Corvette Racing Team stymied in “what might have been” at Sebring
Antonio Garcia held a slim lead in his # 3 Corvette C8.R when he got whacked just before the 69th edition of the Sebring 12-hour race came to an end.
A banzai attack by Connor DiPhilippi # 25 BMW M8 took out both cars at hairpin turn 7. Time lost in the pits for right front repair and to replace a flat tire dropped the Corvette to 4th.
Despite mid-race setbacks, Garcia and co-drivers Jordan Taylor and Nicky Catsburg led for a good part of the race thanks to a fuel-saving pit stop strategy and a full-course caution.
Crash action www.gifs.com/gif/gZB67Z.
The # 4 Corvette was doomed from the start with Tommy Milner serving a drive-thru penalty for changing lanes and an electrical induced engine misfire that defied a fix.
Both Corvettes were decked out in silver anniversary trim celebrating 25 years of partnering with Exxon Mobil1.
Mobil 1 promotional video https://youtu.be/Yjvfgvsyyug
Team manager Ben Johnson talks about Sebring: https://twitter.com/i/status/1371516765004529666
Mathieu Jaminet driving the WeatherTech team # 79 Porsche 911 RSR inherited the lead when time expired. This was the first win for a customer car, a make-shift entry in the final year of IMSA’s shrinking GTLM class.
Unlike Porsche and BMW that build cars for other teams, it was decades of denial until GM started its own Corvette Racing Team in 1999. Now the rules have changed and there is no time to re-design and build 20 homologated cars required by IMSA rules, let alone justify the cost. Given the Corvette Racing Team’s overwhelming success and presence, both groups are trying to work out a solution for next year.
Meanwhile, 600 miles to the north at Charlotte, Corvette wrecks were truly violent on the ROVAL course where the SVRA hosted a unique event. Watch the first 4 minutes. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=uAS2xzmCIQY
Photos thanks to Richard Prince, Dave Ferguson
