Crédito: LAT Images / After testing with Era Motorsport in Sebring last month, the driver and former LMP2 class winner of the 12 Hours of Sebring, Ryan Dalziel, stated that the famous bumpy track is even bumpier than before.
Prior to the 12 Hours of Sebring on March 16, Dalziel expressed confidence in his team’s performance, noting their history of strong races in Sebring. He also mentioned that the track seemed to have become even more uneven during testing, which could have an impact on the race. Additionally, he acknowledged the larger and more competitive LMP2 field as another factor to consider.
The Oreca 07 #18, which won the LMP2 class at the 24 Hours of Daytona, currently leads with a 20-point advantage heading into the second round of the IMSA WeatherTech SportsCar Championship.
Era Motorsport has consistently finished on the podium in the last three editions of the classic endurance race, but has yet to secure a victory. This year, there will be a total of 13 LMP2 cars competing, compared to eight the previous year.
Connor Zilisch, who dominated a TransAm race at Sebring in February, is looking forward to his first participation in the 12 Hours of Sebring. The 17-year-old driver expressed confidence in the team’s momentum after the success in Daytona and is eager to race alongside Ryan Dalziel and Dwight Merriman for a smooth weekend.
Last year, the team finished in third place, over three seconds behind the leading Oreca #8 from Tower Motorsports and the Oreca #11 from TDS Racing.
In the LMP2 standings, the Oreca #04 from Crowdstrike Racing by Algarve Pro currently holds the second position with 350 points, behind the Oreca #74 from Riley Motorsports with 328 points.
The classification will be crucial not only to ensure a favorable starting position, but also to accumulate valuable points, as IMSA traditionally awards 10% of the race points, in addition to the race allocation.
Merriman, a bronze-rated driver, will seek to improve his P11 classification position from the Roar Before the 24, and the 24 Hours of Daytona race will provide more opportunities for track time and overtaking.
