Tight margins signal epic IMSA GTP battle ahead at Sebring 12 Hours
The battle for GTP supremacy at Sebring is shaping up to be particularly intense, with BMW Team RLL's Dries Vanthoor securing pole position by less than a tenth over Acura MSR's Tom Blomqvist.
Formula 1 cars racing on track
For BMW, a victory would mark the perfect celebration of BMW North America's 50th anniversary, following their 1975 win with the 3.0 CSL. The M Hybrid V8s have shown significant improvement on Sebring's challenging surface compared to previous years.
Acura's ARX-06, last year's winner, returns with a strengthened program. Meyer Shank Racing has partnered more closely with HRC US, operating as a unified team with the No. 60 and No. 93 cars. Their second-place finish at Daytona demonstrates their potential for success.
Blomqvist emphasizes the unique challenges of Sebring: "This track is extremely sensitive to temperatures and wind. The cars behave differently at night, and historically, this race is won during restarts. Being good over a stint is crucial, but you need to be ready for that final sprint."
Porsche and Cadillac remain strong contenders, with the Daytona-winning No. 7 Porsche qualifying third. Despite a challenging qualifying session, Cadillac's impressive record of five wins since 2017 makes them a serious threat.
The race's outcome will likely depend on three key factors:
- Managing the notorious Sebring bumps
- Adapting to temperature changes between day and night
- Executing perfect strategy during crucial late-race moments
The 12 Hours of Sebring continues to attract massive crowds to its historic airfield circuit, where the unpredictable nature of endurance racing often produces spectacular finishes under the lights.