IMSA WeatherTech Kicks Off Twelve Hours of Sebring Weekend

IMSA WeatherTech Kicks Off Twelve Hours of Sebring Weekend
The defending champion #5 Action Express Coyote Corvette DP was quickest in the afternoon sessions, while its sister car the #31 Action Express/Whelen Coyote Corvette was quickest in the morning. Chris Jasurek/Epoch Times
Chris Jasurek
Updated:

SEBRING, Fla.—The 64th running of the IMSA WeatherTech Mobil 1 Twelve Hours of Sebring Fueled by Fresh From Florida—that’s the official name of the Sebring 12 Hours—starts at 10:40 a.m. this Saturday, March 19. Practice for the race started Thursday morning, with 49 cars entered in the four classes: 12 Prototypes, 7 Prototype Challenge, 10 GT Le Mans, and 20 in GT Daytona.

The event is supported by a series of support events: the Continental Tire Sportscar Challenge Sebring 150 starts at just after noon Friday, with Mazda Lites, Porsche GT3 Cup, and Historic Sportscar Racing each running a pair of races.

The #2 Extreme Speed Motorsports Ligier JS P2-Honda, which won the 2016 Rolex 24, was third quickest in the morning but only tenth in the afternoon session. (Chris Jasurek/Epoch Times)
The #2 Extreme Speed Motorsports Ligier JS P2-Honda, which won the 2016 Rolex 24, was third quickest in the morning but only tenth in the afternoon session. Chris Jasurek/Epoch Times

The IMSA WeatherTecjh Series will qualify Friday afternoon, following the Continental Tire SportsCar Challenge race.

Multi-platinum recording artist B.o.B will be featured in Friday night’s “Rock The Grid” concert at the track. B.o.B. will be joined by Leroy Sanchez and Alys Ffion at the 7 p.m. event at the 93.3 FLZ Spring Brake Party Zone at Sebring International Raceway

Tickets can be purchased online through the IMSA website or the Sebring Raceway site, and can also be bought at the track.

Multiclass racing: The #38 Performance Tech Prototype Challenge Oreca pulls out to pass the #22 AJR-WeatherTech GT Daytona Porsche at Turn Six during Thursday afternoon practice. (Chris Jasurek/Epoch Times)
Multiclass racing: The #38 Performance Tech Prototype Challenge Oreca pulls out to pass the #22 AJR-WeatherTech GT Daytona Porsche at Turn Six during Thursday afternoon practice. Chris Jasurek/Epoch Times
The #85 JDX PC Oreca is sandwiched between the #7 GT Le Mans Corvette Racing CR.7 and the #45 GT Daytona Flying Lizards Audi R8 GT3. (Chris Jasurek/Epoch Times)
The #85 JDX PC Oreca is sandwiched between the #7 GT Le Mans Corvette Racing CR.7 and the #45 GT Daytona Flying Lizards Audi R8 GT3. Chris Jasurek/Epoch Times
Cars line up for the start of afternoon practice for the 64th Twelve Hours of Sebring at Sebring International Raceway. (Chris Jasurek/Epoch Times)
Cars line up for the start of afternoon practice for the 64th Twelve Hours of Sebring at Sebring International Raceway. Chris Jasurek/Epoch Times
The #98 Aston Martin Racing Vantage GT3 was quickest in GTD in the afternoon. (Chris Jasurek/Epoch Times)
The #98 Aston Martin Racing Vantage GT3 was quickest in GTD in the afternoon. Chris Jasurek/Epoch Times
The #62 GTLM Risi Ferrari 488 chases the #2 P ESM Ligier-Honda and the #48 Paul Miller Lamborghini through the Esses. (Chris Jasurek/Epoch Times)
The #62 GTLM Risi Ferrari 488 chases the #2 P ESM Ligier-Honda and the #48 Paul Miller Lamborghini through the Esses. Chris Jasurek/Epoch Times
The #911 Porsche North America 911 RSR was quickest in GTLM in the afternoon. (Chris Jasurek/Epoch Times)
The #911 Porsche North America 911 RSR was quickest in GTLM in the afternoon. Chris Jasurek/Epoch Times
The #54 Core Autosport Oreca topped PC in the afternoon session. (Chris Jasurek/Epoch Times)
The #54 Core Autosport Oreca topped PC in the afternoon session. Chris Jasurek/Epoch Times
Track conditions changed dramatically as the day heated up, and some teams adapted better than others. The #97 Turner BMW M6 GT3 went from fifteenth on GTD in the morning session to seventh in the afternoon. (Chris Jasurek/Epoch Times)
Track conditions changed dramatically as the day heated up, and some teams adapted better than others. The #97 Turner BMW M6 GT3 went from fifteenth on GTD in the morning session to seventh in the afternoon. Chris Jasurek/Epoch Times
The #24 Allegra Racing Riley-BMW was third quickest in the afternoon. (Chris Jasurek/Epoch Times)
The #24 Allegra Racing Riley-BMW was third quickest in the afternoon. Chris Jasurek/Epoch Times
The #25 BMW Team RLL M6 GTLM was fastest in class in the morning but could only manage fifth in the afternoon. (Chris Jasurek/Epoch Times)
The #25 BMW Team RLL M6 GTLM was fastest in class in the morning but could only manage fifth in the afternoon. Chris Jasurek/Epoch Times
The #85 JCD Oreca rounds Turn Five. (Chris Jasurek/Epoch Times)
The #85 JCD Oreca rounds Turn Five. Chris Jasurek/Epoch Times
Three BMWs fight for the same corner during the afternoon session. (Chris Jasurek/Epoch Times)
Three BMWs fight for the same corner during the afternoon session. Chris Jasurek/Epoch Times
The #33 GTD Riley Motorsports Viper (quickest in class in the afternoon) leads the #81 P DragonSpeed Oreca-Nissan and the #912 PNA 911 RSR around Turn Ten. (Chris Jasurek/Epoch Times)
The #33 GTD Riley Motorsports Viper (quickest in class in the afternoon) leads the #81 P DragonSpeed Oreca-Nissan and the #912 PNA 911 RSR around Turn Ten. Chris Jasurek/Epoch Times