24h Le Mans
The 1000 Miles of Sebring did not disappoint: the circuit proved just as challenging as ever for the drivers, particularly at night and during the final 30 minutes when the rain came. TOYOTA GAZOO Racing, Jackie Chan DC Racing, Porsche GT Team and Dempsey Proton Racing had quite a lot to overcome to triumph in Florida.
The endurance racing world, and more specifically the FIA World Endurance Championship, paid tribute a few minutes before the start at the 1000 Miles of Sebring - sixth round of the FIA WEC Super Season - to Charlie Whiting, F1 race director and the FIA's chief safety advisor, who passed away between Wednesday and Thursday in Melbourne. A minute of silence was observed in his honor.
Toyota did not take part in the launch of the FIA World Endurance Championship at Sebring in 2012. For the American race's return on the calendar, the Japanese team set its sights on victory. With the lap record set during qualifying by Fernando Alonso, and with its two TS050 Hybrids on the front row, Toyota was well on its way to the top step on the podium and that momentum continued during the race. Contact between the #7 Toyota and the #90 Aston Martin decided the ongoing duel between the two Japanese prototypes, with the #7 losing two laps and leaving the #8 to cross the finish line with a lead of more than a lap. But it was no walk in the park after rain had poured down in the final minutes and rendered the track extremely slippery and hazardous, even provoking the deployment of the safety car.
With this victory clinched by Buemi, Nakajima and Alonso, Toyota is firmly cemented as the championship leader. Fernando Alonso has proven himself one to watch in endurance racing and American competition: after the 24 Hours of Le Mans and Rolex 24 at Daytona, the two-time F1 world champion has now triumphed at Sebring, considered one of the top races in the U.S. All he is missing now is Indianapolis...
The LMP2 class was won by the Jackie Chan DC Racing #37 ORECA, the top step on the LMGTE Pro podium was claimed by the #91 Porsche and Dempsey Proton Racing's #77 Porsche triumphed in the LMGTE Am class, winning at home. For all these teams and drivers, this success at Sebring was significant as a U.S. race is still considered a must-win.
Here's how the 1000 Miles of Sebring came to an end at night in the rain, with a full house of spectators this weekend for both the FIA WEC then WeatherTech SportsCar Championship races.
The next round, seventh and penultimate before the 24 Hours of Le Mans Super Finale (15-16 June), will take place at Spa on 4 May.
The difficulties of night driving on such a mentally and physically demanding track did not squash the celebrations on the LMP1, LMP2, LMGTE Pro and LMGTE Am podiums.
