In a riveting race that kept spectators on their toes, Felipe Nasr, Nick Tandy, and Laurens Vanthoor clinched victory in the second round of the 2025 IMSA Sportscar Championship, the 12 Hours of Sebring. This remarkable win marked a 1-2 triumph for Porsche, as their #7 car triumphed over all.
The trio driving the #7 Porsche faced stiff competition throughout the race. Their relentless adversaries were the #31 Cadillac and their own teammates in the sister #6 Porsche. A notable mention goes to Dries Vanthoor who began the race at pole position in his #24 BMW. However, a penalty issued for a start procedure infringement soon saw this initial advantage wane, with the BMWs struggling to keep pace with their European rivals.
Jack Aitken, in the #31 Cadillac, began the race from the 13th spot only to surge through the field in the early stages of the race. In less than an hour, he had gained six positions, an impressive feat that earned him the lead through the pitstop cycle during an early full course yellow in the second hour. He retained this lead until he handed over the reins to teammate Frederik Vesti.
Vesti’s stint at the wheel was not without its own share of action. He skillfully defended the lead against a challenge from IndyCar champion Alex Palou in the #93 Acura. At this juncture, the Porsches were not among the leaders. However, as is the norm in endurance racing, they could not be discounted.
Eventually, the Porsches started climbing the ranks. It was Felipe Nasr in the #7 car who captured the lead just before the race’s halfway point. From then on, it was a grueling battle between the #31 Cadillac and the #7 Porsche, with the lead swinging back and forth between the two.
However, the Cadillac challenge began to falter in the final hours of the race. The #6 Porsche, manned by Kevin Estre, Mathieu Jaminet, and Matt Campbell, seized this opportunity to move into the second position. Despite their best efforts, they were unable to match their teammates in the #7. With two hours left in the race, Tandy handed over the #7 to Nasr, who eventually crossed the finish line 2.2 seconds ahead of Jaminet in the #6 car.
Coming in third was the #93 Meyer Shank Acura driven by Nick Yelloly, Renger van der Zande, and Alex Palou, trailing by a mere 2.7 seconds behind the victorious #7 Porsche. The #31 Cadillac, driven by Earl Bamber, Frederik Vesti, and Jack Aitken, followed in fourth place.
The LMP2 victory was claimed by the #43 Inter Europol Oreca team, featuring Tom Dillmann, Jeremy Clarke, and Bijoy Garg. Their win came after a fierce competition with the #8 Tower Motorsport Oreca, #11 TDS Racing Oreca, and #04 Crowdstrike by APR Oreca. The win was ironically handed to them after an error by Malthe Jakobsen, a Peugeot factory driver in the FIA World Endurance Championship, who was penalized for hitting a GTD car during the race’s final stages.
In all, the 12 Hours of Sebring was a testament to the relentless spirit of endurance racing. It was a day that saw Porsche claim a 1-2 victory, leaving fans and competitors eagerly anticipating the next round of the 2025 IMSA Sportscar Championship.
