Written by Sean McKean, Edited by Vyas Ponnuri
Almost a month separated from the season-opening 24 Hours of Daytona, the IMSA Weathertech Sportscar Championship makes its return to Florida, for the 12 Hours of Sebring. There are 58 entries expected for the event: 11 in GTP, 13 in LMP2, 12 in GTD Pro and 22 in GTD.
The biggest story heading into the weekend comes from the GTP class. A new debutant, the Lamborghini SC63 will take to the track for the first time on Saturday. Coming from the Iron Lynx stable, pace looks encouraging judging by their pace on WEC debut in Lusail.
With Matteo Cairoli, Andrea Caldarelli, and Romain Grosjean piloting the entry, keep an eye for the green Lamborghini on track.
It won’t be easy for them though, as defending GTP and overall race winners – Penske Porsche’s #7 car piloted by Dane Cameron, Felipe Nasr and Matt Campbell – look to make it back-to-back victories. They’ve been on a roll, both with the win at Daytona in the #7 and the strong pace from the #6 entry.
However drivers of the #31 Whelen Cadillac of Jack Aitken, Tom Blomqvist and Pipo Derani will be eyeing redemption for Daytona, having been passed for the lead in the overall race within the last hour.
On the LMP2 side of things, Era Motorsport look to build off their victory in Daytona with drivers Dwight Merriman, Ryan Dalziel and Connor Zilisch. Hopes are especially high for Sebring, having finished third in their class in this race last year.
As for the winners of the race in Sebring last year, the #8 Tower Motorsports team want to make it back-to-back Sebring triumphs, with John Farano, Michael Dinan and Charlie Eastwood at the wheel.
Away from the prototypes, the GTD Pro class has multiple strong entries. Daytona winners Risi Competizione did so in dominant fashion – with drivers Daniel Serra, Davide Rigon and James Calado – and look to repeat that performance on Saturday.
On the opposite side of things, defending Sebring winners #9 Pfaff Motorsport failed to finish at Daytona, despite showing great pace with drivers Marvin Kirchhöfer, Oliver Jarvis and James Hinchcliffe.
Having won the race in the GTD class a year ago, the #1 Paul Miller Racing team look to take victory in the Pro class as well, with an unchanged lineup of Madison Snow, Bryan Sellers and Neil Verhagen. A team of great strength in Vasser Sullivan Racing had neither of their two entries – the #12 and #14 Lexus’s – finish the opening race of the season, and will be looking to rebound.
Lastly, the GTD class’s defending winner from Daytona – #57 Winward piloted by Russell Ward, Philip Ellis and Indy Dontje – are expected to continue their form into Sebring. Runner-ups at Daytona, AF Corse have an experienced pair of drivers in Simon Mann, Francois Heriau and Miguel Molina.
The race will be broadcasted live on Peacock, USA Today, IMSA TV and IMSA Radio. The green flag will drop at 9:30 AM (13:30 UK).