

1. No. 22 United Autosports USA(385)
2. No. 74 Riley(343)
3. No. 52 PR1 Mathiasen Motorsports(332)

GTD Pro:

1. No. 65 Ford Multimatic Motorsports(382)
2. No. 3 Corvette Racing By Pratt Miller Motorsports(348)
3. No 64 Corvette Racing By Pratt Miller Motorsports(335)

GTD:

1. No. 13 AWA(365)
2. No. 120 Wright Motorsports(355)
3. No. 27 Heart of Racing Team(324)