IMSA: DeltaWing engineer hospitalized with brain tumor

Praying for Catherine Crawford, the race engineer for the DeltaWing team in the IMSA WeatherTech Sports Car Championship.

http://www.racer.com/imsa/item/127738-imsa-deltawing-engineer

sports car racing news update

Breaking news, from across the spectrum of sports car racing.

Dumas (Onroak): "We've Made History In Just Two Months"
http://sportscar365.com/imsa/iwsc/dumas-onroak-weve-made-history-in-just-two-months/

Hindman: "I'm A Very Lucky Guy For What I've Got"
http://sportscar365.com/imsa/ctscc/hindman-im-a-very-lucky-guy-for-what-ive-got/

De Chaunac (ORECA): "I Don't See Many DPi Manufacturers In 2017"
http://sportscar365.com/imsa/iwsc/de-chaunac-i-dont-see-many-dpi-manufacturers-in-2017/

LMP1 Non-Hybrid Regulations Overhaul Proposed For 2017
http://sportscar365.com/lemans/wec/lmp1-non-hybrid-regulations-overhaul-proposed-for-2017/

The latest episode, of the Double Stint Podcast.

Double Stint: Prologue Recap; Tommy Milner Interview (3-29-16)
http://sportscar365.com/lemans/wec/double-stint-prologue-recap-tommy-milner-interview-3-29-16-3/

Merhi Completes Manor WEC Lineup
http://sportscar365.com/lemans/wec/merhi-completes-manor-wec-lineup/

Murphy Prototypes Confirms 24H Le Mans Lineup
http://sportscar365.com/lemans/lemans24/murphy-confirms-24h-le-mans-lineup/

Hoy To Make 24H Le Mans Debut in Algarve Ligier JS P2 Nissan
http://sportscar365.com/lemans/elms/hoy-to-make-24h-le-mans-debut-in-algarve-ligier-js-p2-nissan/

VIDEO: Sir Chris Hoy's Road To Le Mans
 http://sportscar365.com/features/videos/video-sir-chris-hoy-on-le-mans-dream/

Expanded TV Coverage of Blancpain GT Confirmed
http://sportscar365.com/blancpain/expanded-tv-coverage-of-blancpain-gt-confirmed/

Ortelli: "The Jaguar Is Just Waiting To Be Further Developed"
http://sportscar365.com/blancpain/ortelli-the-jaguar-is-just-waiting-to-be-further-developed/

Schneider Rejoins HTP for Blancpain Sprint Campaign
http://sportscar365.com/blancpain/schneider-rejoins-htp-for-blancpain-sprint-campaign/

Misano Blancpain Sprint Entry Grows to 40 Cars
 http://sportscar365.com/blancpain/misano-blancpain-sprint-entry-grows-to-40-cars/

PRUETT: 2017 IMSA P2 supply and demand

Racer magazine's Marshall Pruett examines what could become of the 2017 Prototype class in IMSA competition.  Mazda is the only manufacturer, thus far, to commit to the new formula.

http://www.racer.com/more/viewpoints/item/127681-pruett-2017-imsa-p2-supply-and-demand

Blancpain GT Series updates

Catching up with news from the Blancpain GT Series, as the season draws near and the testing at Paul Ricard is complete.

Leinders: "The Aim is to Win the Championship With Garage 59"
http://sportscar365.com/blancpain/leinders-the-aim-is-to-win-the-championship-with-garage-59/

Blancpain GT Entry List Update 3-16
http://sportscar365.com/blancpain/blancpain-gt-entry-list-update-3-16/

Emil Frey Confirms Ortelli, Adds Second Jaguar for Spa 24
http://sportscar365.com/blancpain/emil-frey-confirms-ortelli-adds-second-jaguar-for-paul-ricard-spa/

Bunk Confirmed at HTP for Blancpain GT
http://sportscar365.com/blancpain/maxi-buhk-confirmed-at-htp-motorsport-for-blancpain-gt/

Reip Joins M-Sport Bentley: Blancpain Sprint Lineup Confirmed
http://sportscar365.com/blancpain/reip-joins-m-sport-bentley-blancpain-sprint-lineups-confirmed/

Reip: "I Didn't Think It Could Happen After Only Three Years"
http://sportscar365.com/blancpain/reip-i-didnt-think-it-could-happen-after-only-three-years/

Konrad Enters Lamborghini for Nurburgring 24
http://sportscar365.com/blancpain/konrad-enters-lamborghini-huracan-gt3-for-n24/

Cox: "It Puts A Real Rubber Stamp of What We Achieved"
http://sportscar365.com/blancpain/cox-it-puts-a-real-rubber-stamp-of-what-we-achieved/

Borcheller: "Racing in Europe Is Something I've Always Wanted To Do"
http://sportscar365.com/blancpain/borcheller-racing-in-europe-is-something-ive-always-wanted-to-do/

Boutsen Ginion Belgian Red Devils Project Canceled
http://sportscar365.com/blancpain/boutsen-ginion-belgian-red-devils-project-canceled/

Saturday testing news + more FIA WEC updates

News from testing on Saturday at Paul Ricard, as well as further updates from the FIA World Endurance Championship.

Hartley Tops Incident-Filled Saturday Morning Test Session
http://sportscar365.com/lemans/wec/hartley-tops-incident-filled-saturday-morning-test-session/

Dalziel: "Hopefully We Can Continue The Success"
http://sportscar365.com/lemans/wec/dalziel-hopefully-we-can-continue-that-success/

Porsche Ends Prologue Test On Top
http://sportscar365.com/lemans/wec/porsche-ends-prologue-test-on-top/

Paul Ricard Saturday Notebook
http://sportscar365.com/lemans/wec/paul-ricard-saturday-notebook-3/

VIDEO: Prologue Highlights
http://sportscar365.com/lemans/wec/video-prologue-recap/

Manor Takes Delivery of Second Oreca 05 Nissan
http://sportscar365.com/lemans/wec/manor-takes-delivery-of-second-oreca-05-nissan/

Howard-Chappell (Ford): "We've Been Pleased With The Progress"
http://sportscar365.com/lemans/wec/howard-chappell-ford-weve-been-pleased-with-the-progress/

WeatherTech Racing To Run 2016 24 Hours of Le Mans

WeatherTech Racing will venture to the 24 Hours of Le Mans in June and race their Porsche 911 in the LM GTE Am division of the FIA World Endurance Championship, with drivers Cooper MacNeil, Leh Keen, and Marc Miller.

http://www.imsa.com/articles/weathertech-racing-run-2016-24-hours-le-mans

Panoz DeltaWing Racing Proves Endurance Ability at Sebring

A race report, on how the DeltaWing did, at Sebring a couple weekends ago.  The car completed all but 17 minutes of the grueling 12 hour classic.  They were sidelined, by a steering problem.

http://www.imsa.com/articles/panoz-deltawing-racing-proves-endurance-ability-sebring

IMSA: Pruett's last Prototype ride?

After 30 years, Scott Pruett has probably run his final Prototype class sports car race.  His first, was in 1986, with the Ford Mustang Probe program, teamed with Klaus Ludwig, and then, winning the Columbus Ford Dealers 500, that same year, with Bruce Leven and the Bayside Racing Porsche 962.

http://www.racer.com/imsa/item/127596-imsa-pruett-s-last-prototype-ride#!Bayside962_Pruett_1985_Columbus_Winner_by_Porsche

2016 Hi-Tec Oils Bathurst 6 Hours

Bonus post.  Not a sports car race, per se.  But, an endurance event, nonetheless.  Check out this stream of the Hi-Tec Oils Bathurst 6 Hours touring car race.

http://livestream.com/accounts/1658248/events/4774776

ACO Opposed To IMSA's DPi Regulations; LM24 Eligibility Unclear

Even though IMSA is encouraging manufacturer involvement with it's newly proposed DPi (Daytoina Prototype International), formula, IMSA's vision, does not match, in any way, shape or form, what the ACO has in mind, according to ACO President, Pierre Fillon.

http://sportscar365.com/industry/aco-in-disagreement-with-imsa-over-dpi-regulations/

ACO Confirms New LMP1 Regulations for 2018

The ACO, confirms their new regulations, for the Prototype class, for 2018.  Here are the details.

http://sportscar365.com/lemans/wec/aco-confirms-new-lmp1-regulations-for-2018/

FIA WEC news (continued)

More breaking news from the FIA World Endurance Championship, including continued testing at the Paul Ricard circuit in Le Castellet, France.

Porsche Tops Friday Morning Test at Paul Ricard
http://sportscar365.com/lemans/wec/porche-quickest-in-friday-morning-test-at-paul-ricard/

Porsche Quickest Again In Friday Afternoon Test Session
http://sportscar365.com/lemans/wec/porsche-quickest-again-in-friday-afternoon-test/

Paul Ricard Friday Notebook
http://sportscar365.com/lemans/wec/paul-ricard-friday-notebook-4/

Porsche Quickest on Friday at Paul Ricard
http://sportscar365.com/lemans/wec/porsche-quickest-on-friday-at-paul-ricard/

PHOTOS: Paul Ricard Friday Gallery
http://sportscar365.com/lemans/wec/photos-paul-ricard-friday-gallery-3/

Audi Swaps Cars After Testing Woes
http://sportscar365.com/lemans/wec/audi-swaps-cars-after-testing-woes/

FIA WEC news

The latest news from the FIA World Endurance Championship.  Their season, kicks off, in three weeks or so.

Johnson added to Ford's Early Season WEC Lineup
http://sportscar365.com/lemans/wec/johnson-added-to-fords-early-season-wec-lineup/

Audi Releases Technical Details of New R18
http://sportscar365.com/lemans/wec/audi-releases-technical-details-of-new-r18/

Porsche Reveals New 919 Hybrid
http://sportscar365.com/lemans/wec/porsche-reveals-new-919-hybrid-livery/

Camathias Completes KCMG Porsche Lineup
http://sportscar365.com/lemans/wec/camathias-completes-kcmg-porsche-lineup/

Toyota Launches TS050 Hybrid
http://sportscar365.com/lemans/wec/toyota-launches-ts050-hybrid/

Vasselon (Toyota): "It Was Very Clear We Needed A Change"
http://sportscar365.com/lemans/wec/vasselon-toyota-it-was-very-clear-we-needed-a-change/

WeatherTech Joins Forces with Proton for 24H Le Mans
http://sportscar365.com/lemans/lemans24/weathertech-joins-forces-with-proton-for-24h-le-mans/

Part 2 of Mike Shank Racing's journey to Le Mans.

SHANK: Journey to Le Mans, Pt. 2
http://sportscar365.com/features/commentary/shank-journey-to-le-mans-pt-2/

Johnson: "Being the Only American Driver with Ford WEC is Special"

http://sportscar365.com/lemans/wec/johnson-to-be-the-only-american-driver-with-ford-wec-is-a-special-thing/

Watch & Listen: Relive the Mobil 1 12 Hours of Sebring

Relive ALL the action, from the 64th running of the Mobil 1 12 Hours of Sebring, last Saturday, HERE:

http://www.imsa.com/articles/watch-listen-relive-mobil-1-twelve-hours-sebring

Happy Birthday, Scott Pruett

Another birthday to celebrate.  That of sports car racing living legend, Scott Pruett, who has been running with Action Express Racing, and will join the new Lexus GT Daytona team, later on in the season in the IMSA WeatherTech Championship, in GT Daytona.

http://thisdayinmotorsporthistory.blogspot.com/2016/03/scott-pruett-born-in-roseville.html?spref=fb

Happy Birthday, Steve McQueen

Happy Birthday, to the late, great actor, and sports car racing driver, Steve McQueen.  "Le Mans" is, in my estimation, along with James Garner's "Grand Prix", tied for the best racing movie of all-time.

http://thisdayinmotorsporthistory.blogspot.com/2016/03/actor-race-car-driver-steve-mcqueen.html?spref=fb

ESM, AXR Tied for Lead of NAEC After 12H Sebring

Here's how the North American Endurance Cup championship standings look, after Sebring, as we are now halfway, through the endurance championship.  Two rounds down, and two to go, at the 6 Hours of Watkins Glen in late June, and in October, to close out the season at Petit Le Mans.

http://sportscar365.com/imsa/iwsc/esm-axr-tied-for-lead-of-naec-after-12h-sebring/

Acura Reveals NSX GT3

The headline, says it all.

http://nasportscar.com/acura-reveals-nsx-gt3/

ELMS testing at Paul Ricard

Notebooks on European Le Mans Series testing at the Paul Ricard High Tech Test Track, for Monday, Tuesday, and Wednesday.

Paul Ricard Monday Notebook
http://sportscar365.com/lemans/elms/paul-ricard-monday-notebook-2/

Paul Ricard Tuesday Notebook
http://sportscar365.com/lemans/elms/paul-ricard-tuesday-notebook-2/

Paul Ricard Wednesday Notebook
http://sportscar365.com/lemans/elms/paul-ricard-wednesday-notebook-4/

Sebring Content Recap

All the stories, from Sebring, covered by Sportscar365.

http://sportscar365.com/imsa/ctscc/sebring-content-recap/

Ben's Analysis: 2016 12 Hours of Sebring

Ben Wedge, from NASportscar.com, analyzes the fastest cars from the 12 Hours of Sebring.

http://nasportscar.com/bens-analysis-2016-12-hours-of-sebring/

Raffauf (IMSA): "The Needs of DPi and LMP2 Are Completely Different"

IMSA's Director of Racing Platforms, Mark Raffauf, explains that the new rules including the new DPi formula, along with LMP2, are meeting entirely different needs, after the ACO in France, questioned the idea.

http://sportscar365.com/imsa/iwsc/raffauf-imsa-the-needs-of-dpi-and-lmp2-are-completely-different/

Post-race from Sebring

Take a look at some of the post-race stories after the 12 Hours of Sebring.  Plus, relive the wild finish.

Corvette Doubles Up, Claims GTLM Win at Sebring
http://sportscar365.com/imsa/iwsc/corvette-completes-florida-endurance-double/

Derani, ESM Win 12H Sebring In Thrilling Finish
http://sportscar365.com/imsa/iwsc/derani-esm-win-12h-sebring-in-thrilling-finish/

VIDEO: Final Laps of Sebring
http://sportscar365.com/features/videos/video-final-laps-of-12h-sebring/

Sebring Post-Race Notebook
http://sportscar365.com/imsa/iwsc/sebring-post-race-notebook/

Happy Birthday, Geoff Brabham

Another birthday shout out to a great sports car racing driver.  Geoff Brabham.

http://thisdayinmotorsporthistory.blogspot.com/2015/03/geoff-brabham-born-in-sydney-australia.html?spref=fb

Happy Birthday, Gianpiero Moretti

Happy Birthday, to the late, great, Gianpiero Moretti, who, was a great sports car driver, and the founder of Momo.  My fondest recollection of his career, was, watching on television, as he won the 1998 Rolex 24 at Daytona, a race, that has been featured, in video, here on the blog.

http://thisdayinmotorsporthistory.blogspot.com/2016/03/italian-driver-momo-founder-giampiero.html?spref=fb

12 Hours of Sebring: Hours 11-12 (the finish)

Into the last hour of the 12 Hours of Sebring.

Many GT class drivers stopped recently, on lap 200.  It will be a handicap race for some of the GT class cars.  Colin Braun holds Tom Kimber-Smith at bay for the time being.  Andy Lally and Robin Liddell make their final pit stops in GT Daytona.  Fuel and tires for #44.  Andy Lally will take the car to the finish.  The #6 car beats them out of the lane.  News on the #70 Mazda, and Joel Miller has rejoined this race.  We are coming to crunch time in this race.  Run the tank as far as it goes?  Or, risk running out of gas?  Earl Bamber in the Porsche and Dirk Werner in the BMW, second and third in GTLM in together.  No driver change for either car.

Mario Farnbacher will finish the race for the #23 Alex Job Porsche.  "Super Mario" is in the car, and let's see if he can win again, just like last year.  Driver change for the #98 Aston Martin V8 Vantage. Formula 1 veteran Pedro Lamy is at the controls for the end of this one.  We are now a mere 47 minutes away from the end of this race.  Pippo Derani leads, with four cars on the lead lap.  220 laps completed.  814 miles.  We are ready to conclude this event.  The finish, is coming up, fast.  This is a race, but also a happening. 

A day of barbecues, orange blossoms, and motor oil.  That's what we've seen, for the whole day.  We've seen rain, we've seen lightning, and we've seen a red flag today.  We are still under yellow.  Pits are open for Prototypes.  This could decide the race.  Who can execute the cleanest pit stop.  Leader Pippo Derani, he is in need of more fuel.  Forget basketball.  This, is March Madness.  Derani is in and everyone else follows.

What will happen?  Action Express cars in.  No tires for #31.  He's locked into a bad angle.  Tire change for #2.  #31 beats #5 and there goes the #60.  It may be we have a different winner here at Sebring.  19.1 seconds for fuel.  A long stop, for Derani, the Rolex 24 winner.  Pla and Derani are the hot shoes in this battle.  The deal is the tires for #2.  They will have sharper tires.  #5 and #31 have a slight advantage. 

#2 will have to come to life.  Bed in those tires, and get them hot.  Dane and Felipe will have to pounce, and book it to get away.  In five minutes, #2 will be cooking.  The #28 Konrad Motorsports Lamborghini Huracan GT3, pits.  It's the only GT Daytona machine to pit.  30 minutes now nremain.  Lights out on the safety car.  We are ready to race.  The GT Le Mans cars take the flag first.  Corvette leads.  Will Turner Motorsports end up using up their tires? 

Car #81 has lost some dive planes off the rfront of the car.  Oh my!  Olivier Pla has gotten around someone and gets hung up by a GTD car!  Oh boy.  A GT Daytona car runs wide.  This is the magic of miulti-class sports car racing.  Ooh.  Dane Cameron has to battle with different scrums around the field.  Jesse Krohn in GTD and Davide Rigon in GTLM.  Tom Kimber-Smith takes the Prototype Challenge lead.  A late move by Tom Kimber Smith.  Derani has moved into the top four.  This is hot and heavy as we run to the end.

The clock is ticking.  Dane Cameron and Filipe Albuquerque are under a second from each other, as we have 22 minutes to go.  Now, David Hinton is off the road, in the tires, and we have a full course yellow.  For Dane Cameron, team boss Gary Nelson will say, "stay in line, boys."  David Hinton will have to be rescued.  Gary Nelson, will let those boys race.  That was a joke.  Now, this is a short yellow flag.  This is the 13th yellow.  The DeltaWing is off, with Andy Meyrick at the wheel.  He's turning the steering wheel.  David Hinton's car has suspension breakage.  Something gave up on the car.

We have 15 minutes to go in the 64th 12 Hours of Sebring.  We are headed to green, now.  Dane Cameron leads.  The Deltawing is up onto the rollback.  It was running trouble free.  Was there a steering problem with the car?  With Sebring, you can only think the bumps will shake the cars apart.  Now, Action Express will race each other, just as long as they don't take each other out.  In GT Daytona, watch out for Alessandro Balzan and Mario Farnbacher.  Farnbacher, Alex Riberas, and Ian James won this race last year.

OK.  We're go!  Twelve and a half minutes to go.  Derani rockets into third spot.  He's going for it it fresh tires.  The game is afoot.  The jig is up.  Derani is going to push Albuquerque for position in second.  Dane Cameron has slight breathing room.  The Ligier Honda's make their speed with downforce.  Cooler air should give the car horsepower and downforce.  Cameron, Albuqerque, Derani, Lapierre, and Pla, the top five.  Seven cars are on the lead lap.  But, it looks as if five could be in contention to win this thing.

Seven minutes to go.  Pippo Derani is up to second.  He is trying Dane Cameron.  Derani put on a brilliant pass, for second, on Filipe Albuquerque.  This is a good run.  Here he goes!  He's done it!  He brakes late, and the downforce helps.  Cut and paste on Cameron, up to Cunningham Corner and into the Collier Curves.  Wait 'til the car in front touches the brakes, pop out, and brake.  Textbook pass taught in road racing school.  Albuquerque is going for it, but he does not want to take out Cameron, his team mate. 

Mario Farnbacher is up to third in GT Daytona, behind Alessandro Balzan and Jens Klingman.  Tommy Milner holds on to a three second margin over the BMW of Dirk Werner, for the GTLM battle.  How is the BMW making it on fuel?  He's gone 39 some odd laps since his last time in the lane.  Farnbacher is there.  Wow.  Two minutes to go.  Two laps of this race left, folks.  Who wins the 64th 12 Hours of Sebring?

This is a team sport.  Teams provide their drivers with cars that can race.  Scott Sharp and Patron ESM have never had a program like this.  Amazing, how this young bloke can do really well.  He's been stunning all race.  He is unassuming, and enjoying this racing.  Derani might be sweeping the 36 Hours of Florida.  Tristan Nunez and Mazda will finish sixth.  Down the Ulmann straight for the final time, and Derani wins!  They have won for Ligier and Honda, the 36 Hours of Florida!  Daytona and Sebring sweep!  Break out the broom, daddy-o!

CORE Autosport wins Prototype Challenge.  The 36 Hours of Florida also goes to Corvette!  Corvette gets their tenth Sebring victory.  But, Corvette boss Doug Fehan says that Ford, is coming, despite the problems they've had in the opening endurance races.  Ferrari back on top in GT Daytona for Alessandro Balzan and company.  Alessandro Balzan, Jeff Segal, and Christina Nielsen.  Scuderia Corsa wins, with a brand new car, at Sebring! 

Overall/Prototype: #2 Sharp/Brown/Derani     Ligier JS P2 Honda

             Prototype
             Challenge: #54 Bennett/Braun/Wilkins   Oreca FLM Chevrolet

             GT Le Mans: #4 Gavin/Milner/Fassler   Chevrolet Corvette C-7-R-

            GT Daytona: #63 Nielsen/Balzan/Segal  Ferrari 488 GT3

For the first time since 1998, a team sweeps the 36 Hours of Florida.  The last team to do that was the late Gianpiero Morrett's Momo Ferrari team, with the legendary Ferrari 333SP driven by Mauro Baldi, Didier Theys, and the late, great Gianpiero Moretti.  The sweet taste of orange juice, in the Sebring winner's circle.  What a fabulous race this was!

Next up, the first sprint race of the season.  The legendary Grand Prix of Long Beach on the streets of Long Beach, California, coming up, in a shade less than a month's time.  From the longest races, to the shortest race, a 100 minute sprint on the streets of Long Beach.  Pippo Derani, is a star in the making.  The weather was wild.  The finish, was off the hook! So long, from the orange groves of Sebring, Florida. 

 

12 Hours of Sebring: Hour 10

Olivier Pla has gone off the road in turn ten as the rain begins to fall once more.  In the midst of this, a drive through penalty for one of the BMW Team RLL BMW M6's.  Tommy Milner is leading in GT Le Mans now.  A 2.6 second gap separates Christian Fittipaldi from Dane Cameron as Ryan Hunter-Reay passes.  Ozz Negri has taken over car #60, on slicks, in the rain!  Get heat into the tires early.  Just hope it does not go to monsoon conditions.  The Deltawing has been taken over by Andy Meyrick.  Dane Cameron is the first of the leaders to pit.  There's steam coming from the brakes on the #31 Whelen Corvette Prototype.

It is getting a set of four slick tires.  Very brave to be going out on slicks in the rain.  Everyone will have to make two more pit stops at least.  Christian Fittipaldi hits the lane for slick, sticker tires.  A driver change for the #5.  Filipe Albuquerque gets in.  More steaming brakes for the Corvette Prototypes.  Ryan Hunter-Reay leads this motor race, for Visit Florida Racing.  No worries about a distance record, because of the stoppage of this race earlier due to the torrential rain.  Johannes van Overbeek has retaken the lead for ESM. 

The #25 car had an overboost on it's turbocharger.  That warranted a penalty in the eyes of the stewards.  Thus, the penalty.  Pit stop time for Johannes van Overbeek, pitting from the lead.  We watch a battle in GTD,l and Mario Farnbacher runs wide, allowing Jeff Segal to go by!  But, he wobbles again, and Farnbacher could come back, but no.  Segal drives down the inside.  Mark Wilkins pits from the lead in Prototype Challenge.  Filipe Albuquerque ends up going back into the lead with team mate Dane Cameron close at hand.

With an hour and 3/4 left, it's still all to play for.  Pippo Derani is awesomely quick, and so is Oswaldo Negri Jr.  One hour and 45 minutes left.  The #97 Turner Motorsport BMW M6 GT was in with Jesse Krohn at the wheel.  Starworks came in and took slicks for one car and wets for the other.  We expect to see more GT cars imminently, in the lane.  Yours truly isn't hedging bets on anything at the moment.  Action Express cannot take any chances.  If you are at VisitFlorida, are you happy with a podium, or, do you want to flat out go for it and turn up the wick to 11? 

Jon Bennett got out of the #54 car, and Colin Braun is in it.  Tommy Milner pits the #4 Corvette.  Richie Stanaway fired up the car, and started to move while the team at Aston Martin was still fueling.  The marshals will have something to say about that.  Fuel only for #4.  The #67 Ford GT pitted for tires.  #3 is still in this race.  #3 is ninth overall.  Marc Goossens and Nicolas Minassian are both running slower times than expected.  Both of them are dropping back behind the race leader.  Tom Kimber-Smith leads Prototype Challenge, as Colin Braun is closing.  The #70 Mazda of Joel Miller separates them.

If you stop in the next five minutes, you'll have to just make one more stop.  No one is on this strategy though.  Are you getting in, rolling the dice?  Or, are you getting in, and going long to the end of the race?  You'll have to do a splash and dash right before the end of this thing.  Tommy Milner leads Earl Bamber by 16.5 seconds.  Richard Westbrook has gotten the speed back in the Ford GT.  A Prototype Challenge car spins in turn ten.  It's Kent Koch in the #85 he shares with Chris Miller, Stephen Simpson, and Misha Goikhberg.  The #4 Corvette almost ran into it! 

Nicolas Lapierre has to put down qualifying laps now.  202 laps now completed.  747.4 miles.  An update as Tommy Milner did take tires during his pit stop.  A wheel has come off a car!  Oh dear!  This is without doubt, a full course caution.  The wheel is at pit out.  It is a Continental Tire, that maybe belonged to the #81 car with Nicolas Lapierre at the controls.  It is actually a Porsche.  Was it car #22?  Pit stop time for the leaders.  Olivier Pla takes over car #60.  #5 and #31 also in, for a full fuel load.  It is like a gunfight.  Who blinks first?

Mazda is running very well with their new MZR-R gas motor.  Fuel only for the #67 Ford GT and Richard Westbrook will take it to the end.  Same for the #63 and #33 GTD cars.  Jeroen Bleekemolen stays in the car.  GTLM cars can't possibly do an hour and 14 minutes to the end of the race as far as fuel.  Marc Goossens leads from the #2 and #5 cars.  Colin Braun leads Prototype Challenge again, after not making a pit stop.  Lucas Luhr will come in right at the end of the yellow flag.  Green flag waves, again.

Everyone has to make one last stop.  Marc Goossens spins in turn seven, and so does Lucas Luhr, in second place in GTLM!  Oh my!  The BMW spun off the road but did not collect anyone else.  This now becomes our eleventh yellow flag.  Dane Cameron has leapfrogged the #2 and #5 cars.  We are near the end of the tenth hour.  Pippo Derani has passed Dane Cameron.  Does Marc Goossens have more damage?  The car was overheating a tad.  No damage.  Just fuel and some routine maintenance.  Pippo Derani is leading this race now.  Dane Cameron is being pressured by Filipe Albuquerque.  Team mates side by side, and here comes Olivier Pla!

We are back under green. 

12 Hours of Sebring: Hour 9

We are going full course yellow, as Josh Norman has crashed in the #38 Prototype Challenge machine, and also, the #88 Sean Johnston car, also a Prototype Challenge competitor as well.  These blokes are in a dangerous spot.  Hence, the yellow.  #88 ran out of fuel.  Oh dear.  Will top teams pit?  Action Express is playing it coy about pit stops right now, putting tires on the wall.  The Risi Ferrari may pit.  The leaders may pit.  Mazda #55 pitted and Jonathan Bomarito handed the car to Spencer Pigot.  Pit stop time for the leaders.  Christian Fittipaldi will get into car #5.  #81 and #38 are pitting.  James French takes over the #38, with no damage.  #31 also made a stop.  Start back timing the race, and make sure you are on full tanks to the end of the race.

The #25 BMW pits from the lead in GTLM.  Dirk Werner out, and Bill Auberlen, in.  The #67 Ford GT has pitted and Richard Westbrook is not at the wheel.  Andrew Davis takes over the #6 Audi R8 for Stevenson Motorsports.  We have the time on the clock of a standard WeatherTech Championship race.  2 hours and 45 minutes, left.  This is our ninth yellow flag of the race, and we are looking for a restart.  Darkness has enveloped the Sebring International Raceway, like a warm, fluffy blanket.  But, no one is sleeping here.

The lights have gone out on the safety car.  Lots of GT Daytona cars are in line.  We are going back to green, now.  Four wide and a squeeze play to Ryan Hunter-Reay!  Yikes!  Fittipaldi is whistling into the darkness as Lucas Luhr has cars separating him from Fred Makowiecki in the Porsche.  That's Bill Auberlen, not Luhr.  The two BMW's are 1-2 in GTLM.  Richard Westbrook and Frederic Makowiecki are close at hand.  Sean Rayhall is a lap or so back, needed a service after the wave around.  Christian Fittipaldi leads Ryan Hunter-Reay. 

Lucas Luhr continues leading GTLM.  Most of the leaders are running lap times in the 1:55 bracket.  Rain falls again, and we have our tenth full course yellow.  The #10 Wayne Taylor Racing Corvette Prototype has run off of turn eight.  This will open things up.  The Deltawing came out ahead of the #60 Ligier Honda.  #5 still leads as we are 176 laps, 651 miles, into this race.  We are settling in for the final two hours of this event. 

How much fuel is in the tank?  How hard are you pushing?  Tommy Milner has taken the GTLM lead in the Corvette, away from Lucas Luhr in the BMW M6 GT.  They are 20 seconds up on Giancarlo Fischella in the #62 Risi Competizione Ferrari 488 GTE.  Bill Auberlen in the sister BMW M6 and Fred Makowiecki in the #912 Porsche 911 RSR, complete the top five in class.  The battle in Prototype Challenge is hotting up!  Mark Wilkins vs. Tom Kimber-Smith.  It's down to driver skill here, with the same car, same chassis, same tires, and same Chevrolet V8 motor.

Tom Kimber-Smith is applying the blowtorch to Mark Wilkins.  The battle for second in the overall is the most intense right now.  Tommy Milner is pulling away from Giancarlo Fisichella in GTLM.  Corvette swept the enduros last year.  Bill Auberlen is third in the BMW M6 GT.  Bill Auberlen is flying, and there's likely an issue with the #67 Ford GT.  They have not had the consistent pace of some of the other teams.

Mario Farnbacher leads GT Daytona, in the Porsche, over Jeff Segal, in the #63 Scuderia Corsa Ferrari 488 GT3.  The Turner Motorsports BMW M6 GT, and the Aston Martin V8 Vantage are next in line in GT Daytona.  We are coming to the end of hour nine.  Matteo Cressoni is also running well in the #51 Ferrari.  It is now beginning to rain on the far end of the circuit.  Nicolas Minassian is pitting for slick tires. 

12 Hours of Sebring: Hour 8

Eric Curran takes over from Scott Pruett in the #31 Whelen Corvette.  Pippo Derani has served his penalty.  The #63 Ferrari 488 GTE of Christina Nielsen runs over a patch of water.  One of the Ford GT's is in the lane, and the #2 ESM car just came into the pits, even though Pippo Derani just served his penalty.  Scratch that.  It was the #67.  Johannes van Overbeek actually took over car #2.  Scott Dixon pitted the #67 Ford GT and Ryan Briscoe has taken over the car.  #5 in the lane, pitting from the lead, with Joao Barbosa at the controls.  Eric Curran is now driving the #31 car.  The #10 Wayne Taylor Racing Corvette Prototype has Max Angelelli at the wheel, and the #90 Corvette Prototype, has Ryan Hunter-Reay driving, currently. 

Joao Barbosa was passed by a Prototype Challenge machine.  Kyle Marcelli goes off the road in turn 13.  Could Action Express Racing have their second consecutive race win at Sebring?  We are under yellow, once again.  The sky has cleared, and the temperatures are cool, with humidity in the air.  Much better weather.  Pit stop time for Prototype Challenge cars.  Max Angelelli is in to be topped up for fuel.  Mike Rockefeller is back out on track with the #3 Corvette and that car has had the rear suspension replaced.  Traffic has been the issue today, but, it's been handled well.

The #2 ESM Ligier Honda has gone down to fifth overall after the penalty.  The Magnus Racing #44 Audi R8 is now back on the lead lap, and there's some damage to the bumper.  Plenty of pit stops happening for the GT cars at the moment.  Wayne Taylor Racing, has an electronics problem in the #10 Corvette Prototype at the moment.  Max Angelelli is catching up with the pack, and thankfully did not go a lap down. 

This yellow has allowed the #67 Ford and the #4 Corvette to get a lap back.  The #54 Black Swan Porsche has pitted.  Jan Heylen has gotten into the #73 car.  Tim Pappas, Andy Pilgrim, and Nicky Catsburg, share the #540 Black Swan Racing Porsche.  Pit stop time for #33, #68, and #4.  #68 is down and away, as are #33 (the Viper), and the #98 Aston Martin, while Ryan Briscoe pits the #67 Ford GT.  Ryan Hunter-Reay is on the pace, and we watch GTLM cars fighting with GTD cars.

Corey Lewis is back in the lead in GTD.  We have a bunch of Aud's, Markus Palttala in one of the Turner BMW's and another Ferrari.  Jose Guttierez is now the new Prototype Challenge leader, taking the lead from #54 Mark Wilkins.  Palttala has passed one of the Ferrari's.  It's spitting rain now.  Oh dear.  Johannes van Overbeek has spun the #2 and Jose Guttierez does a sympathy spin in avoidance.  Bill Auberlen, Lucas Luhr, and Giancarlo Fisichella are battling for GT Le Mans honors.  This is a GT bonanza in the midfield right now.

Ryan Briscoe seems to be back up to speed in the #67 Ford GT.  The #912 Porsche of Fred Makowiecki is pushing hard in GTLM as well.  We have drizzle on track and the #85 PC car of Chris Miller is off the road.  There was contact with David Heinemeier-Hanson in one of the Starworks PC cars.  We see a steaming Porsche at the pit lane exit.  The #3 Corvette is now going back to the truck.  It could be game over for that automobile.  Five cars are on the lead lap.  #5, #90, #2, #81, and #31.  The DragonSpeed boys don't have the pace, but they've been up at the sharp end for a good chunk of this race.

We're nearing the end of the eighth hour.  Bill Auberlen is making his 23rd start at the 12 Hours of Sebring.  Second only, in most starts, to the legend, Hurley Haywood.  Hurley Haywood made 28 starts.  Auberlen has 23.  Jan Magnussen is making his 18th start.  Oliver Gavin is making his 16th start.  15th for Johannes van Overbeek.  Olivier Pla has to unlap himself, but, he's been flying as of late.  Pla in the Ligier Honda, and the Mazda's, both need to be behind the leaders, to pass, and try to get their laps back.

Ryan Hunter-Reay is in the #90 car.  The #0 DeltaWing is also running well with Sean Rayhall at the controls.  Nicolas Minassian wants to pass Johannes van Overbeek for third in the overall.  156 laps complete.  577 miles.  The #50 Riley BMW is ahead of the top six GT Daytona runners.  Corey Lewis, Markus Palttala, Robin Liddell, Leh Keen, Dion von Moltke, and Raffaele Giammaria.  Battles everywhere.  More electrical issues for the #10 WTR Corvette.  This is great racing indeed. 

Mark Wilkins takes the lead from Jose Guttierez and Sean Johnston in Prototype Challenge.  GTD has also been amazing.  The second place BMW M6 has gotten into a wreck with the #85 PC car!  Chris Miller and Lucas Luhr have gotten together!  Luhr finally re-fires the car.  Luhr is sharing of course with John Edwards, and Kuno Wittmer.  He'll have to regain lost ground now, as we head for the ninth of 12 hours in this motor race.

Corey Lewis is now leading in GT Daytona in the #16 Change Racing Lamborghini.  This is the magical time of the race, in twilight.  Jose Guttierez has been passed by Mark Wilkins for the Prototype Challenge class lead.  Alessandro Pier Guidi is making up positions in GT Daytona.  BMW leads Ferrari in GTLM.  Bryan Sellers in the Paul Miller Racing Lamborghini Huracan GT3 has also done well.  Joao Barbosa has 3.8 seconds in hand over the field.  We are getting down to the last three hours of this event, folks.  It's the final quarter of the race.

12 Hours of Sebring: Hour 7

#5 makes a pit stop for slick tires.  Joao Barbosa takes over the driving chores.  How will Barbosa feel?  How much flexibility will he have in his wrist that just came out of a cast?  There was a problem on the #9 Audi.  The #4 Corvette is also in the pits.  They are going to slick tires.  The steam coming off the tires, in standing water, means the wet tires are very hot.  The tires are burning up.  Ricky Taylor tries going off line, and gets past Joao Barbosa.  He has to open a gap on Barbosa before Barbosa's tires bed in. 

Joao Barbosa is now in the lead.  But, for Barbosa, now that the track is dry, it will be harder for him to drive.  Drama!  The #2 HPD Prototype spins.  Problems for the #24, too.  But, here, on the wet concrete, the Porsche and the Corvette, both spin into turn one, and, crunch!  The two cars pirouette and smash the tire wall in turn one.  The front end is definitely askew, and Estre moved a 4,000 pound concrete block at least a few feet.  One more look, and these boys have a GTD Audi between them, and Jan Magnussen didn't even know Estre was there.  The GTD car had more speed, clearly.  It looks like it's game over for two of the top GT Le Mans contenders.

This wreck will take a while to clean up.  The wall moved, and the tires were scattered.  So, we are under full course yellow.  Estre was trying to stop, and couldn't.  He was focused on the wet part of road.  Scott Dixon in the Ford GT is now leading in class.  Ford, BMW, Porsche, and Ferrari, are the top four in GTLM.  That's what makes sports car racing great.  Four automakers in the top four places.  The accident is being cleared up.  John Edwards is fifth in the second BMW RLL BMW M6 GT.  Scott Pruett is currently leading.  He has speed, and fire left in him, and will race with Lexus, in GT Daytona, later in the year.

The banded tires against the wall do a good job of dissipating energy, and minimizing damage.  We won't go back to racing until the track is safe.  It is now, and we are back to green.  We are nearly to the end of the seventh hour.  Pippo Derani is inching closer to Scott Pruett.  Derani has passed Joao Barbosa and has his sites set on Scott Pruett.  Scott Dixon leads GT Le Mans over Bruno Spengler and Michael Christensen.  Brtuno Spengler in the #25 BMW Team RLL BMW M6 GT.  Spengler cannot catch the Ford of Scott Dixon, who is whistling off into the distance.

The two Prototype Challenge leaders are blocking the BMW.  Don Yount and Jose Guttierez.  The intensity ratchets up on the back straight with tons of traffic.  Patrick Lindsey leads GT Daytona in the #73 Park Place Porsche 911 GT3, sharing with Matthew McMurry, and Jorg Bergmeister.  There a lots of GTD cars in a straight fight in-class.  Scott Pruett, leads Pippo Derani.  Pruett wants another Sebring win.  Derani, wants to put his money where his mouth is, and back up his win at the Rolex 24.

This is a great battle.  But other drivers need to cycle through both of the top two cars right now.  Dominik Farnbacher goes off the road in turn ten in the #24 Alegra Riley BMW.  Lots of sand in the radiator, and Pippo Derani tags the #28 Konrad Lamborghini.  Did Derani run the #28 off the road?  Beaux Barfield said if a Prototype crashes into a slower car, there will be a penalty for Pippo Derani.  Derani stays on track.  Joao Barbosa's crew needs to tell Barbosa, "he's not there."  ESM will have to tell Derani to settle down.

Barbosa is now behind Derani.  Barbosa has eleven seconds in hand over his closest pursuer, Ryan Dalziel.  Scott Pruett still leads.  137 laps done.  506.9 miles.  

12 Hours of Sebring: Hour 6

Nick Tandy has now found himself in the lead of GT Le Mans.  He is ahead of Michael Christensen, his team mate.  Pippo Derani, (real name, Luis Felipe), is on slicks.  But, rain could be coming again.  There is some precipitation out there.  Will there be another downpour?  Will teams have to tear up their tire strategies?  The #10 Corvette Prototype is back on slicks.  There's bright sky on the other side.  Derani has made a statement, because he's running at least eight seconds faster that the Daytona Prototype spec cars.  Renger van der Zande in the #8 Starworks car in Prototype Challenge, is very talented, and he's running ahead of one of the Porsche's.

The moisture is consistent.  There could be another chunk of rain coming up.  No lightning and storming.  But, rain, to say the least.  Slicks are the way to go for now.  But, tire temperature is what is needed.  Get to a temperature threshold, otherwise, the grip just won't be there.  Davide Rigon in the #62 Risi Competizione Ferrari 488 GTE is going well.  Robert Alon, is running pretty well along with Tom Kimber-Smith.  For Starworks Motorsport, the team is Renger van der Zande, Alex Popow, and David Heinemeier-Hanson.

We watch Davide Rigon and Marcel Fassler battle in GTLM.  Corvette C7R vs. Ferrari 488 GTE.  Filipe Albuquerque still leads overall.  Colin Braun now leads Prototype Challenge.  Braun is a solid driver along with Mark Wilkins, and Jon Bennett.  Braun runs a 2:16.3 lap time.  Kyle Marcelli got around Robert Alon, and ran wide.  Lap times have increased.  They are now 2:14-2:15.  It's more of a wet weather track as drivers scramble for grip.  It is a more even track, depending on if drivers are on slicks or wets.

Nick Tandy still leads GT Le Mans.  "Handy Tandy", or, "Quick Nick", we could call him.  He's quite the driver.  He lives and breathes racing.  Nic Jonsson and Terry Borcheller are battling in GT Daytona.  Tandy flies down the Ulmann straight, named for Alec Ulmann who had the idea to bring a race to Sebring.  Renger van der Zande is going for it through Kristensen Corner.  #5 and #31 pit from the top two places.  They are putting on sticker wet tires.

Two spot on pit stops from Action Express.  Albuquerque gave it some welly to thunder the big V8 Chevy out of the lane.  Use caution on fresh wet tires.  Albuquerque is tiptoeing through turns 3, 4, and 5.  Pay attention to nthe weather radar.  Marcel Fassler went through the runoff zone at the hairpin.  More weather is coming.  Pippo Derani went to slicks of course.  Many people who recently pitted have reinstalled rain tires.  The #22 Alex Job Racing GT Daytona Porsche 911 GT3R has gone to slick tires.

Tandy hits pit lane.  What tires will he use?  Both the #911 and #912 on pit road.  Porsche will stay with wet weather tires for both of their cars.  Madison Snow in the #48 Paul Miller Racing Lamborghini Huracan GT3, pits as well.  Al Carter takes over the #16 Lamborghini.  He almost went off the road, and saves it!  Condition transitions, mean exploration.  Renger van der Zande spins in the middle of turn 17, while the #38 of Josh Norman, dirt tracks it, and almost gets collected by the Stevenson Audi and the Turner BMW in GT Daytona!

Al Carter is going to have to learn the race track.  There is some debris on the #4 Corvette's front end.  It's a brake marker sign.  Oh dear!  A problem for the #67 Ford GT!  It's a cut down rear tire.  Scot Dixon.  Correction, it's Sebastien Bourdais in the star crossed #66 entry.  Marcel Fassler is at the controls of the Corvette.  No sign of #66.  #3 goes off and on.  It's difficult to get grip on this slick speedway right now.  A little drizzle creates havoc.  Fassler passes the #44 Magnus Racing Audi R8.  #4 is off track, again!  Jeepers!

#4 is struggling for grip.  The Corvette's are still on slick tires.  The wet tires absolutely went to jelly.  Wet tires are actually on the wall, for the #4.  He's had three off's and two pit stops.  Kevin Estre and Michael Christensen are booking it.  Take your medicine now, and then, get back out, and floor it.  Sidebar.  Back to that #16 Lamborghini that was in strife earlier, it is just a two driver lineup in that automobile.  Corey Lewis and Spencer Pumpelly.  We are six hours and 40 minutes into this one, folks. 

This track continues to change.  But, the Action Express boys are making it look easy.  Rain might be coming back again.  Not much difference in lap time between those on slicks and those on wets.  Matteo Cressoni continues to lead GT Daytona over Lawson Aschenbach in the Stevenson Motorsports Audi R8.  The #9 Stevenson Audi is shared by Aschenbach, Matt Bell, and Dion von Moltke.  #6 is Robin Liddell, Connor de Phillippi, and Andrew Davis.  Jens Klingman passes Lawson Aschenbach in the GTD Turner Motorsports BMW M6 GT.

Pippo Derani has a spin in turn 16.  He's on slicks.  Derani was trying to go by Scott Pruett into Le Mans Curve.  He was trying to pass Scott Pruett and he didn't have the preferred line.  Thankfully he did not flat spot the tires.  Many people will go for slicks soon.  Kevin Estre in the #911 Porsche, is trying to keep the Michelin rain tires cool.  Allan McNish is at Sebring, giving the Stevenson Audi drivers some support.

Dominik Farnbacher in the #24 Riley BMW Prototype, spins, and continues.  If you are right on slick tires, time comes to you.  If you are wrong, it's a disaster.  The GT Daytona cars, have anti lock brakes and traction control.

 

12 Hours of Sebring: Hour 5

OK.  The cars are ready.  We are ready to race again.  Back in 1965, there was rain, and the conditions were much worse.  That was the year that Jim Hall and Hap Sharp, won, with the Chapparal, a legendary race car of his own design.  We have not seen rain at Sebring since 1997.  The forecast calls for the rain to stop.  Race Director Beaux Barfield is doing a track inspection with one of the Porsche course cars.  The race cars will go out under yellow, behind the safety car.  They could just throw a yellow flag, and let the cars circulate slowly.  There's loads of humidity in the air now.  The Rain-X is being thrown onto the windscreens.  The #66 Ford GT is in parc ferme, and needs to be repaired.

They think they might be OK, and they can still be in the race.  The pits are open for stops.  The #81 DragonSpeed ORECA 05 Honda, from the European Le Mans Series, is the first car in the lane, and now, the other Prototypes pit.  Sharing the driving chores for #81 are Sweden's Henrik Hedman, and two rapid Frenchmen, with the same first name.  Nicolas Minassian, and Nicolas Lapierre.  Le Mans and Sebring champion, and all-time win leader at Le Mans, Tom Kristensen, is living in Florida, for a short period. 

Olivier Pla is also a Ford GT driver for the World Endurance Championship, and for Krohn Racing car in the European Le Mans Series.  Fox Sports' Andrew Marriott interviews Tom Kristensen.  He says he has never seen this much rain during the race, but did see a really wet night practice at Sebring while he was driving.  Corvette is in the lane.  It's a scheduled stop for the #4 as well as the sister car.  Tom Kristensen was Grand Marshal for the Rolex 24, and he says that he is not planning to return to racing. 

Will TK beat Fox Sports' Calvin Fish at golf?  Well, that remains to be seen.  Hehe.  We are going to go back to green.  No more chit chat, happy chappy silliness.  It's time to put the hammer down, and resume the race, in the fifth hour.  We aren't far from halfway.  We can't go back to green yet, as Spencer Pigot has nosed the #55 Mazda Prototype into the wall.  He went straight on, for some odd reason.  Pigot is sharing with Jonathan Bomarito and Tristan Nunez. 

British driver Josh Webster will do his first laps at Sebring soon.  He is driving for Konrad Motorsports in the #28 Lamborghini Huracan GT3.  He is co-driving with the great Terry Borcheller along with German Christopher Bruck and Norbert Seidler.  The #21 Konrad Lamborghini with Pierre Ehret at the controls, was withdrawn, after it caught on fire.  Borcheller and Josh Webster will race for Konrad in Blancpain Endurance Series.  So, check for those races to be updated on this blog, later in the year. 

Scott Pruett has taken over the #31 Action Express Corvette Prototype from Dane Cameron.  Eric Curran is also in that car.  Both Mazda's are in the lane, getting repiared.  Joel Miller is at th controls of the #70.  Now, the #66 Ford GT is back on track again.  There was not much damage to the car.  Ganassi has announced his whole lineup for Le Mans that will include Scott Dixon, Sebastien Bourdais, and Billy Johnson. 

We are halfway through hour five and back to green!  Can Ricky Taylor clear the BMW?  Yes.  He's going after the ESM car.  Scott Pruett is also there in the #31 machine.  Lucas Luhr is not the overall leader.  How will Scott Sharp handle the pressure of being leader?  Mikhail Goikhberg spins the #85 JDC Miller Prototype Challenge entry.  He got some help from another Prototype Challenge machine.  The #38 of Kyle Marcelli, perhaps, for Performance Tech Racing, sharing with James French and Josh Norman.

The #50 Riley BMW Prototype, spins the GT Daytona BMW M6 from Turner Motorsports.  Dorsey Schroeder was at the controls of the Prototype.  Michael Marsal in the BMW is stopped dead stick, and we have another full course yellow.  There was contact.  Niclas Jonsson in the Krohn Racing/Flying Lizard Audi R8 was also involved in this mess.  Insofar as the Mazda, there's no issues.  It skimmed the wall. 

#50 is being shared by Jim Pace, David Hinton, Dorsey Schroeder, and Byron DeFoor.  Jonsson in the #45 Audi R8 shares with team boss Tracy Krohn, and with Pierre Kaffer.  So, that is a solid driver lineup.  We are now ready for another restart.  Scott Sharp leads as we see Don Yount spinning through turn 17 in the #20 Prototype Challenge car.  ESM wants the clean sweep of the 36 Hours of Florida.  Filipe Albuquerque has been trying to pass other Prototypes.  The GT Le Mans cars are not far off the Prototype pace.

Deary me.  More off course agricultural racing, as Kyle Marcelli is off the road at Cunningham Corner.  On the restart, car #20 came in too hot, spun, and ker-runch!  He hits the tires.  Marcelli only ran across the grass.  The #52 car of Robert Alon could have also been in that mess.  Things are beginning to settle down.  Mazda boss John Doonan says the team has dodged some bullets.  The pace is going strongly.  They ran second in night practice, and qualified fifth quickest. 

Mazda wants to return to Le Mans after winning in 1991.  Will they race there again with the new regulations for next year in 2017?  We'll see.  Whoa!  Kyle Marcelli is off the road another time.  He's nosed it into the fence.  The car didn't turn, and ker-runch.  He's actually off and running again, with minor damage.  Filipe Albuquerque has gotten around Scott Sharp.  The two Scott's (Pruett and Sharp), battled.  Then, Pruett took second.  So, it's an Action Express 1-2.  Ricky Taylor in the #10 Wayne Taylor Racing Corvette Prototype has fallen to fourth.

"Mad" Michael Christensen is now third in GT Le Mans.  He's one hot shoe.  Another Dane with the Christensen name, but spelled with a Ch and not a K.  Filipe Albuquerque gets the power down early off turn 13 and Scott Sharp has been demoted to second.  Scott Pruett is now going fast and has gotten around the ESM Ligier Honda.  With a defined dry line, you need precision.  Pruett is running fast.  We watch our new GT Daytona leader, with the #51 Spirit of Race, Hublot, Ferrari 458 Italia.  The #51 is shared by Peter Mann from the United States, and Italians Matteo Cressoni, and Raffaele Giammaria.

Corey Lewis and Madison Snow, they are second and third in GT Daytona in two of the Lamborghini Huracan GT3's.  As we approach halfway in this race (six hours), 81 laps have been completed.  That's 300 miles.  A furious battle between the Ligier Honda's has formed.  Scott Sharp vs. Oswaldo Negri Jr.  In sixth, it's the #24 Alegra Motorsports, InSync Riley BMW, shared by Daniel Morad, and other familiar drivers including Cameron Lawrence, Dominik Farnbacher, and Carlos de Quesada.

Ooh.  A slight touch between those two Ligier Honda's, as Ozz Negri passes Scott Sharp.  Sharp is losing ground to the #90 Corvette Prototype.  Daniel Morad has checked out in this battle for third.  Scott Pruett is going for it.  But so is Daniel Morad.  He ran a 2:08.5 compared to Albuquerque with a 2:09.2 and Pruett, with a 2:10 flat.  These blokes are 15 seconds slower in wet conditions than they would be in the dry.

The #2 is in the lane for a pit stop.  Pippo Derani is going to take over the car.  Colin Braun leads Prototype Challenge, Nick Tandy in GT Le Mans, and Matteo Cressoni, in GT Daytona.  With the drying conditions, the rain tires are being chewed up.  But, you cannot go to slick tires because the line on the outside, is not dry.  But, driving on old rain tires, they have no grip, and they feel like driving on oil.  Cool the tires.  Look for water.  Exhaust fuel.  Daniel Morad was running a 2:07.6.  That's even quicker than some of the other blokes who have been in the lead positions.

Nicolas Lapierre was with Toyota a couple years ago.  He won with ORECA in the Peugeot 908 diesel, when that team beat the factory cars.  Team boss Elton Julian, for DragonSpeed, they will run the European Le Mans Series.  Henrik Hedman has an Evil Knievel paint scheme on the DragonSpeed car.  Corey Lewis for Change Racing and the #16 Lamborghini Huracan GT3.   

12 Hours of Sebring: Hour 4

We are now into the fourth hour, and as the rain dissipates, the water will have to drain a bit, before we can go back to racing.  If you are watching on Fox Sports, you are seeing a replay of the first third of this great race, and that action, was phenomenal, as you've read on the blog so far today.  So far, 67 laps have been completed.  247.9, almost 250 miles.  Two crew members from each car, can now, start warming up the cars.  We continue to wait.  So, keep watching the earlier race highlights. 

Remember, the race clock, continues to run.  As we anticipate going back to green, four hours, and 24 minutes, have elapsed.  Serious weather has moved through.  We hoping to go back to racing in the next half hour, to 45 minutes.  In the meantime, please read my blog posts, from the opening three hours of this awesome motor race we have been witnessing.  

Cleanup continues.  The rain will let up, soon, at about 3:45 P.M. Eastern Time.  It won't be long now.  Good news.  The cars and drivers, are in pit lane now.  Drivers are headed to the cars.  We hope to be live, bringing you more racing action, soon. 

12 Hours of Sebring: Hour 3

Again, we are under a red flag, due to all this rain.  Three hours and fifteen minutes, have elapsed, on the clock.  The 80,000 fans, are still partying.  The lightning is keeping the cars off the track right now.  Continental has answered the call and produced a new rain tire.  But, you can't make it rain.  So, you have to hope it rains during your testing.  The Continental rain tire is a different size and it's shorter than the dry tire.  Sidebar.  Former F1 and sports car driver, Stefan Johansson, he's a team manager, producing watches, and also, marketing his own racing paintings.

A little artist promotion, during this rain delay, in the third hour of the Mobil 1 12 Hours of Sebring.  The clock keeps running.  Three hours, 28 minutes, and 31 seconds, into this race.  Because of the rain and the forecast of inclement weather, we will see an adjustment in driver times, insofar as the stints are concerned.  The rain is now beginning to dissipate.  We will finish hour three, soon, having not seen any racing.  Christian Fittipaldi is the race leader, with Dane Cameron second, Jordan Taylor third, Marc Goossens fourth, and Oswaldo Negri Jr., fifth.  The safety vehicles, will clear the track.

12 Hours of Sebring: Hour 2

The Viper is definitely in the garage right now.  Ben Keating and Jeroen Bleekemolen, sharing, with Marc Miller.  You want the victories in these long races.  But, you have to think of how the championship will play out.  The #27 Dream Racing Lamborghini is going to extend this yellow flag.  Lawrence DeGeorge and Cedric Sbirrazuolli, share the driving chores.  Fox Sports' Justin Bell, got to drive a Ferrari 488 in the town of Sebring, through the orange groves.  What a fun experience!  We continue under yellow, but, not for long.  A restart is imminent.

Dane Cameron pitted.  The other leaders, stayed out.  The weather is coming.  We're back to green as Olivier Pla gets the jump.  Pippo Derani and Mikhail Goikhberg almost crashed into each other.  The DeltaWing splits the two Corvette's.  The rain is coming.  Luis Felipe Derani stays with Christian Fittipaldi.  The LMP2 cars are much lighter than the Daytona Prototypes are.  Dirk Werner passes Antonio Garcia for second place in GT Le Mans.  The Ferrari's are showing pace.  Both the Risi Competizione machine and the Scuderia Corsa car.  Tommy Milner gets chopped by Dirk Werner through turn 17.

John Edwards tries outside the Corvette's in turns five and six.  Daniel Serra wants Edwards!  Giancarlo Fisichella wiggles.  The Corvette's defend, too.  This is wild.  Corvette's vs. BMW's, vs. Ferrari's.  Get track position, before the rain moves in.  Dane Cameron is now mired in the GTLM pack.  He messed up on a fuel stop.  When will the rain hit?  Open your pit window options.  Fittipaldi, Goossens, and Jordan Taylor, are all running well.  Taylor has taken over the #10 Wayne Taylor Racing Corvette Prototype, from Rubens Barrichello.  Barrichello is part of a four driver lineup.

They had to cover all their bases.  Last year, it was a struggle for the physicality of the race track.  Ooh!  A spin for Marc Drumwright in the #20 Prototype Challenge entry.  That is the BAR1 Motorsports Entry.  Now, the Corvette's are going hammer and tongs right away!  Garcia and Milner are battling and John Edwards is there, to pounce.  Side note on car #20... the drivers are Johnny Mowlem, Tomy Drissi, Marc Drumwright, and Don Yount.  Dirk Werner still leads GT Le Mans in the #25 BMW M6 GT.  The Corvette's do have setups that are the same as last year.  Same with Porsche.  BMW, Ford, and Ferrari, are learning how their new cars handle.

The rain is coming, as we see the two Honda powered cars leading.  The rain is beginning to come down, right now.  On the old concrete runways, puddling will happen.  No risks will be taken.  Driving on slicks in the rain is like driving on ice.  Alex Job Racing brings both cars in, and the #60 Ligier Honda is in, from the lead.  Oswaldo Negri Jr. will take over from Olivier Pla.  Car #5 did not pit.  Christian Fittipaldi at the controls.  We've got rain on half of this speedway, as Marc Goossens is trying to pass Ozz Negri.  Goossens goes wide and almost runs into the side of a Ferrari.

Dirk Werner is passed for the lead in GTLM by Tommy Milner.  Car #50, the Highway To Help Riley Dinan BMW, pits.  On slicks, the lap times are in the 2:04-2:05 range.  Dominik Farnbacher is in the new Alegra Motorsports Riley Dinan BMW.  Slick tires are the order of the day here, right now.  James French in the #38 Performance Tech Prototype Challenge car.  We have a single Aston Martin in GT Daytona, for the factory Gulf car.  The #48 Paul Miller Racing Lamborghini is running well, and the #6 Stevenson Motorsports Audi R8 is up to third, with Robin Liddell at the controls, which started last in class due to a mechanical problem.

From the Le Mans curve to the Ulmann straight, the dampness changes.  Tiptoe around and maybe you'll get some good performance in the dry.  Side by side stuff between Negri and Derani!  But these blokes are now farther down the field.  A spin for another of the Prototype machines.  GT cars and teams are getting wet tires set for pit stops.  Because of heat this week, oil hasn seeped up through the concrete.  The spinner, is the #70 Mazda Prototype, of Keiko Ihara.  She was close to not recovering, but did, after her spin.  Rain is surely in the cards now.

MSR has wet tires but with a dry setup.  There has been no running on the wet tire in wet conditions, until now.  It's a shorter tire.  Jonathan Bomarito is in the sister #55 Mazda Prototype and is running well.  Bomarito shares with Tristan Nunez and Spencer Pigot, while Keiko Ihara shares the #70 Mazda with Joel Miller, Tom Long, and Ben Devlin.  The rain, is here. It's a skating rink, and the #11 Change Racing Lamborghini loses it, nearly collects the Corvette, and ker-runch!  Townsend Bell, is into the tires.

We have another lake in Florida lake country.  It's a deluge.  Jon Bennett in the #54 Core Autosport Prototype Challenge car spun out.  Change Racing is also running a second car for Corey Lewis and Spencer Pumpelly.  Christian Fittipaldi, Robert Alon, Tommy Milner, and Madison Snow, are the class leaders.  The rain has stopped.  But the track is wet.  If the pits are closed, you can only do emergency service.  Changing tires, is not emergency service.  The track may be drying, but there's more coming.  It's a real gamble.

If there is puddling, Michelin has an advantage, because they can develop a specific wet tire.  Continental Tire has to compromise for the Prototype, Prototype Challenge, and GT Daytona cars.  Giancarlo Fisichella leads GTLM over the two Corvette's and the Porsche's.  They were very potent at Petit Le Mans, in the rain, last fall.  The Porsche's might come to the front.  The GTLM teams are learning the new aero packages, especially in wet conditions.  The #2 ESM HPD hits pit lane.  Dominik Farnbacher in the Alegra Motorsports car is also pitting.  ESM will also do a driver change.

We have a restart, in our future, here at Sebring.  Jan Magnussen is the next driver into the #3 Corvette C-7-R-, and changed to wet tires.  This is the first time rain has been seen at Sebring, since 1998, according to Sebring historian, Ken Breslauer.  The #98 Aston Martin V8 Vantage pits, with Mathias Lauda at the wheel, sharing with Paul Dalla Lana, Pedro Lamy, and Richie Stanaway.  We go back to green, and the visibility is awful.  Penalties will be assessed if cars pitted while the pit lane was closed.  The #33 Viper had a half shaft problem.  Four Corvette Prototype's lead the Mike Shank Racing Ligier Honda.

The top five overall are running with no traffic.  Who has the pace?  No fewer than nine cars have been held in pit lane, in their own pit boxes.  Normally, you go to the end of the lane.  But all the penalties are individual.  Nick Tandy is catching the Corvette.  Dirk Werner ran the red light at the end of pit lane.  He is being held for an extra minute, and he will lose a lap.  #25 is still in the box.  Tandy is a second and a half quicker than Tommy Milner for the GTLM lead.  Milner runs a 2:19.9, Tandy a 2:18.3.  The Ford's are running fast in the wet, and so are the Ford's.  Tandy tries the outside and backs off to grt around the lapped cars.

The rain is only going to get worse.  Watch out for the painted curbs that take away even more grip.  Tandy is pushing the Corvette.  Tandy cane go to the throttle sooner than Milner can.  Milner takes him in deep.  Dirk Mueller in the Ford is also pushing hard.  A brief yellow, for the #68 Ferrari 488 is off the road, and is now on the back of the tow truck.  The visibility and standing water are going to be an issue.  The concrete runway pads are where the standing water will be.  Many cars run a heater to try to defog the windshield.n  In a closed cockpit car, in the old days, you'd use a squeegee with a rag on the end.

Nick Tandy is the rainmeister.  The Porsche's put the power down and are stable.  It's wet, but little standing water, here at Sebring.  Very different conditions compared to Petit Le Mans at Road Atlanta, last fall.  These are wet/dry conditions.  At Sebring, you have high speed corners, heavy braking zones, and transitional corners.  The Mazda's have been very quick, here at Sebring, in the dry.  What will they do, in the rain?  Over the next few hours, there might be some lighter showers and it will dry out.

We are back to green!  Christian Fittipaldi and Dane Cameron now lead.  One bloke has a clear track right now.  Tandy flies right by the Ligier Honda of Oswaldo Negri Jr.  Being the leader, you are the person who has to deal with light and also, where the water is on the circuit.  Stephen Simpson leads Prototype Challenge while Mario Farnbacher leads GT Daytona for Alex Job Racing at the present time.  Cooper MacNeil in the sister Alex Job Racing Porsche is tenth in GT Daytona.  We continue to send wishes to Alex Job's wife Holly, who is still ill.  The Mario Farnbacher, Alex Riberas, and Ian James, is running well.

Even though they don't race at Sebring anymore, Audi ships their cars and team, to Sebring, to test.  John Potter is currently in the #44 Magnus Racing Audi R8.  He is sharing with the hired guns, Andy Lally and Marco Seefried, who are both fast drivers.  Richard Westbrook in the Ford does not have the visibility.  But the car and the tires are working well.  More rain coming along the Florida coast.  Watch out for turn seven (the hairpin), turn ten, turn thirteen, and turn seventeen, Sunset Bend.  You can play with how the windshield wiper works into the overall aero of the car, to a point.

Go easy, and be smooth, in the rain.  Don't push.  The Porsche's view is clear, with no spray.  As the rain is coming down, look for standing water.  It's kind of like being an off road racer or a rally racer, trying to read the surface.  It's changing.  It goes from good grip, to no grip.  The Gas Monkey Viper returns to the race.  Ben Keating has had some bad luck here at Sebring.  Can his team come back?  We have another issue which brings out a full course yellow.  Could it be one of the leaders?  Christian Fittipaldi and Dane Cameron still lead.

Why the yellow is out, is unknown.  Car off in turn ten.  Turn ten is sharp right hand corner, out of the hairpin and the Fangio chicanes.  More showers are on the way in the next half hour to 45 minutes.  It might dry out.  But, that could be much later on, towards the end of this race.  One of the Ford GT's may be off the road.  It is the #66 machine.  He's off and into the tire wall.  Dirk Mueller can't see, and, obviously... what happens?  Spin, and ker-rash!  Mueller does not turn, was off the gas, and he whacks the wall.

We are nearly at the end of the second hour of this race, chaps.  Too much lightning.  We are going to be under a red flag right now.  We watch Oswaldo Negri Jr. and some of the other drivers, just sitting there, waiting for the red flag to end.  A massive line of storms is coming.  It's going to bucket down with rain, and we might be able to have the weather cooperate, later on.   

12 Hours of Sebring: Hour 1

A legendary track, with legendary corners, world class drivers, and cars, and 12 hours.  It's time, for Sebring.  This unassuming town, has become famous, over the last six decades.  Orange blossoms, will mix with the scents of barbecues and motor oil.  Day into night.  It's the tough track.  The runways and the bumps, tear the cars to pieces, and test the driver's strength.  The longest half day in racing, is, next!

This is the 64th Mobil 1 12 Hours of Sebring.  It is a special race.  We saw a fantastic event at Daytona in January.  But, the bumps will punish the cars and drivers.  It is a few hours south and west of Daytona.  It is a night and day difference from Daytona.  3.7 miles, and 17 corners.  Turns one, three, seven, and seventeen, are key corners.  Turn three has been named "Kristensen Corner", after legend, Tom Kristensen.  Turn seventeen is the legendary Sunset Bend.  Now, we have rain, in the forecast, which hasn't been seen at Sebring, for a long time.

This is the second half of what is called the 36 Hours of Florida.  The final, and hardest, 1/3rd, is about to begin.  Olivier Pla has earned his second overall Sebring pole in two different cars for two different teams.  This time, in the #60 Michael Shank Racing Ligier Honda.  We are ready to go green!  ...And, they're off!  The 12 Hours of Sebring is underway!.  Oliver Pla, Dane Cameron, and Pippo Derani are all battling.  Now, Dane Cameron in the #31 Corvette, has tkane second.  The GT cars start, and the BMW M6 GT's go for it.  You've got the Corvette's. the Ferrari 488, and the Ford GT, starting.

Richard Westbrook in the Ford, touches one of the Corvette's.  Toni Vilander is trying to move his #62 Risi Competizione Ferrari 488 GT, going for it.  The two Corvette's are already slamming on each other.  Go easy.  But the intensity in GT Le Mans is fierce.  Olivier Pla is moving away from Dane Cameron.  Pippo Derani si third.  Marc Goossens is now fifth in the #90 VisitFlorida.com Corvette Prototype.  Dirk Mueller in the second Ford GT is also goping for it, as we see the new Dream Racing #27 Lamborghini Huracan GT3, spin.  These chaps are making their first start, and din't race at Daytona.

Fabio Babini starts the car.  One car, caught fire during the morning warmup and did not start this race.  We now watch Porsche and Corvette.  Manage the bumps.  Pick your battles.  Survive the storm.  Inclement weather could come.  It's what cars you pass and how you choose your battles.  Toni Vilander has amazing pace and aggressiveness in traffic.  He's a Finn, so, he has great car control.  These cars in GT Le Mans, they make their speed, in different ways.  If something will fail, on the car, Sebring will find it first.  The old taxiways are still used, from when this place was a B17 bomber base, called Hendricks Field.

In night practice on Thursday, John Pew had a hard crash in night practice on Thursday night.  Olivier Pla also had a big wreck on Friday.  But the team from MSR repaired the car overnight.  The rain is coming.  So, that will put the cat among the pigeons.  Pla is building up a margin with the impending wet weather coming.  Many teams elected to change drivers due to the rain possibility.  Minimum drive time is three hours, to score points.  Start your fast driver first.  However, in the big picture, get the amateurs in first (the Silver rated drivers), and then, get your pro guys into the car.

We could have a red flag in this race, if the rain really gets heavy.  This race could look a lot like the Sebring race of 1993, the last year of the IMSA GTP prototypes.  Jeff Segal is driving the new Ferrari 488 for Scuderia Corsa.  The #33 Viper GTS-R- is second, and third is the #23 Alex Job Racing Porsche 911 RSR.  Daniel Serra and one of the Corvettes is going for it.  Bill Auberlen is currently leading in the GTLM class in the BMW M6 GT.  With the longer wheelbase, the M6 is much easier to drive than the twitchy, shorter wheelbase Z4 model from last year.

One thing the big M6 eliminates is what the BMW boys call the "cha cha's", as the old Z4, would dance around under braking.  That's the difference, between having a smaller car, such has the Z4 and a big car, like the M6.  We are merely nine or ten laps, and about 37 miles, into this long, grueling enduro.  Jeff Segal continues to lead in GT Daytona as we continue to race through the Florida lake country.  The Ferrari and the BMW are both turbocharged, and the Balance of Performance seems to be working.  Jeff Segal, Alessandro Balzan, and Christina Nielsen are driving in the Scuderia Corsa Ferrari.

Former drivers Eric Bachelart and Stefan Johansson are involved with the team.  Tom Kristensen was inducted into the Sebring Hall of Fame, and so was Alex Job for his ten Sebring wins.  1975 winner, Sam Posey was also inducted.  Olivier Pla is building a margin.  At the same time, so is Dane Cameron, over Pippo Derani.  Cameron says the Corvette Prototype is good on long runs.  With the rain, it's going to be interesting. The new Honda motor is much better than the previous unit.  It has power and drivability, as opposed to just being loaded with power.

Leading from pole in Prototype Challenge is Tom Kimber-Smith.  Colin Braun had fastest qualifying time.  But they changed starting drivers to Jon Bennett.  The Prototype Challenge cars now have a MoTec electronic telemetry system.  The electronics might help in the rain, should it come.  The Porsche's in GT Le Mans, are running back farther than expected.  Car #912 had to start from pit lane.  We will have pit stops, in twenty minutes or so.

Get the amateur drivers as much time in dry weather as possible, in order to meet the required driving time.  Olivier Pla continues to lead.  He has opened up a four second margin.  We watch the top three in GT Daytona battle.  Jens Klingman is full-time in GT Daytona for Turner Motorsports, and he is a BMW factory driver.  Mario Farnbacher is going for it, in the Alex Job Porsche, trying to pass the SRT Viper.  Drivers are changing, of course, in endurance racing, and that's a big deal, on a track as tough as Sebring.

Antonio Garcia is going after the BMW.  He was an Aston Martin driver, and then, he signed for Chevrolet.  Garcia is all over John Edwards in the sister BMW M6 GT.  Tom Long, in the #70 Mazda Prototype, is also running well.  The new gasoline motor, puts them in the fight, with their AER built motor.  They ran a diesel four cylinder for the last few years.  A good motor.  But, not quick enough.  We also see a battle between the factory Ford GT of Richard Westbrook, and the #68 Scuderia Corsa Ferrari 488 GTE of Daniel Serra.

Pit stop time.  The top two cars pitted.  Pippo Derani takes over the race lead, and now, he is pitting.  Christian Fittipaldi and Marc Goossens have also pitted.  Fittipaldi in the #5 Corvette Prototype, and Marc Goossens in the #90 identical machine for VisitFlorida.com Racing.  The #10 Wayne Taylor Racing Cotvette Prototype is in, and Rubens Barrichello is at the wheel.  Ford must prove themselves before they get to Le Mans.  This is the prep for Le Mans.  They also have a couple races in Europe in the FIA World Endurance Championship, races you will read about on Endurance... The Sports Car Racing Blog.

The passion rekindled by Ford's return to sports car racing, is amazing.  We see Johnny Mowlem in Prototype Challenge in the lane, and also, the #85 JDC Miller Motorsports car, which won in class at the Rolex 24.  Nicolas Moinassian in the #81 Oreca 05 Nissan, is going well.  This is a new car.  GTLM leaders are also in.  The BMW #100 is in pit lane.  This is a new car, that had to be fixed after being damaged in shipping.  The car run at Daytona, which crashed, after a brake disc exploded, was too damaged to come back.

Olivier Pla makes contact, with a slower car.  Problems for the #33 SRT Viper of Jeroen Bleekemolen.  Something is busted, in the drivetrain.  They almost got to the finish last year, but couldn't make it.  The Viper has pace, but not reliability.  The cars fly through the Le Mans curve, down the Ulmann straight and into Bishop bend.  Tommy Milner is moving up in one of the Corvette's.  Did the team short fuel the car for track position?  Likely.  We see the #11 Change Racing Lamborghini Huracan GT3 in trouble.  Townsend Bell and Bill Sweedler share the car.  He spun in the hairpin, somehow.  Did something break?

He's pulled the car to the side of the track.  Will there be a full course yellow?  Yes, there will be.  The car lurched when Sweedler tried to drive away.  Jeroen Bleeekemolen is now in pit lane in the Gas Monkey Garage Viper.  We are coming to the end of the first hour of the 12 Hours of Sebring.  Just over 100 miles have been run so far.    

Breaking news just before the 12 Hours of Sebring

Tomorrow, folks, stay tuned, for all the action, from the 64th Mobil 1 12 Hours of Sebring, right here, on Endurance... The Sports Car Racing Blog.  For now, here's the latest news, on the eve of the big race.

Action Express Quickest Again in Practice 2 at Sebring
http://sportscar365.com/imsa/iwsc/action-express-quickest-again-in-practice-2-at-sebring/

VIDEO: Ford GT The Return: Chapter 1
http://sportscar365.com/features/videos/video-ford-gt-the-return-chapter-1/

Sebring Thursday Notebook
http://sportscar365.com/imsa/iwsc/sebring-thursday-notebook-3/

Trouble Strikes MSR; AXR Fastest Again in Night Practice
http://sportscar365.com/imsa/iwsc/trouble-strikes-msr-axr-fastest-again-in-night-practice/

IMSA Set to Release DPi Constructors Manual
http://sportscar365.com/industry/imsa-set-to-release-dpi-constructors-manual/

Sweedler: "It Felt Like Groundhog Day Again"
http://sportscar365.com/imsa/iwsc/sweedler-it-felt-like-grondhogs-day-again/

Action Express Tops Final Practice at Sebring
http://sportscar365.com/imsa/iwsc/action-express-tops-final-practice-at-sebring/

BMW Sweeps GTLM Front Row for 12H Sebring
http://sportscar365.com/imsa/iwsc/bmw-sweeps-gtlm-front-row-for-12h-sebring/

Pla Storms to 12H Sebring Pole
http://sportscar365.com/imsa/iwsc/pla-storms-to-12h-sebring-pole/

Greaves Evaluating DPi Program for 2017
http://sportscar365.com/imsa/iwsc/greaves-evaluating-dpi-program-for-2017/

Sebring Friday Notebook
http://sportscar365.com/imsa/iwsc/sebring-friday-notebook-3/

More IMSA stories

Looking at more headlines from IMSA headed into the 12 Hours of Sebring this weekend.

Balzan: "We're Not Scared Because The Car Is New"
http://sportscar365.com/imsa/iwsc/balzan-were-not-scared-because-the-car-is-new/

Starworks Confirms Riley-Multimatic LMP2 Effort for 2017
http://sportscar365.com/imsa/iwsc/starworks-confirms-riley-multimatic-lmp2-for-2017/

Continental Tires Keys To The Race: 12H Sebring
http://sportscar365.com/imsa/iwsc/continental-tire-keys-to-the-race-12h-sebring-2/

Monterey Returns to Dual Race Format
http://sportscar365.com/imsa/iwsc/monterey-returns-to-dual-race-format/

Shank Likely to Miss Detroit to Focus on 24H Le Mans
http://sportscar365.com/imsa/iwsc/shank-likely-to-miss-detroit-round-to-focus-on-24h-le-mans/

PHOTOS: Sebring Wednesday Gallery
http://sportscar365.com/features/photography/photos-sebring-wednesday-gallery-2/

Sebring Wednesday Notebook
http://sportscar365.com/imsa/iwsc/sebring-wednesday-notebook-3/

Continental Helps Get Stolen Starworks Transporter Back To Track
http://sportscar365.com/imsa/iwsc/continental-helps-get-stolen-starworks-transporter-back-on-road/

Julian: (Dragonspeed) "I Feel Like We Have A Chance To Win It"
http://sportscar365.com/lemans/elms/julian-dragonspeed-i-feel-like-we-have-a-chance-to-win-it/

Cameron Leads Action Express 1-2 In Opening Practice At Sebring
http://sportscar365.com/imsa/iwsc/cameron-leads-action-express-1-2-in-practice-1-at-sebring/

Ten-Time Sebring Winner Alex Job Among Hall of Fame Inductees
http://sportscar365.com/imsa/iwsc/ten-time-sebring-winner-alex-job-among-hall-of-fame-inductees/

Happy Birthday, Kees Nierop

Happy Birthday, to a great Canadian racing driver, of Dutch heritage... Kees Nierop.

 http://canadianautoracing.blogspot.com/2016/03/happy-birthday-kees-nierop.html?spref=fb

IMSA news before Sebring

The latest features and headlines on IMSA.com before the 12 Hours of Sebring, this Saturday.

VIDEO: Sights & Sounds Sebring Test
http://www.imsa.com/imsa-tv/episode/sights-and-sounds-2016-sebring-test

Panoz DeltaWing Racing Lead Engineer To Speak at SXSW
http://www.imsa.com/articles/panoz-deltawing-racing-lead-engineer-speak-sxsw

Defending Sebring Champions Face Stiff Challenge In 2016
http://www.imsa.com/articles/defending-sebring-champions-face-stiff-challenge-2016

Corvette Racing Chases Second Straight Florida Endurance Sweep
http://www.imsa.com/articles/corvette-racing-chases-second-straight-florida-endurance-sweep

LM24: Keating, Viper Exchange primed for P2 switch

Wow.  This is a big jump.  ViperExchange.com owner/driver Ben Keating, along with co-driver's Marc Goossens and Jeroen Bleekemolen, are set to switch, from LM GTE Am, to LMP2 at Le Mans.

 http://www.racer.com/wec-le-mans/item/127170-lm24-keating-viper-exchange-primed-for-p2-class-switch

IMSA: Dixon Relishing Ford GT Role

New Zealand's Scott Dixon is very excited about driving for Ganassi Racing in the Ford GT, and of course, he has already become a very successful IndyCar driver for them.

http://www.racer.com/imsa/item/127164-imsa-dixon-relishing-ford-gt-role

1987 24 Hours of Daytona

Coverage of the 1987 24 Hours of Daytona, won that year, by Al Holbert and the Lowenbrau Porsche 962 driven by Chip Robinson, Al Holbert, Derek Bell, and Al Unser Jr.

http://www.racingsportscars.com/photo/Daytona-1987-02-01.html

Exploring Sebring's Urban Legends

As we approach another running of the classic 12 Hours of Sebring, this weekend, here is an article exploring urban legends surrounding Sebring International Raceway. 

http://sportscar365.com/imsa/exploring-sebrings-urban-legends/

Pirelli World Challenge: St. Petersburg

Michael Lewis, sweeps both races of the Pirelli World Challenge GT Championship, on the streets of St. Petersburg, Florida.

St. Pete Saturday Notebook
http://sportscar365.com/gt/world-challenge/st-pete-saturday-notebook/

...and

Lewis Sweeps Weekend in St. Pete
http://sportscar365.com/gt/world-challenge/lewis-sweeps-weekend-in-st-pete/

The next race is on the legendary streets of Long Beach, California, in a month's time.

Capacity Aus GT grid set for Albert Park

A capacity grid of 32 race cars, will line up, for the Australian GT Championship support race for the Australian Formula 1 Grand Prix next weekend.

http://www.speedcafe.com/2016/03/14/306863/

Pirelli World Challenge: Circuit of the Americas

The Pirelli World Challenge GT Sprint X Series, is a sprint racing series, exclusively.  So, it is hard, to get through the races in terms of writing race reports.  But, as we cover PWC on Endurance... The Sports Car Racing Blog, articles on how the two races went, will be posted.  Here is the race report, from round one at Circuit of the Americas in Austin, Texas.

Long Scores Race 1 Victory at COTA
http://sportscar365.com/gt/world-challenge/long-takes-race-1-victory-at-cota/

O'Connell Wins Incident-Filled Race 2 at COTA
http://sportscar365.com/gt/world-challenge/oconnell-wins-incident-filled-round-2-at-cota/

That's a wrap on the Nissan Grand Prix of Texas.  This weekend, round two is being run on the street course in St. Petersburg, Florida.  Stay tuned, for that race report, when it is available.

1993 IMSA Piggly Wiggly Grand Prix at Road America

The 1993 IMSA Piggly Wiggly Grand Prix at Road America in Elkhart Lake, Wisconsin, was the final win, for the legendary Porsche 962, in the hands of Joest Racing, and the German driving team of Manuel Reuter and the late Louis Krages, who raced under the name, "John Winter".  Bob Varsha, David Hobbs, and Marty Reid, have the call of the race.

 http://www.racingsportscars.com/photo/Road_America-1993-07-11.html

 

Ferrari Scores First Victory at Sebring 60 Years Ago in 1956

Sports car racing legend, Didier Theys, reflects on Ferrari's first win at the 12 Hours of Sebring, that came in 1956.  This was the first of 12 wins for Ferrari, at Sebring, with the Ferrari 860 Monza, shared by the legend Juan Manuel Fangio, of Argentina, and Italy's Eugenio Castelloti. 

http://www.imsa.com/articles/ferrari-scores-first-victory-sebring-60-years-ago-1956

Day two of Blancpain GT testing at Paul Ricard

More stories, from the second day of Blancpain GT Series testing at Paul Ricard in southern France, which has recently wrapped up.

31 Full-Season Entries for Blancpain GT Series
http://sportscar365.com/blancpain/31-full-season-entries-for-blancpain-gt-series/

WRT Audi Fastest in Thursday Morning Session at Paul Ricard
http://sportscar365.com/blancpain/wrt-audi-fastest-in-thursday-morning-session-at-paul-ricard/

Paul Ricard Thursday Morning Notebook
http://sportscar365.com/blancpain/paul-ricard-thursday-morning-notebook/

Barwell Lamborghini Fastest in Final Session at Paul Ricard
http://sportscar365.com/blancpain/barwell-lamborghini-fastest-in-final-session-at-paul-ricard/

Paul Ricard Thursday Afternoon Notebook
http://sportscar365.com/blancpain/paul-ricard-thursday-afternoon-notebook/

More IMSA headlines

More headlines from the world of IMSA, via Sportscar365.

At Least Five Manufacturers Eyeing 2017 DPi Programs
http://sportscar365.com/imsa/iwsc/at-least-five-manufacturers-eyeing-2017-dpi-programs/

Sweedler, Bell Set for Switch to Change Racing
http://sportscar365.com/imsa/iwsc/sweedler-bell-set-for-switch-to-change-racing/

P2 Cars Slowed for 12H Sebring
http://sportscar365.com/imsa/iwsc/p2-cars-face-performance-cuts-for-12h-sebring/

The Sweedler/Bell pairing in the Change Racing Lambo, becomes official.

Change Racing Confirms Sweedler, Bell in Second Lamborghini
http://sportscar365.com/imsa/iwsc/change-racing-confirms-sweedler-bell-in-second-lamborghini/

Ex-KCMG Star Bradley Joins Manor

Former KCMG driver, Richard Bradley, joins Manor's FIA World Endurance Championship LMP2 effort.

http://sportscar365.com/lemans/wec/ex-kcmg-star-bradley-joins-manor/

49 Entries for 12H Sebring

49 cars have been confirmed on the entry list for the 12 Hours of Sebring, next weekend.

http://sportscar365.com/imsa/iwsc/49-entries-for-12h-sebring/

Blancpain GT Series news

News from the Blancpain GT Series, and recent testing, before their season begins.

Onslow-Cole Joins Bentley Team Parker in Blancpain Endurance
http://sportscar365.com/blancpain/onslow-cole-joins-bentley-team-parker-in-blancpain-endurance/

Phoenix Racing Confirms 2016 Programs, Driver Lineups
http://sportscar365.com/gt/phoenix-racing-confirms-2016-programs-driver-lineups/

Tagliani Set for Blancpain GT Effort in Zakspeed Mercedes
http://sportscar365.com/blancpain/tagliani-set-for-blancpain-gt-effort-in-zakspeed-mercedes/

Dusseldorp Rejoins Rowe Racing for Blancpain GT Campaign
http://sportscar365.com/blancpain/dusseldorp-rejoins-rowe-racing-for-blancpain-gt-campaign/

Blancpain GT Driver Lineup Update, 3-7
http://sportscar365.com/blancpain/blancpain-gt-driver-lineup-update-3-7/

Gavin Lands Barwell Lamborghini Drive for 24H Spa
http://sportscar365.com/blancpain/gavin-to-drive-barwell-lamborghini-in-24h-spa/

AF Corse Enters Six Ferrari's For Blancpain Endurance
http://sportscar365.com/blancpain/af-corse-enters-six-ferraris-in-blancpain-endurance/

Haase, Parisy to Race Sainteloc Audi in Blancpain Sprint
http://sportscar365.com/blancpain/haase-parisy-to-race-sainteloc-audi-in-blancpain-sprint/

U.S. Round of Intercontinental GT Challenge Planned for 2017

http://sportscar365.com/blancpain/ratel-planning-u-s-round-of-intercontinental-gt-challenge-for-2017/

Garage 59 Confirms Factory McLaren GT Driver Lineup
http://sportscar365.com/blancpain/garage-59-confirms-factory-mclaren-gt-driver-lineup/

51 Entries for Blancpain GT Paul Ricard Pre-Season Test
http://sportscar365.com/blancpain/51-entries-for-blancpain-gt-paul-ricard-test/

PHOTOS: Paul Ricard Tuesday Gallery
http://sportscar365.com/features/photography/photos-paul-ricard-tuesday-gallery/

O'Young Joins Tagliani, Laberge, at Zakspeed

http://sportscar365.com/blancpain/oyoung-joins-tagliani-laberge-at-zakspeed-for-blancpain-endurance/

Renault RS01 Eligible for 24H Spa
http://sportscar365.com/blancpain/renault-rs01-eligible-for-24h-spa/

IMSA Performance Confirms Blancpain Endurance Program
http://sportscar365.com/blancpain/imsa-performance-confirms-blancpain-endurance-program/

WRT Audi Tops Opening Test Session at Paul Ricard
http://sportscar365.com/blancpain/wrt-audi-tops-first-blancpain-test-session/

Buhk To Drive HTP Mercedes-AMG GT3 in Blancpain GT
http://sportscar365.com/blancpain/buhk-to-race-htp-mercedes-in-blancpain-gt/

Oman Aston Martin Quickest on Wednesday at Paul Ricard
http://sportscar365.com/blancpain/oman-aston-martin-ends-wednesday-test-on-top-in-paul-ricard/

Paul Ricard Wednesday Notebook
http://sportscar365.com/blancpain/paul-ricard-wednesday-notebook-3/

GT3 Cup Canada Challenger Set For First Race With Alegra At Sebring

Porsche GT3 Cup Canada driver, Daniel Morad, makes his move, from GT racing, to Prototypes, at the 12 Hours of Sebring, next weekend.

http://www.imsa.com/articles/gt3-cup-canada-challenger-set-first-race-alegra-sebring

IMSA News Roundup: Stories In American Sports Car Racing This Week

News from last week, in the world of IMSA racing, from the IMSA official website.

http://www.imsa.com/articles/imsa-news-roundup-march-2-2016

IMSA & FIA WEC headlines

News stories from IMSA and the FIA World Endurance Championship.

Marcelli Confirmed as Full-Season Driver at Performance Tech

http://sportscar365.com/imsa/iwsc/marcelli-french-confirmed-as-full-season-drivers-at-performance-tech/

Scuderia Corsa Adds Long Beach, Monterey to GTLM Program
http://sportscar365.com/imsa/iwsc/scuderia-corsa-adds-long-beach-monterey-to-gtlm-program/

Michael Shank Set to Test Revised HPD ARX-04b
http://sportscar365.com/imsa/iwsc/shank-set-to-test-revised-hpd-arx-04b/

Piquet Joins Rebellion for Early Season WEC Races
http://sportscar365.com/lemans/wec/piquet-joins-rebellion-for-early-season-wec-races/

Webb Completes ByKolles Lineup
http://sportscar365.com/lemans/wec/webb-completes-bykolles-lineup/

Manor Confirms Rao for LMP2 Program
http://sportscar365.com/lemans/wec/manor-confirms-rao-for-lmp2-program/

Dempsey Steps Back from Driving
http://sportscar365.com/lemans/wec/dempsey-steps-back-from-driving/

In Memoriam: Bob Akin

Happy Birthday, and Rest In Peace, Bob Akin. He was a great sports car racing driver, and also worked in business, for the Hudson Wire Company, founded by his dad. Sadly, he passed away, after a severe crash, while testing a Nissan GTP IMSA prototype race car, for a vintage car race, in which he was gravely injured, and never recovered.

http://thisdayinmotorsporthistory.blogspot.ca/2016/03/bob-akin-born-in-north-tarrytown-new.html

29 Entries for WEC Prologue

Twenty nine of the thirty two teams entered for the 2016 FIA World Endurance Championship, will take part in the prologue test session, at the Paul Ricard High Tech Test Track in Le Castellet, France, later on this month.

http://sportscar365.com/lemans/wec/29-entries-for-wec-prologue/

Le Mans GT3/LMP3 Support Race Details Revealed

This ought to be very intriguing.  A support race, for this year's 24 Hours of Le Mans, featuring LMP3 prototype, and GT3 spec cars.

http://sportscar365.com/lemans/gt3-lemans-cup/le-mans-gt3lmp3-support-race-details-revealed/

The Rolex 24 at Daytona-12 Hours of Sebring Double of 1996

20 years ago (...and yours truly, posted the video of the Rolex 24 win), Wayne Taylor and Jim Pace, doubled up in the then, two, classic endurance races, taking victory at the Rolex, and, at the 12 Hours of Sebring, with their Riley & Scott Mk. III Oldsmobile, World Sports Car.

http://www.imsa.com/articles/rolex-24-daytona-12-hours-sebring-double-1996

Scott Pruett tests both Action Express entries at Sebring

Scott Pruett, will race for Action Express Racing, on a full-time basis this year in the IMSA WeatherTech Sports Car Championship.  Recently, he tested both of their cars, at Sebring International Raceway, before the famous 12 Hours of Sebring, there, in a few weeks.

http://autoweek.com/article/imsa/scott-pruett-tests-both-action-express-entries-sebring

United Autosports Signs Christian England for LMP3 Entry

Another headline from the European Le Mans Series, as United Autosports, signs driver Christian England, to race it's LMP3 car.

http://sportscar365.com/lemans/elms/united-autosports-sign-christian-england-for-lmp3-entry/

Blancpain GT news

Some headlines from Blancpain GT.  Other headlines, from other worldwide GT categories will also be posted soon.  Stay tuned.

Garage 59 To Run McLaren 650S GT3s in Blancpain GT
http://sportscar365.com/blancpain/garage-59-to-run-mclaren-650s-gt3s-in-blancpain-gt/

AF Corse Confirms Ferrari 488 GT3 for Am Cup
http://sportscar365.com/blancpain/af-corse-confirms-ferrari-488-gt3-for-am-cup/

Boutsen Ginion Announces First Drivers for New BMW M6 GT3
http://sportscar365.com/blancpain/boutsen-ginion-announces-first-drivers-for-new-bmw-m6-gt3/

A-Workx Wieth Racing to Field Porsche in Blancpain Sprint
http://sportscar365.com/blancpain/a-workx-wieth-racing-to-field-porsche-in-blancpain-sprint/

Vanthoor: "I Think We Have the Cards In Place to Win Blancpain GT Title"

http://sportscar365.com/blancpain/vanthoor-i-think-we-have-the-cards-in-place-to-win-blancpain-gt-title/

Nissan GT Academy Team RJN Expands into Blancpain Sprint Cup
http://sportscar365.com/blancpain/rjn-motorsport-expands-into-blancpain-sprint-cup/

Vautier, Rosenqvist Headline AKKA-ASP Blancpain Sprint Effort

http://sportscar365.com/blancpain/vautier-rosenqvist-headline-akk-asps-three-car-blancpain-sprint-effort/

Audi Confirms Reduced Factory Effort for N24, 24H Spa

http://sportscar365.com/blancpain/audi-confirms-reduced-factory-efforts-for-n24-24h-spa-lineups-revealed/

WRT Reveals Five-Car Blancpain GT Series Program
http://sportscar365.com/blancpain/wrt-reveals-2016-blancpain-gt-series-program/

Barwell Confirms Second Blancpain Endurance Lineup

http://sportscar365.com/blancpain/barwell-motorsport-announces-second-blancpain-endurance-lineup/

Asch to Lead A-workx Blancpain Sprint Lineup
http://sportscar365.com/blancpain/a-workx-confirms-blancpain-sprint-lineup/

Sims, Eng Join Rowe Racing For Blancpain GT Campaign
http://sportscar365.com/blancpain/sims-eng-join-rowe-racing-for-blancpain-gt-campaign/

De Leener: "Representing Audi in Pro Class Always Comes With Pressure"

http://sportscar365.com/blancpain/de-leener-representing-audi-in-pro-class-always-comes-with-pressure-to-perform/

Rinaldi Switches to Ferrari 488 For Blancpain GT
http://sportscar365.com/blancpain/rinaldi-racing-switches-to-ferrari-488-for-blancpain-gt/