Porsche Penske Secures Epic Win at Sebring, BMW Faces Tough Challenges

SEBRING, Fla. — Felipe Nasr drove the No. 7 Porsche 963 to victory on March 15 at the 73rd running of the Mobil 1 Twelve Hours of Sebring, marking Porsche Penske Motorsport’s second consecutive endurance victory of the season.

As night fell at Sebring International Raceway, Nasr, alongside teammates Nick Tandy and Laurens Vanthoor, demonstrated resilience under pressure, emerging victorious with a margin of 2.239 seconds over the sister No. 6 Porsche 963 driven by Matt Campbell, Kevin Estre, and Mathieu Jaminet.

The intense race saw Nasr seize control just before the halfway mark, following a late full-course caution that allowed him to build a crucial gap during a restart.

This win further solidified Tandy’s reputation in endurance racing, as it marked his overall victories in all three prestigious long-distance events: Sebring, Daytona, and Le Mans. “It’s just incredible that we’ve had this run the last two events,” Tandy stated, emphasizing the flawless execution by his team.

For BMW M Team RLL, the occasion was bittersweet, celebrating 50 years of BMW in North America while facing a series of setbacks in their GTP efforts. After qualifying first in the No. 24 BMW M Hybrid V8, Dries Vanthoor encountered immediate challenges, receiving a drive-through penalty for changing lanes at the start.

Despite efforts from teammates Philipp Eng and Kevin Magnussen, the No. 24 car was ultimately forced to make lengthy repairs after sustaining damage in the pits, finishing a disappointing twelfth in class. However, the No. 25 BMW M Hybrid V8, driven by Sheldon van der Linde, Marco Wittmann, and Robin Frijns, managed to salvage a strong fifth-place finish.

As BMW struggled with its prototype program, the new BMW M4 GT3 EVO showcased potential in the GTD PRO class, leading to a double podium finish, while the new BMW M4 GT4 EVO claimed its first victory, providing some reasons for celebration.

“We spoke among ourselves and said, ‘What a dream it would be to win Sebring if we can,’” Nasr reflected after securing his 13th career IMSA race win. As the series prepares for its next event in Long Beach, the implications of this race will resonate throughout the GTP class, setting the stage for continued competition.