- Four Porsche 963s compete in the 73rd running of the 12 Hours of Sebring
- Porsche Penske Motorsport highly motivated following Daytona victory
- Factory driver Nico Müller celebrates his race debut in the 963
- Four Porsche 911 GT3 Rs entered in the two GT classes
Atlanta. The Twelve Hours of Sebring will take place for the 73rd time on March 15. During an official IMSA test in February, the Porsche Penske Motorsport team made extensive preparations for the upcoming endurance classic. Factory driver Matt Campbell set the fastest lap during the two-day test session at the wheel of the No. 6 Porsche 963. The two 509 kW (692 hp) Porsche 963 fielded by Porsche Penske Motorsport, along with the customer-entered prototypes from JDC-Miller MotorSports and Proton Competition, will face even stiffer competition in the GTP class this year: Aston Martin will make its debut in IMSA’s top category.
“The 24 Hours of Daytona was a hard-fought battle over the full race distance, and we expect nothing less for the second round at Sebring,” Thomas Laudenbach, Vice President Porsche Motorsport, said. “We’re looking forward to facing the new competitors from Aston Martin. Our race cars serve as global brand ambassadors, and we relish competition in strong fields. The tougher the opposition, the more valuable the victories. All Porsche teams are hungry for success at Sebring.”
“During recent test sessions at Sebring, we continued working on the optimal setup for the Sebring International Raceway – with its notorious bumps, which gave us quite a challenge last year, it’s a unique track,” Urs Kuratle, Director Factory Motorsport LMDh, explained. “The test results were promising, although they don’t allow us to draw clear conclusions about the competitive order for the race. Since its race debut in January 2023, the Porsche 963 has been the most successful car in the LMDh category. We proved that again at Daytona, and we intend to reinforce that in Sebring.”
“The 12-hour race is one of the highlights on the calendar,” Jonathan Diuguid, Managing Director Porsche Penske Motorsport, said. “We’re still chasing our first win there. In 2023, we were leading with 20 minutes to go when both Porsche 963 were caught up in an incident. Our clear goal: we want to take the win at this prestigious event. After our Daytona triumph, we’re hungrier than ever for another victory.”
Factory drivers Matt Campbell from Australia, Mathieu Jaminet and Kévin Estre from France will share driving duties in the No. 6 Porsche Penske Motorsport 963. In the Daytona-winning No. 7 car, Felipe Nasr from Brazil and Nick Tandy from the UK will be joined by reigning World Endurance Champion Laurens Vanthoor from Belgium. In Proton Competition’s customer-entered Porsche 963, Swiss driver Neel Jani will team up with Chilean Nico Pino and France’s Tristan Vautier. The JDC-Miller MotorSports hybrid prototype will be driven by Gianmaria Bruni from Italy, Dutch racer Tijmen van der Helm and Porsche factory driver Nico Müller from Switzerland. The regular pilot of the Formula E customer team Andretti celebrates his debut at the wheel of the Porsche 963.
GT categories: four Porsche 911 GT3 R targeting class victories
In the GTD Pro class, two Porsche 911 GT3 R will take the green flag. Former Porsche Juniors Laurin Heinrich from Germany and Klaus Bachler from Austria will share the wheel of AO Racing’s “Rexy” with Belgian Alessio Picariello. In Proton Competition’s identical 911 GT3 R, Porsche factory driver Richard Lietz from Austria will be one of the drivers with Italians Claudio Shiavoni and Matteo Cressoni.
Following a podium finish in the GTD class at Daytona, Wright Motorsports will field a strong lineup at Sebring, with Americans Elliott Skeer and Adam Adelson teaming up with Australian Tom Sargent. In the pink-liveried Iron Dames 911 GT3 R, Denmark’s Michelle Gatting, Switzerland’s Rahel Frey, and Belgian Sarah Bovy will aim to make their mark.
The race
The storied endurance race at Sebring is renowned as a punishing test for both man and machine, while also serving as ideal preparation for the 24 Hours of Le Mans. No other circuit on the IMSA calendar places such extreme stresses on the cars. One reason: part of the historic layout runs over a former military airfield. Around 30 percent of the track surface consists of concrete slabs, and the notoriously pronounced bumps present a unique challenge. This is why the track is often referenced with the hashtag #RespectTheBumps on social media.
The 73rd running of the IMSA WeatherTech SportsCar Championship’s Twelve Hours of Sebring will take place on the 3.741-mile Sebring International Raceway. With 18 overall victories, Porsche is the most successful manufacturer in the history of this endurance classic. Between 1976 and 1988, Porsche notched 13 consecutive wins. The most recent Porsche overall victory came in 2008, when Germany’s Timo Bernhard and Frenchmen Romain Dumas and Emmanuel Collard piloted a Penske-run Porsche RS Spyder to victory from the LMP2 class against a field of theoretically superior LMP1 prototypes.
Driver quotes ahead of the 12 Hours of Sebring
Matt Campbell (Porsche 963 #6): “Sebring isn’t just special because of the brutal bumps. The race itself is one of the highlights of the year. We tested there a few weeks ago, which was really important. Last year, we also completed a full endurance test there, which gave us a lot of valuable insights. I think we’re very well prepared. The team atmosphere is fantastic after our Daytona win.”
Felipe Nasr (Porsche 963 #7): “After our fantastic season opener win at Daytona, we tested at Sebring in mid-February. Now I can’t wait to get back in the Porsche and fight for another win. The 12 Hours of Sebring is one of the toughest races on the calendar: relentless bumps, constantly changing track conditions, and fierce competition. We know what it takes to be at the front there – we’re going all in.”
Neel Jani (Porsche 963 #5): “I’ll be driving the Porsche 963 at Sebring for the first time, and I’m excited. My memories of Sebring are great – I won the race overall in 2022, and I’d love to repeat that. However, it won’t be easy since we missed the recent Sebring test. In IMSA, anything can happen – every race offers everyone a shot. That’s what I love about this series.”
Nico Müller (Porsche 963 #85): “First of all, I would like to thank JDC-Miller MotorSports, Porsche and also my Formula E team Andretti for making this short-term assignment possible. I am very excited to be completing my first laps in the Porsche 963. I am even more honored to be able to do this at a prestigious racing event such as my first 12 Hours of Sebring. With JDC, Gimmi Bruni and Tijmen van der Helm, I have a lot of 963 and Sebring experience in the team. This will certainly speed up my learning process and put us in a good position.”
Richard Lietz (Porsche 911 GT3 R #20): “Sebring is always a tricky race, but Porsche has historically done well here. I hope we can continue that trend with our 911 GT3 R. Claudio Schiavoni, Matteo Cressoni, and I make a strong trio. If we can stay out of trouble, we’ll have opportunities.”
Laurin Heinrich (Porsche 911 GT3 R #77): “Our season opener at Daytona didn’t go as well as we’d hoped, so we’re determined to bounce back at Sebring. Last year, our Porsche 911 GT3 R was fast here. The car and the track are a good match. At Sebring, it’s all about having maximum performance for the final hour. We specifically focused on that during testing. On top of that, we learned a lot about the new torque sensors on the driveshafts at Daytona, and those insights should help us now. Our goal is clear: score maximum points and capture AO Racing’s first major endurance win.”
Rahel Frey (Porsche 911 GT3 R #83): “Sebring always comes with a lot of emotions. We’ve had strong pace here in the past but got caught up in incidents and made some mistakes ourselves. To be honest, Sebring isn’t my favorite track – it’s always a big challenge for me personally. But this year we’re racing in IMSA with the Porsche, which should make things a bit easier – plus, my teammates are very fast.”
Elliott Skeer (Porsche 911 GT3 R #120): “Sebring is without question my favorite race. There’s a special, old-school energy at that place. We stood on the podium there in 2024, and with Wright Motorsports coming off a strong podium at Daytona, our expectations have gone up. Adam Adelson, Tom Sargent, and I are coming in after a very productive test, and I’m confident we can execute a clean race. Let’s see what the twelve-hour battle brings.”
Porsche race cars at the 12 Hours of Sebring
GTP Class (Porsche 963):
Porsche Penske Motorsport #6: Matt Campbell (AUS), Mathieu Jaminet (FRA), Kévin Estre (FRA)
Porsche Penske Motorsport #7: Felipe Nasr (BRA), Nick Tandy (GBR), Laurens Vanthoor (BEL)
Proton Competition #5: Neel Jani (SUI), Tristan Vautier (FRA), Nico Pino (CHL)
JDC-Miller MotorSports #85: Gianmaria Bruni (ITA), Nico Müller (SUI), Tijmen van der Helm (NLD)
GTD Pro Class (Porsche 911 GT3 R):
Proton Competition #20: Richard Lietz (AUT), Claudio Schiavoni (ITA), Matteo Cressoni (ITA)
AO Racing #77: Klaus Bachler (AUT), Laurin Heinrich (GER), Alessio Picariello (BEL)
GTD Class (Porsche 911 GT3 R):
Iron Dames #83: Michelle Gatting (DNK), Rahel Frey (SUI), Sarah Bovy (BEL)
Wright Motorsports #120: Adam Adelson (USA), Elliott Skeer (USA), Tom Sargent (AUS)
Event schedule (Local time = EDT)
Thursday, 13 March
10:05 am – 11:35 am: Free Practice 1
3:05 pm – 4:35 pm: Free Practice 2
7:45 pm – 9:15 pm: Free Practice 3
Friday, 14 March
11:25 am – 11:40 am: GTD Qualifying
11:50 am – 12:05 pm: GTD Pro Qualifying
12:40 pm – 12:55 pm: GTP Qualifying
Saturday, 15 March
10:10 am – 10:10 pm: Race
All Porsche overall victories at Sebring
1960 – Gendebien/Herrmann (Porsche RS-60)
1968 – Siffert/Herrmann (Porsche 907)
1971 – Elford/Larrousse (Porsche 917 K)
1973 – Haywood/Gregg/Helmick (Porsche Carrera RSR)
1976 – Holbert/Keyser (Porsche Carrera RSR)
1977 – Dyer/Frisselle (Porsche Carrera RSR)
1978 – Redman/Mendez/Garretson (Porsche 935)
1979 – Akin/McFarlin/Woods (Porsche 935)
1980 – Fitzpatrick/Barbour (Porsche 935 K3)
1981 – Leven/Haywood/Holbert (Porsche 935/80)
1982 – Paul Sr./Paul Jr. (Porsche 935 JLP-3)
1983 – Baker/Mullen/Nierop (Porsche 934)
1984 – Heyer/de Narvaéz/Johansson (Porsche 935 J)
1985 – Wollek/Foyt (Porsche 962)
1986 – Akin/Stuck/Gartner (Porsche 962)
1987 – Rahal/Mass (Porsche 962)
1988 – Ludwig/Stuck (Porsche 962)
2008 – Bernhard/Dumas/Collard (Porsche RS Spyder)
Nick Tandy enters motorsport history as “Mister 24 Hours”
- First driver to achieve the “Grand Slam” of endurance racing
- Porsche factory ace triumphs at the 24 Hours of Le Mans, Daytona, Spa-Francorchamps, and the Nürburgring Nordschleife
- Recalling incidents on the Nordschleife and the “golden” oil trail at Spa
“On one hand, there was the sheer joy of winning the race: For two months, the entire team focuses solely on preparing for Daytona. When you see your car cross the finish line first, that’s pure euphoria – that’s what we all work so hard for. On the other hand, I also felt an enormous sense of relief,” emphasizes the 40-year-oldworks driver. Tandy had already claimed victory at Le Mans in 2015, driving the Porsche 919 Hybrid, followed by his Nürburgring and Spa-Francorchamps triumphs in 2018 and 2020, respectively, in the Porsche 911 GT3 R.
“When Porsche Penske Motorsport set up the new 963 program, I immediately raised my hand and said: ‘I want to race in North America!’ My primary motivation was to chase an overall victory at the Rolex 24 At Daytona,” Tandy explains. “In the previous two years, we hadn’t achieved the results we wanted there. I started wondering how many more attempts I’d need – or if it would ever happen at all. Now, we’ve got the answer, and it feels fantastic.”
The desire to complete the “Grand Slam” in endurance racing has been driving Tandy since 2020. “When I won Spa that year, someone told me that I was now within reach of the ‘Grand Slam’ – I hadn’t even thought about it until then, but after that, it was always in the back of my mind.” Although he never spoke publicly about this ambition, Tandy remained laser-focused on achieving it.
Ironically, his toughest rival for the endurance crown was Earl Bamber – the very same New Zealander who shared the cockpit with Tandy and Formula 1 driver Nico Hülkenberg during their 2015 Le Mans win, and who also stood alongside him on the top step at Spa in 2020. “When Earl won on the Nürburgring Nordschleife in 2023, we both only needed Daytona to complete the set. It was a recurring topic between us. Since we’re both fiercely competitive, it developed into a friendly rivalry.”
Le Mans 2015: Tandy/Bamber/Hülkenberg perservere with the Porsche 919 Hybrid
Porsche returned to the LMP1 top class of the FIA World Endurance Championship in 2014. After a challenging debut year, the works team launched a full-fledged assault with the Porsche 919 Hybrid in 2015, targeting the brand’s 17th overall victory at the 24 Hours of Le Mans. With Audi having won the classic 13 times and Toyota arriving as reigning world champions, the expectations on Porsche were sky-high. To maximize their chances, Porsche entered an additional works car. Behind the wheel: Nick Tandy, Earl Bamber, and Formula 1 star Nico Hülkenberg. “In the third car, we weren’t under the same pressure as the full-season entries. We were the new guys in the program,” recalls the man fans now call “Mr. 24” after his Daytona triumph.
But the trio delivered a flawless performance, shocking the endurance racing world by clinching the overall victory on June 14, 2015. “The feeling of winning Le Mans for the first time was indescribable,” Tandy says. “Le Mans is the Holy Grail of endurance racing. In my view, there’s nothing bigger in motorsport.”
Nürburgring 2018: Overcoming major hurdles to claim the Eifel crown with Manthey Racing
“The Nürburgring 24 Hours is the toughest to win of all the great endurance races,” Tandy says with deep respect for the Green Hell. “In Le Mans and Daytona, maybe six cars have the pace and reliability as well as a strong team behind to fight for victory. On the Nordschleife, 20 to 30 cars have a realistic shot. Even with a strong package, you have a 50 percent chance of picking up damage in traffic – there can be up to 180 other cars on track.”
“Our Manthey Porsche was quick, we knew that beforehand,” Tandy recalls. Sharing the 911 GT3 R with fellow works drivers Richard Lietz from Austria and Frenchmen Patrick Pilet and Frédéric Makowiecki, they faced challenges early on. “On the second lap, we had a puncture – luckily still on the Grand Prix loop, so we could dive straight into the pits. But we lost six and a half minutes and dropped to the back. If it had happened at the start of the Nordschleife, we’d have limped for 20 kilometers – our race would’ve been over.”
Tandy spun in the rain avoiding slower traffic, and at one point, another car slammed into their door leaving the pit lane. “Luckily, the Porsche took the hit. Typical Nordschleife – something always happens there.”
Spa-Francorchamps 2020: When the 911 GT3 R turned into a Porsche tractor
“Physically, Spa is the toughest race for us – pure hard work in the cockpit,” Tandy says of the 2020 Spa 24 Hours win. “The track is relentless – no rest like at Le Mans or Daytona with their long straights.” Eighteen full-course yellows and 14 safety car periods added to the chaos. Tandy, Earl Bamber, and Laurens Vanthoor had to fight hard to stay in contention due to an unfavorable Balance of Performance. “We drove flawlessly, nailed our pit stops, but we were never fast enough. Strategy and all those yellows kept us on the lead lap.”
Rain mixed up the final hours. Bamber took the wheel on wet tarmac, leveraging the Porsche 911 GT3 R superior traction to climb to second. A clever strategy call at the final stop – skipping a tire change – put the No. 98 Porsche in the lead. “We were leading, defending a solid gap. I just had to bring it home. Then, five minutes before the flag, the gearbox blew,” Tandy still struggles to believe it.
“It happened exiting Bruxelles in the penultimate lap. There was a loud bang. I coasted into the next corner before daring to get back on the throttle – it sounded horrible! I thought we’d lost just one gear, but every gear sounded like a chainsaw.” Their lead grew, however, thanks to an unintentional oil slick from the wounded gearbox. “Our pursuer – the Audi – was sliding all over. It was insane! I cried crossing the line. The tension just broke me. It’s the only time I’ve ever shed tears in the car.”