As it is tradition, the Super Sebring Event starts this weekend with the Prologue. Not one but two endurance raced are due to take place within two days on the Sebring International Raceway: The 1000-mile race of the FIA World Endurance Championship (WEC) will open the event, followed by the IMSA 12 hour race.
3/13/2023
Super Sebring. Pumped for the Bumps.
The event in Sebring is bound to be a party for endurance race fans and a great challenge for our factory team.
Two Porsche 963 each of the factory team will be attending the opening of the WEC and the second race of the IMSA. The new, roughly 500 kW (680 HP) strong hybrid prototypes will be racing the 1000-mile race of the FIA WEC on Friday, March 17, which will be followed by the IMSA competition on Saturday. In the vehicle categories GTE-Am (WEC), GTD-Pro and GTD (both IMSA), Porsche customer racing teams will be fielding with the 911 RSR and 911 GT3 R vehicles on the Sebring International Raceway.
The circuit in the US state of Florida is one of the oldest racetracks in the USA, and is famous for being the bumpiest racetrack in North America. Due to that, the course is regularly tagged with the hashtag #RespectTheBumps.
Sebring International Raceway
Course information.
LocationSebring, USA
Track nameSebring International Raceway
Track length6,019 km
Curves17
Race distance1000 miles
Opening 1950
The race.
Both endurance competitions are considered to be a great challenge for man and machine; because the vehicle technology is exposed to such high strain like on no other track in the race calendar.
Sebring is famous for being very bumpy along with its high-speed sections – a thrilling challenge for the entire team.
What makes the Sebring Raceway so unique is its track characteristics. The slightly more than 6-kilometer-long circuit with its 17 curves was erected on the former base of a US Air Force Base. Due to that, drivers must be prepared for various surfaces and extreme bumps: 3,8 kilometer asphalt and 1,8 kilometer concrete slabs. It is up to drivers and their teams to find the perfect setup for the changing surfaces. Mentally, the constant change is a challenge as well: drivers have to focus on what section of the track and which surface they are currently on. This combination is what makes this racetrack so challenging.
The Sebring International Raceway combines slow and speedy corner combinations with short and long-stretched straights to what is a demanding track design made difficult by concrete sections.
The southern section of the circuit can be taken at higher speeds than the northern section, as this section – called the Club Circuit – consists of tighter curves, which require intense brake maneuvers and downshifting. Speeds of up to 300 kph can be achieved on the Ulman Straight, the largest section of the track.
The Porsche teams and drivers.
For the factory team Porsche Penske Motorsport, six 963 drivers are deployed for the WEC. In the cockpit of starting number 5, Dane Cameron, Frédérick Makowiecki and Michael Christensen will be taking turns. Its sister car with the number 6 will be piloted by Kévin Estre, André Lotterer and Laurens Vanthoor.
I’m very much looking forward to the first race of our team in the FIA WEC. The motivation is on a maximum level.
Nick Tandy and Mathieu Jaminet are the core cast of the starting number 6 of the IMSA factory team. For the endurance race in Sebring, Dane Cameron will once again join them as third driver. In the sister car with the number 7, Matt Campbell and Felipe Nasr will be taking turns. The duo will receive support from Michael Christensen during the 12-hour race.
I think my program there is super cool!
Meanwhile, in the GTD-Pro class, Pfaff Motorsports are placing their bets on Klaus Bachler and Patrick Pilet in the Porsche 911 GT3 R with the number 9. Stepping in as their third driver is factory driver Laurens Vanthoor, who will be piloting the 963 of the Porsche Penske Motorsport Team as well on the “Super Sebring” weekend of the endurance championship.
Amongst others, former Formula 1 driver Jan Magnussen and the former Porsche Junior Jaxon Evans will be participating with the 911 GT3 R of customer racing teams in the GTD classes.
For the 71st time, the 12-hour race of the IMSA will be taking place on the Sebring International Raceway. With 18 overall victories, Porsche is the most successful manufacturer of this endurance classic.
To set the mood, a quick preview of the circuit is possible: The following video explains the track along with its challenges in detail.
Timing Super Sebring (local time, CET -6 hours)
Prologue
Friday + Saturday, 11. + 12.3.
Qualifying
Thursday, 16.3.
7:20 p.m.: Qualifying 1000 Miles of Sebring/FIA WEC race
Friday, 17.3.
09:10 a.m.: Qualifying 12 Hours of Sebring/IMSA race
Race
Friday, 17.3.
12:00 – 08:00 p.m.: 1000 Miles of Sebring/FIA WEC race
Saturday, 18.3.
10:10 a.m. – 10:10 p.m.: 12 Hours of Sebring/IMSA race