Although there were 12Hours of racing involved on Saturday, in Sebring, the final result of the race did not differ a lot from the qualifying session.
Alexander Wurz completed what his teammate Marc Gene had started with the pole by bringing victory to his team that also included Anthony Davidson as third driver.
It came down to three seconds in the last pitstop, but Sébastien Bourdais was unable to pass its teammates at Peugeot. The team he formed with Nic Minassian and Pedro Lamy took the second place, like they did in qualifying.
The third place was also unchanged in the race with Stefan Mücke’s team (Adrian Fernandez and Harold Primat) making good result out of a first 12Hours start in their Lola-Aston Martin. They will also be battling Peugeot and Audi at the 24Hours of Le Mans.
Little changes in LMP2 as well with victory from Greg Pickett, Klau Graf and Sascha Maassen. The trio had started the race in second position of the class, but with a time of just 0.054 second of polesitters Marino Franchitti, David Brabham and Simon Pagenaud.
In fact, the HPD ARX-01c of Franchitti's team led until an electrical problem set them back with four hours to go. Its five laps lead rapidly vanished as the car was forced to sit in the pits for a little while. Graf’s Porsche RS Spyder took this opportunity to collect the win.
Third place in LMP2 went unchanged from qualifying as well with Chris Dyson, Guy Smith and Andy Meyrick taking the last place on the podium on board of their isobutanol powered Mazda.
GT2 victory went to 10Hours leaders Jaime Melo, Gimmi Bruni and Pierre Kaffer who started third in their Ferrari F430 GT. Rahal Letterman Racing’s two BMW M3s swapped positions in the last turn of the last lap to complete the podium.
In the new LMPC class, Scott Tucker, Christophe Bouchut and Mark Wilkins won by 16 laps over polesitters Gunnar Jeannette, Christian Zugel and Elton Julian.
Alex Job Racing swept the GT Challenge Podium on its return to the series. Butch Leitzinger, Juan Gonzalez and Leh Keen won by three laps over their teammates car driven by Bill Sweedler, Romeo Kapudija and Jan-Dirk Lueders.
Most teams will now be looking forward to the 24Hours of Le Mans, the 12Hours acting as testing ground or practice for most of them.
Results, 12Hours of Sebring:
1. (1) Alexander Wurz; Marc Gene, Spain; Anthony Davidson, England; Peugeot 908 HDI FAP (1, P1), 367.
2. (2) Sebastien Bourdais, France; Nicolas Minassian, England; Pedro Lamy, Lisbon Portugal; Peugeot 908 HDI FAP (2, P1), 367.
3. (3) Adrian Fernandez, Mexico; Stefan Mucke, Germany; Harold Primat, Switzerland; Lola B09 60/Aston Martin (3, P1), 364.
4. (6) Greg Pickett, Alamo, CA; Klaus Graf, Germany; Sascha Maassen, Germany; Porsche RS Spyder (1, P2), 353.
5. (5) Simon Pagenaud, France; Marino Franchitti, Scotland; David Brabham, Australia; HPD ARX-01c (2, P2), 349.
6. (15) Jaime Melo, Brazil; Gianmaria Bruni, Italy; Pierre Kaffer, Germany; Ferrari 430 GT (1, GT2), 331.
7. (19) Dirk Werner, Germany; Bill Auberlen, Hermosa Beach, CA; Tom Milner, Leesburg, VA; BMW E92 M3 (2, GT2), 330.
8. (34) Dirk Mueller, Germany; Joey Hand, Sacramento, CA; Andy Priaulx, Germany; BMW E92 M3 (3, GT2), 330.
...10. (11) Christophe Bouchut, France; Mark Wilkins, Canada; Scott Tucker; Oreca FLM09 (1, LMPC), 327.
...17. (22) Leh Keen, Dublin, GA; Juan Gonzalez, Mexico; Butch Leitzinger, State College, PA; Porsche 911 GT3 Cup (1, GTC), 308.
18. (25) Romeo Kapudija, Lincolnwood, IL; Jan-Dirk Lueders; Bill Sweedler, Westport, CT; Porsche 911 GT3 Cup (2, GTC), 305.
19. (24) Luis Diaz, Mexico; Patrick Kelly, Minnestrista,MN; Ricardo Gonzalez, Mexico; Porsche 911 GT3 Cup (3, GTC), 304.
...25. (33) Andy Wallace, England; Tom Sutherland, Los Gatos, CA; JR Hildebrand; Oreca FLM09 (2, LMPC), 281.
Etc.
Alexander Wurz completed what his teammate Marc Gene had started with the pole by bringing victory to his team that also included Anthony Davidson as third driver.
It came down to three seconds in the last pitstop, but Sébastien Bourdais was unable to pass its teammates at Peugeot. The team he formed with Nic Minassian and Pedro Lamy took the second place, like they did in qualifying.
The third place was also unchanged in the race with Stefan Mücke’s team (Adrian Fernandez and Harold Primat) making good result out of a first 12Hours start in their Lola-Aston Martin. They will also be battling Peugeot and Audi at the 24Hours of Le Mans.
Little changes in LMP2 as well with victory from Greg Pickett, Klau Graf and Sascha Maassen. The trio had started the race in second position of the class, but with a time of just 0.054 second of polesitters Marino Franchitti, David Brabham and Simon Pagenaud.
In fact, the HPD ARX-01c of Franchitti's team led until an electrical problem set them back with four hours to go. Its five laps lead rapidly vanished as the car was forced to sit in the pits for a little while. Graf’s Porsche RS Spyder took this opportunity to collect the win.
Third place in LMP2 went unchanged from qualifying as well with Chris Dyson, Guy Smith and Andy Meyrick taking the last place on the podium on board of their isobutanol powered Mazda.
GT2 victory went to 10Hours leaders Jaime Melo, Gimmi Bruni and Pierre Kaffer who started third in their Ferrari F430 GT. Rahal Letterman Racing’s two BMW M3s swapped positions in the last turn of the last lap to complete the podium.
In the new LMPC class, Scott Tucker, Christophe Bouchut and Mark Wilkins won by 16 laps over polesitters Gunnar Jeannette, Christian Zugel and Elton Julian.
Alex Job Racing swept the GT Challenge Podium on its return to the series. Butch Leitzinger, Juan Gonzalez and Leh Keen won by three laps over their teammates car driven by Bill Sweedler, Romeo Kapudija and Jan-Dirk Lueders.
Most teams will now be looking forward to the 24Hours of Le Mans, the 12Hours acting as testing ground or practice for most of them.
Results, 12Hours of Sebring:
1. (1) Alexander Wurz; Marc Gene, Spain; Anthony Davidson, England; Peugeot 908 HDI FAP (1, P1), 367.
2. (2) Sebastien Bourdais, France; Nicolas Minassian, England; Pedro Lamy, Lisbon Portugal; Peugeot 908 HDI FAP (2, P1), 367.
3. (3) Adrian Fernandez, Mexico; Stefan Mucke, Germany; Harold Primat, Switzerland; Lola B09 60/Aston Martin (3, P1), 364.
4. (6) Greg Pickett, Alamo, CA; Klaus Graf, Germany; Sascha Maassen, Germany; Porsche RS Spyder (1, P2), 353.
5. (5) Simon Pagenaud, France; Marino Franchitti, Scotland; David Brabham, Australia; HPD ARX-01c (2, P2), 349.
6. (15) Jaime Melo, Brazil; Gianmaria Bruni, Italy; Pierre Kaffer, Germany; Ferrari 430 GT (1, GT2), 331.
7. (19) Dirk Werner, Germany; Bill Auberlen, Hermosa Beach, CA; Tom Milner, Leesburg, VA; BMW E92 M3 (2, GT2), 330.
8. (34) Dirk Mueller, Germany; Joey Hand, Sacramento, CA; Andy Priaulx, Germany; BMW E92 M3 (3, GT2), 330.
...10. (11) Christophe Bouchut, France; Mark Wilkins, Canada; Scott Tucker; Oreca FLM09 (1, LMPC), 327.
...17. (22) Leh Keen, Dublin, GA; Juan Gonzalez, Mexico; Butch Leitzinger, State College, PA; Porsche 911 GT3 Cup (1, GTC), 308.
18. (25) Romeo Kapudija, Lincolnwood, IL; Jan-Dirk Lueders; Bill Sweedler, Westport, CT; Porsche 911 GT3 Cup (2, GTC), 305.
19. (24) Luis Diaz, Mexico; Patrick Kelly, Minnestrista,MN; Ricardo Gonzalez, Mexico; Porsche 911 GT3 Cup (3, GTC), 304.
...25. (33) Andy Wallace, England; Tom Sutherland, Los Gatos, CA; JR Hildebrand; Oreca FLM09 (2, LMPC), 281.
Etc.