IMSA Race 2018 Mobil 1 Twelve Hours of Sebring presented by Advance Auto Parts - Mar 14-17

Matt · 7 Mar 2018, 20:36 (Ref:3806705)

Couldn't fit the entire title in the subject line like I normally do.

So, after a record breaking performance by the Mustang Sampling/Action Express Racing Cadillac at Daytona, we head 120 miles southwest to the former site of the Hendricks Army Airfield for a grueling 12-hour race on a track that should have been repaved years ago. 41 cars are entered in the 66th running of the Florida classic. BAR1, Jota Sport, and one of the two United Autosport cars that raced at Daytona will not be competing, along with the two Grasser Racing Lamborghini's, the Manthey Porsche, and the Risi Competizione GTD Ferrari.

One addition to the field comes in the form of the CJ Wilson Racing Acura NSX, piloted by Marc Miller, Till Bechtolsheimer, and Dale Coyne's favorite driver, TBA.

Along for the ride this year in form of support categories will be IMSA's Continental Tire Sports Car Challenge for a two hour race on Friday. It seems a slightly smaller grid compared to Daytona, with 37 entries. 27 GS, 5 TCR, 5 ST.

IMSA's Prototype Challenge is also in competition, for their second race of the year. It will be a 1hr45min race on Friday morning, seeing 26 cars take the green.

Finally, we see the first combination race for the USA and Canadian Porsche GT3 Cup series, who will run two races at 45 minutes in length. One on Thursday, one Friday. 37 cars are expected to start.

Sebring 12hr TV Schedule(all times Eastern):
Saturday, Mar. 17
10:30 a.m.- 12:30 p.m., FS1
12:30 p.m.- 3:40 p.m., FS2(this is Strange)
3:40 p.m.- 6 p.m., FSGO
6 p.m.- 11 p.m., FS2

Race will be streamed in full on the IMSA website for those it applies to.

Essentials:

IMSA Radio

IMSA WSC/CTSCC Spotter Guide

Entry List for WSC(41 cars)

Entry List for CTSCC(37 cars)

Entry List for Prototype Challenge(26 cars)

Entry List for Porsche GT3 Cup USA(26 cars) and Canada(9 cars)

Event Schedule(at bottom of page)

Sebring, FL Weekend Weather

Event History

Track Layout

Track Graphics c/o RacingCircuits.info

Last Years Race:
Part 1
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=-Z--6VDdQsQ
Part 2
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=YZSSXsapoto

ATLFalconsFAN · 7 Mar 2018, 21:02 (Ref:3806708)

Hope to be just arriving after a long 9-10 hour drive at this very time next week.

EffectiveSprinkles · 7 Mar 2018, 23:02 (Ref:3806737)

I like Daytona well enough as the start of the season but this is the first 'proper' track in my view. Looking forward to this!

Coach Ep · 8 Mar 2018, 14:20 (Ref:3806853)

Looking forward to being trackside all 4 days of the event, weather forecast is perfect, I'm ready for the sounds-and-smells-of-race-cars-in-the-morning!

No better place this time a year than Sebring.

And man, I love those bumps!

canaglia · 8 Mar 2018, 14:54 (Ref:3806859)

sebring bop

https://competitors.imsa.com/sites/d...nd_gtd_bop.pdf

amg gt3 gets another +20kg ballast....
before end of season amg gt3 will be heavier than a road amg gt....

broadrun96 · 8 Mar 2018, 19:24 (Ref:3806914)

I'm usually one of the least likely to moan about BOP, but what in that? Did I miss the AMG domination of Daytona or something? 20 kg increase seems like a sure way to have a couple AMGs disappear from the series in short order, plus an additional mm of restrictor?

canaglia · 8 Mar 2018, 20:32 (Ref:3806923)

Quote:

Originally Posted by broadrun96

I'm usually one of the least likely to moan about BOP, but what in that? Did I miss the AMG domination of Daytona or something? 20 kg increase seems like a sure way to have a couple AMGs disappear from the series in short order, plus an additional mm of restrictor?

Despite this, I'm quite sure that bleekemolen amg gt3 will be fighting for top positions during the race

Jameson · 8 Mar 2018, 21:51 (Ref:3806932)

Quote:

Originally Posted by broadrun96

I'm usually one of the least likely to moan about BOP, but what in that? Did I miss the AMG domination of Daytona or something? 20 kg increase seems like a sure way to have a couple AMGs disappear from the series in short order, plus an additional mm of restrictor?

Do you know that the added weight slows the car down more than the bigger restrictor = added power = added straightline speed makes it faster?

It might as well be a BoP help for the AMG GT3. Or just to make it more in line with the others. In any case, it doesn’t feel like a huge penalty to me. I’d bet a small amount that we will not lose many of these cars from the championship based on this decision.

TF110 · 8 Mar 2018, 23:18 (Ref:3806947)

Quote:

Originally Posted by broadrun96

I'm usually one of the least likely to moan about BOP, but what in that? Did I miss the AMG domination of Daytona or something? 20 kg increase seems like a sure way to have a couple AMGs disappear from the series in short order, plus an additional mm of restrictor?

Not sure about this one, but the M8 lost 20kg, now it runs at 1220kg. On top of that it received some boost increases in certain rpms. I wouldn't be surprised if they are towards the front.

**skycafe** · 8 Mar 2018, 21:32 (Ref:3806929)

Great Intro as always!

...and Dale Coyne's favorite driver, TBA.

fieldodreams79 · 9 Mar 2018, 12:43 (Ref:3807043)

I'm normally excited to see her race thread, but I'll be missing this in its entirety this year.

Enjoy the orange blossoms and the old Airfield for those that are going!

RWill2073 · 9 Mar 2018, 18:32 (Ref:3807116)

Quote:

Originally Posted by fieldodreams79

I'm normally excited to see her race thread, but I'll be missing this in its entirety this year.

Enjoy the orange blossoms and the old Airfield for those that are going!

Haven't been able to go back since 2012. I'm eyeing a return in 2019, though. I'm 90% there, just waiting on the funding!

justracing · 10 Mar 2018, 10:49 (Ref:3807202)

Unfortunately some of the entry links above do not work, for me at least.
Really looking forward to this event, being race starved in the UK!

fergus_r · 10 Mar 2018, 18:29 (Ref:3807260)

Quote:

Originally Posted by justracing

Unfortunately some of the entry links above do not work, for me at least.
Really looking forward to this event, being race starved in the UK!

Entry for every race right at the bottom of this page- https://sportscarchampionship.imsa.c...-hours-sebring

And the Historic entry for those attending the event- races on Wednesday and Thursday- http://hsrrace.com/wp-content/upload...y-List-3.1.pdf

justracing · 11 Mar 2018, 10:01 (Ref:3807326)

Quote:

Originally Posted by fergus_r

Entry for every race right at the bottom of this page- https://sportscarchampionship.imsa.c...-hours-sebring

And the Historic entry for those attending the event- races on Wednesday and Thursday- http://hsrrace.com/wp-content/upload...y-List-3.1.pdf

Thanks for that, sometimes it's easier to ask rather than trawl round

Matt · 10 Mar 2018, 20:08 (Ref:3807267)

Quote:

Originally Posted by justracing

Unfortunately some of the entry links above do not work, for me at least.
Really looking forward to this event, being race starved in the UK!

Yeah, they all went down. Same for links in S365 articles, I apologize for that. Due to this boards ridiculous edit time limit,I can't change anything. :\

RoryMitchell · 12 Mar 2018, 16:12 (Ref:3807521)

Hi all,

Ahead of this race this weekend I'd recommend watching this video from SAFEisFAST that they did from the Rolex 24. Features some IndyCar drivers and their thoughts on how different racing in sports cars is compared to single seaters.

https://youtu.be/xkO9mtXtp-A

Damian Baldi · 14 Mar 2018, 19:32 (Ref:3808014)

Juttner praying to make it to the end of the race, and the P1 AER engine maybe for next year.

http://sportscar365.com/imsa/iwsc/ju...ith-mazda-dpi/

kvenom · 14 Mar 2018, 20:17 (Ref:3808026)

Quote:

Originally Posted by Damian Baldi

Juttner praying to make it to the end of the race, and the P1 AER engine maybe for next year.

http://sportscar365.com/imsa/iwsc/ju...ith-mazda-dpi/

So they are running into engine problems because they solved the cooling issues and the motor is running at full capacity (which it can't handle)?

You cannot make this stuff up.

**skycafe** · 15 Mar 2018, 21:31 (Ref:3808234)

Quote:

Originally Posted by kvenom

So they are running into engine problems because they solved the cooling issues and the motor is running at full capacity (which it can't handle)?

You cannot make this stuff up.

Given the way the program has gone it certainly seems cluelessness continues. I guess the dark cloud hovering over the program isn't going away.

But, it bothers me that they would not have done dyno runs at different coolant temperatures and have found the issues before.

chernaudi · 14 Mar 2018, 20:27 (Ref:3808029)

If the AER engine was a horse, it would've been sent to the glue factory a long time ago if I were in charge.

Joest never had these issues (certainly not to this degree) with Audi Sport or Porsche, but that probably also shows the differences in how Audi and Porsche handled their programs vs Mazda.

I'll tell you this: the Riley-Mazda is no Audi R8, R10, R18 or even R15, all of which are Sebring winners, and winners with Joest as the head man at the helm unless you want to count Wolfgang Ullrich.

TF110 · 14 Mar 2018, 22:32 (Ref:3808062)

They should drop AER completely imo. What they do next is up in the air, but imo AER is a problem altogether.

TF110 · 15 Mar 2018, 16:32 (Ref:3808184)

First practice is finished, and the times at the front are actually pretty close! The best of all dpi manufacturers finished within 3 tenths of each other. The only thing is the best of the lmp2's was 1.2 seconds behind in 11th, also behind ALL dpi cars. Not sure if it stays that way but it doesn't look like the p2 guys are as quick. In GTLM it's Ford and Ferrari up front with Chevy at the rear.

MaskedRacer · 15 Mar 2018, 17:18 (Ref:3808190)

Quote:

Originally Posted by TF110

First practice is finished, and the times at the front are actually pretty close! The best of all dpi manufacturers finished within 3 tenths of each other. The only thing is the best of the lmp2's was 1.2 seconds behind in 11th, also behind ALL dpi cars. Not sure if it stays that way but it doesn't look like the p2 guys are as quick. In GTLM it's Ford and Ferrari up front with Chevy at the rear.

Chevy at the rear not BMW this time eh?

Yeah I noticed the DPI/LMP2 gap as well. But that is just for one session so far.

Look forward to the race of course. I don't have cable/satellite. Being in the USA the good way to follow the race is having 4 browser windows open: 1)Live timing 2)IMSA.com onboard cameras page 3)IMSA radio 4)Ten Tenths forum thread

cbbrit · 15 Mar 2018, 19:07 (Ref:3808211)

Practice 1 results:

http://www.racer.com/images/2018/Mar...P1_Results.PDF

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