IMSA-sanctioned test at Sebring International Raceway

IMSA

Feb 17

A total of 26 WeatherTech SportsCar Championship entries took part in February 15-16 IMSA-sanctioned test at Sebring International Raceway during 5 sessions.

GTP class

The two-day IMSA-sanctioned test featured seven of the eight GTP class entries, with BMW M Team RLL entering only a single BMW M Hybrid V8, both Acuras, Chip Ganassi and Whelen Engineering Cadillacs and both Porsches.

📷 © Luc Warnotte. #10 Wayne Taylor Racing at ROAR 2023.

Michelin Endurance Cup pilot Louis Deletraz did set the fastest lap of the 4 first sessions during the first day’s 3rd session with #10 Wayne Taylor Racing with Andretti Autosport’s Acura ARX-06 in 1:47.001. His teammate, Filipe Albuquerque was the fastest overall in session 5 Thursday afternoon in 1:46.450. With a best lap of 1:47.194, Ricky Taylor confirmed the velocity of Acura #10 .

Mathieu Jaminet on board of Porsche Penske Motorsport Porsche 963 #6 was the second driver to go below 1:47 during the IMSA-sanctioned test. Also in session 5, he managed the time of 1:46.949. Jaminet shared the #6 Porsche with Dane Cameron and Nick Tandy.

Renger van der Zande with the Chip Ganassi Racing #01 Cadillac V-LMDh was third of both days combined sessions (during session 2), he shared with Scott Dixon and Sebastien Bourdais.

Jack Aitken confirmed the good shape of the Cadillac V-LMDh with the fourth best performance during 5th session with Action Express Racing’s Cadillac #31. He shared the car with Pipo Derani and Alexander Sims.

Matt Campbell was the fifth fastest of GTP with #7 Porsche Penske Motorsport Porsche 963 that he shared with Felipe Nasr and Michael Christensen.

During session 4 (morning of second day), Tom Blomqvist did set the third fastest lap with Rolex 24-winning #60 Meyer Shank Racing Acura ARX-06 which ended to be the seventh of the two days tests. Colin Braun and Helio Castroneves were also behind the wheel of #60.

The BMW M Team RLL BMW M Hybrid V8 was shared between Connor De Phillippi, Nick Yelloly (fastest during session 2), Philipp Eng and Augusto Farfus. None of the drivers were able to go below 1:48”.

To the exception of the BMW M Hybrid V8, the 6 other GTP were within 1” in their fastest lap.

LMP2 classes

Three LMP2 class Oreca 07 Gibsons took part, with entries from TDS Racing, Era Motorsport and PR1/Mathiasen Motorsports,

LMP3 class

A single LMP3 car was represented by Ave Motorsports, which will make its series debut in next month’s Mobil 1 Twelve Hours of Sebring with Tony Ave and Seth Lucas as two of the drivers. Tony Ave did set the fastest lap in 1:58.359.

GTD and GTD PRO

Very good news in the GT3-spec cars which saw Balance of Performance adjustments given to the new GT3 machinery before the IMSA-sanctioned test: both the Porsche and Lamborghini got 1 mm larger air restrictors and the Ferrari had a slight increase in turbo boost pressures.

There were two entries in GTD PRO with #63 Lamborghini Huracan GT3 EVO2s from Iron Lynx and #14 Vasser Sullivan Lexus RC F GT3.

13 GTD were present including 3 Type-992 Porsche 911 GT3 Rs from Kellymoss with Riley and AO Racing, Triarsi Competizione’s Ferrari 296 GT3, 2 Lamborghini Huracan GT3 EVO2s from Iron Dames and Forte Racing powered by USRT, 2 mercedes-AMG GT3 from Team Korthoff Motorsports and Winward Racing, the Vasser Sullivan Lexus #12, 2 BMW M4 GT3 from Turner Motorsport and Paul Miller racing, the Aston Martin Vantage from Magnus Racing and Gradient Racing Acura.

📷 © Luc Warnotte. M. Grenier did set the fastest lap with #32 Team Korthoff Motorsports Mercedes-AMG GT3.

Both Mercedes-AMG GT3 and Lexus were the four fastest in less than 2:02. The BoP seemed to perform better than in Daytona as Romain Grosjean with the #63 Lamborghini was close in 2:02.052, only 0.494 seconds slower than M. Grenier who did set the fastest lap of both days with #32 Team Korthoff Motorsports Mercedes-AMG GT3. The two other Lamborghini Huracan GT3 EVO2 followed Grosjean with Forte Racing Powered by USRT sixth and Rahel Frey with Iron Dames #83 seventh.

R. Foley with Turner Motorsport BMW M4 GT3 was within 1” from the fastest of combined classes (Mercedes-AMG GT3 from Team Korthoff Motorsports).

Triarsi Competizione Ferrari 296 GT3 #023 and Kellymass with Riley Porsche 911 GT3 R (992) demonstrated a faster pace than in Daytona thanks to the BoP changes.