Fast and furious start to 2025 12 Hours of Sebring: 4-hour report

Welcome to sunny, humid mid-Florida the place we’re 4 hours down… with eight to go for the 73rd working of the 12 Hours of Sebring. Initially of the 4th hour, Earl Bamber within the #31 Cadillac Whelen Cadillac leads all the WeatherTech subject.

Main the opposite classes is Juan Manuel Correa within the United Autosports LMP2, Klaus Bachler within the #77 AO Racing Porsche in GTD Professional, and after a wrestle within the begin of the race, the #21 AF Corse for GTD with Lilou Wadoux behind the wheel.

Within the first 4 hours…

HOUR 1: A tricky begin for Dries Vanthoor and the pole-winning #24 BMW M Staff RLL because it misplaced its race lead close to instantly. Race management issued a drive by way of penalty for the #24’s false race begin, which the group served through the first full course yellow.

Not even ten minutes into the race was the primary main incident triggering the inaugural warning of the race between the #88 AF Corse and #18 Period Motorsport LMP2s — with the #18 stopped on monitor in Flip 3.

Alessandro Pier Guidi additionally tried to navigate a braking challenge on the #21 AF Corse Ferrari after going off into the grass into Flip 10. He pitted for repairs.

The tip of the hour closed on the second warning, issued after an incident between the #10 Wayne Taylor Racing Cadillac with driver Ricky Taylor, and the #023 Triarsi Competizione Ferrari with the #10 aggressively bumping the rear of the #023, launching it into the wall of Flip 13. The #10 was issued a cease and maintain penalty, with a maintain of 60 seconds, placing it down two laps.

#04 Crowdstrike Racing by APR, ORECA LMP2 07: George Kurtz, Malthe Jakobsen, Toby Sowery

Photograph by: IMSA

HOUR 2: The second hour begins with a dicey return to inexperienced because the chief of the sector — the #63 Automobili Lamborghini Squadra Corse — pulled off to the correct aspect of the sector because it struggled to come back as much as race begin pace. IMSA radio has reported two explanations for the state of affairs, initially reporting that Lamborghini’s group radio stated to group and driver Romain Grosjean that they have been late with the transmission to go for the inexperienced flag, and later reporting that the group was redressing an improper wave by on the race begin. The group would solely be issued a warning for the beginning.

A 3rd warning for the race inside the first two hours after the #18 Period Motorsport hit the barrier on its method into the ultimate nook, Flip 17. It was capable of straight limp the pits with some injury to the entrance finish, as monitor security needed to restore the appreciable injury to the tire barrier.

#14 Vasser Sullivan Racing Lexus RC F GT3: Ben Barnicoat, Aaron Telitz, Kyle Kirkwood, Jose Maria Lopez

Photograph by: IMSA

HOUR 3: Experiencing mechanical points, the #47 Cetilar Racing Ferrari is discovered shifting slowly by way of Flip 16, the place it is ready to transfer behind the wall. Its crew members are noticed actually sprinting from the paddock to work on the automotive.

The #14 Vassar Sullivan Lexus faces a few setbacks within the third hour, with a penalty after altering a tire with out the right crew. A later incident with the #48 Paul Miller Racing BMW introduced the automotive behind the wall needing to deal with entrance suspension points.

HOUR 4: A narrative of comebacks and retirements: 20 laps down, the #14 returns with Kyle Kirkwood on the wheel, whereas the #47 Cetilar Racing Ferrari, formally retires.

Observe our persevering with race protection by way of the 2025 12 Hours of Sebring at the Motorsport.com IMSA hub.