12 Hours of Sebring qualifying: GTD and GTD PRO

Ten manufacturers are fighting for victory of the 2023 Weathertech Sportscar Championship for GTD season: Acura, Aston Martin, BMW, Ferrari, Lamborghini, Lexus, McLaren, Mercedes-AMG and Porsche are all featuring GT3 specification cars. The 12 Hours of Sebring will be the second round of both IMSA WeatherTech Sportscar Championship and Michelin Endurance Cup Saturday 18th of March.

At Daytona, BMW, Ferrari, Lamborghini and Porsche were struggling with lap time 2” slower than the fastest Mercedes-AMG.

📷 © Luc Warnotte. Andy Garcia was fastest with Chevrolet Corvette C8.R GTD in 12 Hours of Sebring qualifying GTD classes

The BoP adjustments made before the February 15-16 IMSA-sanctioned test at Sebring International Raceway saw an improvement for the Iron Lynx Lamborghini only half second slower than the Mercedes-AMG.

In Intercontinental GT, BMW M4 GT3 were at the party at Kyalami after struggling in Bathurst. Campbell, Mathieu Jaminet and Thomas Preining driving Manthey EMA Porsche 911 GT3-R (991.II) took the chequered flag just 0.9s behind Kenny Habul, Luca Stolz and Jules Gounon’s SunEnergy1 Mercedes-AMG GT3 after a tight battle during the 12 hours of Bathurst.

Those facts demonstrate that BoP is playing a big role in GT3 cars performance as most PRO drivers and teams are very close.

The debate was still very hot before the teams arrived at Sebring International Raceway as rumors indicated that Porsche customers could withdraw from the championship under existing BoP. Former second in GTD class Championship Ryan Hardwick (#16 Wright MotorsportsPorsche 911 GT3) announced joining the WEC grid in a Proton Competition and pulling back the full season #16 GTD entry.

📷 © Luc Warnotte. J. Hawksworth, second with #14 Lexus RC F GT3 in 12 Hours of Sebring qualifying GTD classes

With 10 races to go (three in the Michelin Endurance Cup and seven in the IMSA WeatherTech Sprint Cup) to award the crown in both classes, the IMSA technical committee issued Thursday the latest Balance of Performance table for the GTD Pro and GTD classes. Nine of the ten GT3 or GT3-based models in the the field see changes:

• Porsche 911 GT3 R has received a notable power increase with a 5 mm larger air restrictor for the Porsche, which will now run with a 38 mm diameter, instaed of a 34 mm (33 at Daytona) restricor for last month’s IMSA-sanctioned test at Sebring International Raceway.

• Ferrari 296 is getting an increase in turbo pressures albeit with a 15 kg increase in minimum weight.

• Lamborghini Huracan GT3 EVO2, will have a 2 mm larger air restrictor, thus resulting in a slight power increase.

• Acura NSX GT3 Evo22, Aston Martin Vantage GT3, BMW M4 GT3, Corvette C8.R GTD, and Lexus RC F GT3 Receive a 15 kg weight breaks.

• Acura has undergone an increase in turbo boost pressures

• Aston will have slightly less power

• Mercedes-AMG GT3 Evo, has been given an extra 15 kg of weight.

📷 © Luc Warnotte. D. Juncadella third with Mercedes-AMG GT3 in 12 Hours of Sebring qualifying GTD classes.

The battle should be more intense as 8 manufacturers were within 1 sec. for both classes combined during 12 Hours of Sebring qualifying GTD classes: Corvette, Lexus, Mercedes, Aston Martin, Ferrari, Acura, Porsche.

Andy Garcia was fastest with Chevrolet Corvette C8.R GTD, J. Hawksworth, second, with #14 Lexus RC F GT3 and D. Juncadella third with Mercedes-AMG GT3.

K. Marcelli with Acura NSX GT3 #93 was fastest in GTD.

Writer’s notes:

* Weathertech Sportscar Championship for GTD is an eleven-race championship with 7 sprints (Long Beach, Laguna Seca, Canadian Tire Motorsport Park, Lime Rock, Road America, Virginia International Raceway and Indianapolis Motor Speedway) and the 4 IMSA Michelin Endurance races**.

**IMSA Michelin Endurance Cup is a four-race competition encompassing the marquee endurance races on the IMSA WeatherTech SportsCar Championship schedule: Rolex 24 At Daytona, 12 Hours of Sebring, 6 Hours of The Glen, and Motul Petit Le Mans. Car Racing Reporter will be on site to report those four races.

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