IMSA 2019: DPi @ 12 Hours of Sebring 2019
📷 © Luc Warnotte @ 12 Hours of Sebring 2019
📷 © Luc Warnotte @ 12 Hours of Sebring 2019
The 67th edition of the 12 Hours of Sebring started behind the safety car because of rain and wet track. It was only the ninth race in the 12 hours history featuring rain. #31 Whelen Engineering/Action Express Racing Cadillac DPi-V.R dominated the race being in the lead for 249 of 348 laps but was seriously challenged by #10 Konica Minolta/Wayne Taylor Racing Cadillac ending second, with the closest racing finish in Sebring’s history: 1.030 seconds. The previous record was 2.82 seconds in 2016 except an Audi 1-2 finish in 2001 with a margin of 0.482 seconds.
The Cadillac DPi V.R continues its dominance at the endurance races since the formula started back in 2017 with a complete podium. So far the Cadillac has won 14 of the 21 IMSA races in the DPi era and six of the nine Endurance Cup races.
📷 © Luc Warnotte @ 12 Hours of Sebring 2019
After twelve hours of racing, Felipe Nasr (#31 Whelen Engineering/Action Express Racing Cadillac DPi-V.R)resisted Jordan Taylor’s push (#10 Konica Minolta) and crossed the finish line with a 1.030-second margin. It was the first Sebring victory for both Nasr and Curran. For Pipo Derani, it was his second consecutive Sebring victory and his third in four years, joining the list of illustrious drivers such as Mario Andretti, Phil Hill, Olivier Gendebien, Hans Stuck and Marco Werner on three overall wins in four years.
📷 © Luc Warnotte @ 12 Hours of Sebring 2019
Despite pushing the last 2 hours and reducing the gap with #31 Wheelen Cadillac to 0.2 sec., Jordan Taylor did notmanage to renew the win from the previous race at the 24 Hours of Daytona. Together with Renger van der Zande and Matthieu Vaxivière at the wheel of #10 Konica Minolta/Wayne Taylor Racing Cadillac they ended second,1.030 sec. behind the winning #31 Cadillac. Both cars were already the dominators of the previous IMSA championship race at the 24 Hours of Daytona, which van der Zande and Taylor won together with Fernando Alonso and Kamui Kobayashi.
📷 © Luc Warnotte @ 12 Hours of Sebring 2019
Joao Barbosa taking over from Brendon Hartley in #5 Mustang Sampling Racing Cadillac DPi-V.R. Together with Felipe Albuquerque, they completed the 1, 2, 3 Cadillac podium ending 4.023 sec. behind the winning #31 Whelen Engineering Racing sister.
📷 © Luc Warnotte @ 12 Hours of Sebring 2019
Acura Penske #7 Acura ARX-05 driven by Alexander Rossi, Helio Castronoves and Ricky Taylor, ended 4th 11.331 sec. behind the winners.
📷 © Luc Warnotte @ 12 Hours of Sebring 2019
📷 © Luc Warnotte @ 12 Hours of Sebring 2019
Jonathan Bomarito ready to take over from Olivier Pla in #55 Mazda Team Joest Mazda RT24-P. Together with Harry Tincknell, they ended 6th, 2 laps behind the winners. Harry Tincknell smashed the Prototype class race lap record on the 300th lap of this race in 1:47.472
📷 © Luc Warnotte @ 12 Hours of Sebring 2019
Acura Penske #6 Acura ARX-05 driven by Juan Pablo Montoya, Simon Pagenaud and Dane Cameron, ended 9th 9 laps behind the winners.
📷 © Luc Warnotte @ 12 Hours of Sebring 2019
Juncos Racing #50 Cadillac driven by Will Owen, René Binder and Augustin Canapino.
Mazda Team Joest #77 Mazda RT24-P driven by Tristan Number, Timo Bernhard and Oliver Jarvis.
