SEBRING, Fla. – Here’s a mix of news and nuggets from the ground at Sebring International Raceway, ahead of this weekend’s Mobil 1 Twelve Hours of Sebring Fueled by Fresh from Florida.
The Continental Tire SportsCar Challenge Sebring 150 is now underway.
We're green! Tune in to @IMSARadio for LIVE coverage from Sebring! #tiresrule pic.twitter.com/iJZlRQE4MF
— Continental Tire (@continentaltire) March 18, 2016
Start Part 2. @C360R @MultimaticRace @CJWilsonRacing pic.twitter.com/5sO1IEQfJf
— Continental Tire (@continentaltire) March 18, 2016
Other sessions that have already taken place this morning include the IMSA WeatherTech SportsCar Championship fourth practice and second races of the weekend from the Mazda Prototype Lites presented by Cooper Tires and Porsche GT3 Cup Challenge USA by Yokohama.
For Thursday’s notes, click here.
IMSA WeatherTech SportsCar Championship
- Action Express’ No. 31 car, CORE autosport’s No. 54 car, the No. 25 BMW and the No. 16 Change Racing Lamborghini led fourth and final practice. Times are linked here. The No. 60 Michael Shank Racing Ligier JS P2 Honda returned to the track after its accident yesterday with repaired bodywork.
- Both Action Express and CORE led all four practice sessions in P and PC. BMW led three of four sessions in GTLM, while Dodge led twice with Aston Martin and Lamborghini leading once apiece in GTD.
- John Edwards of the No. 100 BMW Team RLL BMW M6 GTLM car made an intriguing note: the BMWs appear to be better at night than they do in the day and indicated the Porsche 911 RSRs were quicker in the day than they are at night. It’ll be interesting to see how this plays out.
- Fresh reminder that the “Rock the Grid” concert happens tonight at the track. Here’s a link with more.
- Ferrari debuts its new 488 GT3 worldwide this weekend, both here at Sebring in the GTD class and also in Melbourne at the Australian GT Championship.
- Mobil 1 held its annual dinner to honor Corvette Racing on Thursday night. This year, there was a perfect occasion to celebrate - Corvette’s 1-2 finish in GTLM in a photo finish at Daytona.
Continental Tire SportsCar Challenge
- Three cars moved to the rear of the grid prior to today’s race. The ST class polesitter, Tyler Cooke, moved to the rear in the No. 84 Bimmerworld BMW 328i in the car he shares with James Clay, per an engine. Meanwhile two other ST class Porsche Caymans, the No. 8 Rebel Rock Racing entry and the No. 18 Rennsport One car, had technical violations and were penalized all loss of times.
- Early issues have struck the No. 56 Murillo Racing Porsche Cayman and No. 26 Freedom Autosport Mazda MX-5, two of the contenders for the ST class title. Eric Foss tweeted the No. 56 car he shares with Jeff Mosing was stuck in fifth gear, while Andrew Carbonell told IMSA Radio that apparent brake line issues have sidelined his co-driver Liam Dwyer.
IMSA Development and Single-Make Series
- Lucas Catania took the win for NGT Motorsport in the second Porsche GT3 USA race of the weekend. Results are linked here.
- JDC Motorsports took its second Mazda Prototype Lites win of the weekend with Austin Versteeg taking his first series win. Teammate Clark Toppe won on Thursday. Friday results are linked here.
More to follow later today.