In the thrilling 73rd edition of the Sebring 12 Hours race, a kaleidoscope of manufacturers battled for lead positions. The event, however, echoed the narrative of the Daytona 24 Hours, with Porsche Penske Motorsport yet again reigning supreme. The victory saw two official Porsche 963s and an Acura ARX-06 from Meyer Shank Racing grace the podium.
Nick Tandy, the 40-year-old British driver, etched his name in the annals of racing history. Earlier in January, Tandy became the inaugural driver to clinch the world’s four major 24-hour races – Le Mans, Nürburgring, Daytona, and Spa. However, his racing repertoire lacked the Sebring victory. This year, Tandy filled this void by triumphing with the #7 Porsche 963. His victory at the 2015 Petit Le Mans further cements his status as the only driver to have conquered the planet’s six most prestigious endurance races. “It’s incredible,” Tandy gushed, “winning all the four 24 Hours went global. It’s historic.”
In contrast, Wayne Taylor Racing failed to live up to expectations, with their reunion with Cadillac yielding a disappointing fifth-place finish in Daytona. Wayne Taylor himself voiced his dissatisfaction, stating, “That is probably the most disappointing Sebring 12 Hours I have been to.” Multiple errors, including an off-track excursion by Brendon Hartley, thwarted their hopes for a strong result.
Porsche Penske Motorsport emerged as a winner, with the team flawlessly executing its races. Nick Tandy lauded the team’s impeccable performance, stating, “It’s just a testament to what Porsche and Penske have put together…The two-car operation has had four podiums out of four. No mistakes, no penalties, no damage – today was simply a dream in endurance racing.” This victory marked Penske’s second Sebring 12 Hours win, the first since 2008, and extended Porsche’s all-time record to 19 wins.
The Aston Martin Valkyrie also made a remarkable performance in its second competitive outing. Despite the punishing bumps of Sebring, the team achieved a top-10 finish, a dream result as per team principal Ian James. The Valkyrie’s performance indicates its readiness for more gruelling 24-hour races.
On the flip side, Lamborghini’s performance left much to be desired. A year after securing a solid seventh-place finish at the Sebring 12 Hours, the Lamborghini SC63 retired early, completing only 256 laps. An exhaust problem causing damage to the floor was to blame, casting a shadow over the project’s future.
The race direction also faced scrutiny, with several decisions significantly impacting the race results. A delayed announcement regarding the opening of the pitlane penalised the top three cars. Wayne Taylor criticised a penalty that cost his team dearly, stating, “That one lap cost us the chance to fight for the win. It is inexcusable.”
In the LMP2 category, a mix-up by race direction skewed the race results, leading to widespread anger among competitors, including Sebastien Bourdais of Tower Motorsports.
BMW M Team RLL, despite a favourable BoP and high expectations, fell behind in the race. After the first three races of the season, the German manufacturer has yet to secure a podium finish. Andreas Roos, BMW motorsport chief, expressed his disappointment but remained hopeful for future races.
Finally, AO Racing emerged victorious in the GTD Pro championship, while Vasser Sullivan failed to live up to expectations, losing a potential win in the GTD class. The sister car faced multiple issues and ended up seventh in class.
In conclusion, the 73rd edition of the Sebring 12 Hours was a race of contrasts, with high-octane victories, crushing disappointments, and unexpected outcomes. As the dust settles, the teams will regroup, reassess, and prepare to face the next racing challenge.
