Photo credit: Porsche
The Twelve Hours of Sebring is scheduled for its 73rd edition on March 15. In preparation for this endurance event, the Porsche Penske Motorsport team conducted a thorough testing session in February as part of the IMSA official tests. During this two-day session, factory driver Matt Campbell achieved the fastest lap while driving the No. 6 Porsche 963. This year, the two 509 kW Porsche 963 vehicles from Porsche Penske Motorsport will compete against customer-entered prototypes from JDC-Miller MotorSports and Proton Competition, as well as new challengers, including Aston Martin, which is entering IMSA’s top category for the first time.
Thomas Laudenbach, Vice President of Porsche Motorsport, stated, “The 24 Hours of Daytona was a hard-fought battle over the full race distance, and we expect nothing less for the second round at Sebring.” He emphasized the importance of competition, noting that victories are more significant when achieved against tough opponents. Urs Kuratle, Director of Factory Motorsport LMDh, highlighted the unique challenges posed by the Sebring International Raceway, particularly its notorious bumps, which have historically tested teams. He noted that while the test results were encouraging, they do not provide a definitive picture of the competitive landscape for the race.
Jonathan Diuguid, Managing Director of Porsche Penske Motorsport, expressed the team’s aspiration to secure their first victory at Sebring, recalling a near win last year when both Porsche 963 vehicles were involved in an incident with 20 minutes remaining. The driving lineup for the No. 6 car includes Matt Campbell, Mathieu Jaminet, and Kévin Estre, while the No. 7 car features Felipe Nasr, Nick Tandy, and reigning World Endurance Champion Laurens Vanthoor. In customer entries, Neel Jani, Nico Pino, and Tristan Vautier will drive for Proton Competition, and JDC-Miller MotorSports will field Gianmaria Bruni, Nico Müller, and Tijmen van der Helm.
Photo credit: Porsche
In the GTD Pro class, two Porsche 911 GT3 R vehicles will compete, with drivers Laurin Heinrich, Klaus Bachler, and Alessio Picariello in one, and Richard Lietz, Claudio Shiavoni, and Matteo Cressoni in the other. Wright Motorsports will enter a strong team in the GTD class, featuring Elliott Skeer, Adam Adelson, and Tom Sargent. The Iron Dames team, consisting of Michelle Gatting, Rahel Frey, and Sarah Bovy, will also participate in the GTD class.
The Sebring race is known for its demanding conditions, which serve as preparation for the 24 Hours of Le Mans. The track, part of a former military airfield, has a surface that includes concrete slabs and significant bumps, creating challenges for both vehicles and drivers. Porsche holds the record for the most overall victories in the history of this endurance race, with 18 wins to date.
The event will take place on the 3.741-mile Sebring International Raceway, and the schedule includes several practice sessions leading up to the race. The Twelve Hours of Sebring remains a significant event on the motorsport calendar, attracting teams and drivers from around the world.
