12 Hours of Sebring
12 Hours of Sebring
Endurance in our backyard
Photogrpahy by Emil Garcia
Peugeot, Peugeot. That’s was the shadow that was cast over the Audi Sport team at this year’s American Le Mans season opener. Peugeot has taken the opening win for the previous 2 years and with Peugeots departure from the American Le Mans series this year, Audi was sure to be winner right?
Temperatures holding steady in the mid 80s, Friday’s qualifying sessions sorted the pack. With Audi Sport Team Joest taking 1, 2, and 3 in qualifying it was a safe bet to say that an Audi would cross the finish line on the podium. The LMP1 class battled hard throughout the day, and came out victorious. Winning by a margin of 4 laps (301 total) the team of Alan McNish (UK), Tom Kristensen (DEN) and Dindo Capello (ITA) piloted the #2 Audi R18 to a number one finish, Audi Sports First win at Sebring since 2009. Dyson Racing took the P1 class win for the ALMS points standings, taking advantage of a refueling issue with the Muscle Milk/Pickett Racing Acura and the GT class came down to the last lap with the BMW Team RLL M3 GT2 edging out the Corvette Racing C6.R. The FIA World Endurance Championship in full swing and with Peugeot out of the picture, is Audi going to cruise easily to a Championship or will the likes of Acura, Lola or the recently re-sparked Toyota program make it a real slugfest? Only time will tell and State of Stance will bring you the coverage.
ALMS/Sebring 12hr Class winners:
LMP1 – #2 Audi Sport Team Joest (McNish,Kristensen, Capello)
LMP2 – #44 Starworks Motorsport (Daizel, Potolicchio, Sarrazin)
P1 – #016 Dyson Racing (Dyson, Smith, Kane)
P2 – #055 Level 5 Motorsports (Tucker, Barbosa, Bouchut)
PC – #06 CORE Autosport (Viso, Popow, Frisselle)
LMGTE Pro – #71 AF Corse (Bertolini, Beretta, Cioci)
LMGTE Am – #88 Team Felbermayr-Proton (Ried, Roda, Ruberti)
GT – #56 BMW Team RLL (Muller, Hand, Summerton)
GTC – #023 Alex Job Racing (Sweedler, Bell, Moltke)
