2023 12 Hours of Sebring: Thursday Paddock Notes
The IMSA WeatherTech Sportscar Championship finally got on track today, completing three practice sessions ahead of the 71st annual Mobil 1 12 Hours of Sebring on Saturday.
With the FIA World Endurance Championship taking centre stage on Friday, every second on track was as important as the time lost due to troubles of all kinds.
Here’s some of the other stories from the IMSA paddock on a packed day from sunrise to sunset…
Bosch, IMSA announces long-term partnership
During a press conference held today, Bosch and the International Motor Sports Association (IMSA) announced the terms of a five-year partnership between the companies. Bosch is the supplier of the electric motor, inverter, hybrid control unit, and electric braking systems which are part of the new LMDh prototypes’ hybrid technologies.
“Our new hybrid-electrified era of IMSA GTP racing would not have been possible without the substantial contributions of Bosch,” said IMSA President John Doonan. “This is the newest chapter in a decades-long partnership between Bosch and IMSA. We have worked together in lockstep as technology has advanced over the years, and the best is yet to come with our ultimate showcase of relevance, technology and sustainability in the GTP class.”
As part of this partnership, hybrid technology will be awarded to the top three finishing competitors in the LMDh class at the end of each season.
Garcia hopeful ‘experience pays off’ if weather impacts Saturday’s race
There’s still a chance of rain and thunderstorms during the afternoon portion of the Sebring 12 Hours, according to the latest forecast by the team at Racecast Weather.
Saturday at #SuperSebring continues to be a concern for impactful weather. Showers and t’storms are likely during the afternoon, with lightning, gusty winds, and heavy rain possible. Latest forecast update at https://t.co/k9JRTWxvQe #IMSA #WEC #Sebring12 @PitlaneParley pic.twitter.com/bWBn2PVbEP
— Racecast Weather (@RacecastWx) March 15, 2023
Corvette Racing driver Antonio Garcia, who has four Sebring 12 Hour class wins, believes that he and the rest of the battle-tested team can excel in any conditions. “Everything will be more challenging,” Garcia remarked, ” because we find a few races here where it would start raining out of nowhere – and this track can get very, very difficult.”
“So I hope it doesn’t rain at night,” he added. “But I think myself, and Corvette Racing, we’ve raced at every single position here, so I hope experience pays off.”
Winners and pursuers of Sebring glory
Garcia leads all active drivers in this year’s field with his four class wins at Sebring, with nine others seated at three wins each – including three-time overall winner, Pipo Derani, going for his fourth with Whelen Engineering/Action Express Racing.
Bill Auberlen, João Barbosa, Sebastien Bourdais, Colin Braun, Scott Huffaker, Ian James, Ben Keating, and Nick Tandy are also three-time Sebring winners in class and overall.
While Tandy has three straight class wins, his co-driver Dane Cameron – a three-time IMSA series champion – has never won at Sebring, or in any of IMSA’s three longest races (including Daytona and Road Atlanta).
Positive feedback after first run for Inception 720S GT3 EVO
As mentioned yesterday, Inception Racing is running the new McLaren 720S GT3 EVO package for the first time in North America this weekend. Bas Leinders, team manager of Inception Racing’s operating company Optimum Motorsport, said that Practice 1 was the first time that the car had ever run in its current specification on the Michelin tyres supplied by IMSA.
“We had two days in Europe but with Pirelli tyres, because we were with a different championship there,” Leinders said.
Drivers Brendon Iribe, Frederik Schandorff, and Ollie Millroy delivered positive remarks about the aero enhancements that the EVO package provides – particularly the front downforce. “They like the initial feeling of the front being a bit more positive,” added Leinders. “We didn’t really have many issues, but you could still feel it’s a small improvement.”
#91 Kellymoss/Riley Porsche OK to qualify and race after Van Berlo shunt
The good news is that Kay van Berlo is okay after a frightening-looking accident at the end of Practice 3 tonight. Van Berlo lost control of the #91 Kellymoss with Riley Porsche 911 GT3 R heading into Sunset Bend, and did a full 360-degree spin into the tyre barriers.
Despite what looked to be a hard impact – enough to slosh the tyre stacks around quite a bit, Bill Riley confirmed to DSC that the car escaped terminal damage and will be ready to qualify tomorrow.
The crew at Kellymoss Racing will still have a long night ahead of them to repair cosmetic damage and replace the steering rack. But barring any other dramas, Van Berlo, Alan Metni, and Jaxon Evans will take the green flag on Saturday night.
Riley Dickinson sweeps Porsche Carrera Cup opening double-header
Some better news from Kellymoss: Both races of the Porsche Deluxe Carrera Cup North America happened today, and its young driver Riley Dickinson won both from pole position. Tom Sargent finished in second overall both races, while Will Martin and Jason Hart alternated third places in the Pro class.
Moisey Uretsky won the Pro-Am class in Race 1, and Efrin Castro won it in Race 2.
Scott Noble converted Am class pole into a Race 1 win, but Mark Kvamme overhauled him en route to the class win in Race 2.
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