Porsche Penske Motorsport scores one-two victory at 12 Hours of Sebring

Race, IMSA WeatherTech SportsCar Championship, Round 2, Sebring (USA)
Porsche Penske Motorsport scores one-two victory at 12 Hours of Sebring
Porsche Penske Motorsport scores one-two victory at 12 Hours of Sebring
Atlanta., March 16, 2025 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- Porsche has clinched first and second place at round two of this year's IMSA WeatherTech SportsCar Championship. Brazilian Felipe Nasr, Nick Tandy from Great Britain, and Laurens Vanthoor from Belgium swept to victory at the 12 Hours of Sebring at the wheel of their No. 7 Porsche 963. This victory comes after the trio's triumph at the 24 Hours of Daytona in January. Matt Campbell from Australia and the two Frenchmen Mathieu Jaminet and Kévin Estre rounded off the stellar performance of the Porsche Penske Motorsport works team with second place. In the GTD Pro class, the AO Racing customer team notched up its first victory at an endurance race in the IMSA WeatherTech SportsCar Series with the Porsche 911 GT3 R dubbed 'Rexy'.
Daytona winners Nasr/Tandy/Vanthoor triumph again at second IMSA round
Campbell/Jaminet/Estre finish second in the Porsche 963
Record Sebring winner Porsche extends record to 19 outright wins
AO Racing's 'Rexy' Porsche 911 GT3 R victorious in the GTD Pro class
Atlanta. In summer temperatures reaching 88 degrees Fahrenheit, a fierce battle among the top GTP contenders unfolded as soon as the green flag waved at 10:10 a.m. Eastern Time. Felipe Nasr swept to the front at the wheel of the No. 7 Porsche 963 just 15 minutes into the race after starting third. While the Brazilian and his teammates Nick Tandy and Laurens Vanthoor relinquished the lead around an hour later, they ultimately fought their way up the order to regain the lead in the evening after overcoming difficult conditions on the extremely hot track at the Sebring International Raceway.
The decisive moment came after the ninth and final full course caution when the field went head-to-head in a thrilling sprint during the final 31 minutes of the race. Nasr fought off his attacking rivals to bring home Porsche Penske Motorsport's second victory of the young season. The win marked Porsche's 19th overall victory at the endurance classic in Florida, and the first since 2008. For Nick Tandy, who earned himself the nickname 'Mister 24 Hours' after his victory in Daytona, this latest triumph was another dream come true: The UK ace is just the tenth racing driver in the world to achieve the so-called Triple Crown of endurance racing after scoring overall victories at Sebring and the 24-hour races in Le Mans and Daytona.
The No. 6 sister car also ran among the frontrunners for much of the 12-hour race. Matt Campbell, Mathieu Jaminet, and Kévin Estre ultimately crossed the finish line just 2.239 seconds behind their victorious teammates. Thanks to the one-two finish at Sebring, Porsche has extended its lead in the manufacturers' championship while the two driver crews now hold the top two positions in the drivers' championship.
'Congratulations to the whole team for a flawless performance,' Thomas Laudenbach, Vice President of Porsche Motorsport, said. 'As expected, the 12 Hours of Sebring delivered some fierce competition. Drivers, mechanics, and engineers – everyone did an absolutely perfect job today. It couldn't have gone better. The Porsche 963 has again upheld its reputation as the most successful LMDh car since the regulations were introduced. This is something we can all be very proud of. Thanks to everyone who contributed to these successes. I'd also like to congratulate our customer team AO Racing. They scored a well-deserved class victory with the Porsche 911 GT3 R.'
'Victory at Daytona, and now Sebring: We've won the 36 Hours of Florida,' said a delighted Urs Kuratle, Director Factory Racing LMDh. 'That was one of our most outstanding races, absolutely flawless. I'm ecstatic. All the drivers and the entire team put in an incredibly strong effort: pit stops, strategy, car – everything went perfectly.''A superb performance from all six drivers and the whole team,' declared Jonathan Diuguid, Managing Director of Porsche Penske Motorsport. 'Just two seconds separated our two cars after twelve hours. This underlines just how perfectly and smoothly everything went for us. We were able to set a strong pace, especially in the dark when temperatures got cooler. Several other team members and I witnessed the last overall victory for Porsche at Sebring in 2008, so it's simply wonderful to be at the front together again now.'
The customer teams in the top GTP class also showcased the prowess of the Porsche 963 at times. Proton Competition finished the race in sixth overall, with JDC-Miller MotorSports's identical hybrid prototype crossing the finish line in eighth place. In the No. 85 car, Porsche works driver Nico Müller celebrated his debut in the Porsche 963. The Swiss driver, who also contests Formula E for the Andretti customer team, put in some strong stints.
GT classes: AO Racing's Porsche 911 GT3 R triumphs after fierce battleIn the GTD Pro class, customer racing team AO Racing celebrated its first-ever victory in one of the major endurance races of the IMSA series with the Porsche 911 GT3 R. At the wheel of the fan favourite 'Rexy', two former Porsche Juniors in Laurin Heinrich from Germany and Klaus Bachler from Austria joined forces with Belgian Alessio Picariello to drive a flawless race. After an intense fight for the lead, the trio ultimately won by a margin of 4.371 seconds. Proton Competition's No. 20 Porsche 911 GT3 R finished eighth.
In the GTD class, the Wright Motorsports customer team was plagued by a raft of setbacks despite the pace to contest for the win. The Ohio-based team was at times in contention for the lead with the 911 GT3 R, only to have two penalties during pit stops cost them crucial ground. The No. 120 Porsche 911 GT3 R driven by full-season American drivers Adam Adelson and Eliott Skeer, along with Austrialian Tom Sargent, took the flag fifth in its class. The Iron Dames team, complete with a full female driver line-up of Michelle Gatting, Rahel Frye and Sarah Bovy, wrapped up their second IMSA outing of 2025 with the in 11th place.
The famed Long Beach street race hosts round three of the IMSA WeatherTech SportsCar Championship season April 11-12. The spectacular Southern California street race is a 100-minute long sprint, a stark contrast to the 24 Hours of Daytona and 12 Hours of Sebring to open the season.
Drivers' comments after the raceNick Tandy (Porsche 963 #7): 'It feels amazing to win two races in a row. But winning the 36 Hours of Florida in Daytona and Sebring is hard to believe. And to top it off, both Porsche 963 finished both races on the podium. Given the fierce competition, that's incredible. No mistakes, no penalties, no damage – today was simply a dream in endurance racing.'
Matt Campbell (Porsche 963 #6): 'The one-two finish is obviously a banner result for Porsche Penske Motorsport. Congratulations to our victorious sister car. Today was incredibly long and tough for us; the race went back and forth. We experienced some difficulties in the intense heat of the early afternoon, but our Porsche was incredibly strong in the cooler evening. It's terrific to score the maximum number of points together.'
Nico Müller (Porsche 963 #85): 'What a fantastic weekend! I had great fun with the team, my teammates, and in the paddock – especially in my first race laps in the Porsche 963. I quickly adapted to the prototype; there was great synergy. At times the performance was super strong. But at the end of the day, the race could have gone a bit better for us. We had to change a brake disc, and we lost a lap in the process. It's a great honour to get the chance to drive the car over the finish line during the Sebring night.'
Tristan Vautier (Porsche 963 #5): 'We're a little disappointed. After some initial setbacks, we managed to fight our way up the field only to have a puncture throw us out of the fight for the top five. Still, in the end, we made it back into a promising position, and we performed particularly well in the dark. However, with just two laps left, we had to refuel again – what a shame, because it prevented us from bringing home the result was wanted.'
Klaus Bachler (Porsche 911 GT3 R #77): 'I'm so proud of the team! Laurin did an exceptional job in the last two hours of the race, and Alessio was also incredibly strong. It's simply cool to share the car with two great guys. We've finally won one of the biggest races with 'Rexy'. Now it's time to celebrate. I'm already looking forward to all the remaining races this season – I hope it continues like this.'Adam Adelson (Porsche 911 GT3 R #120): 'We're championship oriented, so we wanted to do anything we could to maximize that. As a team, we persevered and put our best foot forward. Unforunately it wasn't enough. But as a team, with all of the adversity we faced today, we can be really proud of our result and we're going to be shooting for higher than that in every race from here on out.'
Race resultGTP class:1. Nasr/Tandy/L. Vanthoor (BRA/GBR/BEL), Porsche 963 #7, 353 laps2. Jaminet/Campbell/Estre (FRA/AUS/FRA), Porsche 963 #6, + 2.239 laps3. Van der Zande/Yelloly/Palou (NLD/GBR/ESP), Acura #93, + 5.017 laps6. Jani/Pino/Vautier (SUI/CHL/FRA), Porsche 963 #5, + 1:02.670 minutes8. Van der Helm/Bruni/Müller (NLD/ITA/SUI), Porsche 963 #85, + 1 lap
GTD Pro class:1. Heinrich/Bachler/Picariello (DEU/AUT/BEL), Porsche 911 GT3 R #77, 329 laps2. Hesse/Harper/Krohn (DEU/GBR/FIN), BMW #48, + 4.371 seconds3. Snow/Verhagen/De Phillippi (USA/USA/USA), BMW #1, + 5.027 seconds8. Schiavoni/Cressoni/Lietz (ITA/ITA/AUT), Porsche 911 GT3 R #20, + 1 lap
GTD class:1. Ward/Ellis/Dontje (USA/GBR/NLD), Mercedes-AMG #57, 327 laps2. Hawksworth/Thompson/Montecalvo (GBR/CAN/USA), Lexus #12, + 3.265 seconds3. Gamble/Stevenson/Robichon (GBR/GBR/CAN), Aston Martin #27, + 6.720 seconds5. Adelson/Skeer/Sargent (USA/USA/AUS), Porsche 911 GT3 R #120, 1:43.593 minutes11. Bovy/Frey/Gatting (BEL/SUI/DNK), Porsche 911 GT3 R #83, + 1 lap
Full results and championship standings: https://results.imsa.com.
Attachments
Porsche Penske Motorsport scores one-two victory at 12 Hours of Sebring
Porsche Penske Motorsport scores one-two victory at 12 Hours of Sebring
CONTACT: Luke Vandezande Porsche Cars North America, Inc. 470.363.5001 Luke.Vandezande@porsche.us Reece White Porsche Cars North America, Inc. 831.383.9426 reece@rwhitecommunications.comSign in to access your portfolio

Try Our AI Features

Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:

Learn with AIFact CheckingText to SpeechAI Summary

Related Articles

Miami Herald

an hour ago

• Miami Herald

Every Corvette C8 Ranked By Horsepower

With the launch of the 2026 Chevrolet Corvette ZR1X, the Corvette C8 family has grown once more. It seems like longer than five years since the original Corvette C8 Stingray went into production, so far has this generation of the sports car come since then. Regardless of what model you pick, every C8 offers supercar-level looks and performance for a fraction of the price of an Italian exotic. Here's a refresher of where each model sits in the lineup, ranked from lowest to highest horsepower output. This is where the C8 story began, and it's almost easy to forget just how potent the standard Corvette is, especially at a base price of $68,300. The 6.2-liter V8 engine makes 490 horsepower and 465 lb-ft of torque; Porsche charges more for a four-cylinder Cayman with 300 hp. The 0-60 mph time of around three seconds is still supercar-quick, aided by the quick shifts of the eight-speed dual-clutch automatic, along with the rear-wheel-drive C8's immense grip. Unless you drive one of the other C8s, you would not feel shortchanged behind the wheel of the base model in any way. You can squeeze more power and torque out of the standard Corvette Stingray by equipping either the performance exhaust ($1,195) or the popular Z51 Performance Package ($6,345). In both cases, the V8 is uprated to 495 hp and 470 lb-ft, and the C8 in this configuration can hit 60 mph in 2.9 seconds. Besides the performance exhaust, the Z51 pack also adds performance Brembo brakes, a performance suspension, a unique rear axle ratio, an electronic limited-slip differential, and Michelin Pilot Sport 4S tires, turning this into a monster track toy. Considering the standard Corvette's appealing base price, the Z51 pack is a no-brainer. After the standard Corvettes, it's a huge bump up in power to the hybrid E-Ray, which adds an electric drive unit and e-AWD to the 6.2L V8 lump. Combined, the system makes 655 hp, and the additional traction of the E-Ray results in a 2.5-second 0-60 mph run. The price for a base E-Ray rises to $106,900, and while that's far more than a base Corvette, it still represents remarkable bang for your buck. The E-Ray manages the same 19 mpg combined as the base Corvette, so the hybrid system is less about efficiency and more about finding a way to unlock another layer of performance. You can also use the car's Stealth mode for silent getaways early on weekend mornings, without disturbing the neighbors. Choosing between the E-Ray and Z06 is quite a conundrum. The Z06 is a raw performer, swapping the 6.2-liter V8 for an intoxicating 5.5-liter flat plane crank V8 that shrieks all the way to 8,600 rpm. It produces 670 hp and 460 lb-ft, and also has an eight-speed dual-clutch automatic. Chevy says it'll hit 60 mph in 2.6 seconds, which is actually slower than the E-Ray, and you need the Z06's $8,995 Z07 Performance Package to achieve that time. That's on top of its $112,100 base price. Taking all this into account, the E-Ray is the winner on paper. But that doesn't tell the full story. You see, the Z06 is about 300 lbs lighter than the E-Ray. This, coupled with its more rev-hungry engine, makes it a more unfiltered and enjoyable track tool. But the E-Ray is a more refined, sophisticated daily driver. You can't go wrong with either. The ZR1 takes the 5.5-liter flat plane crank V8 from the Z06 and boosts it with two turbos. That makes a huge difference, and the result is 1,064 hp and 828 lb-ft. With the ZTK Performance Package, the 0-60 mph time drops to an astonishing 2.3 seconds. That may be only two-tenths more than the E-Ray, but even the smallest gains are not easy to come by at this level. The ZTK pack adds a special suspension with magnetic selective ride control and Michelin Pilot Sport Cup 2R tires. At $1,500, it's a box you may as well tick, since the ZR1 starts at $173,300. Up until very recently, it was hard to believe the Corvette could get more extreme, but then the ZR1X came along. Chevy pulled out all the stops for the new Corvette ZR1X. Combining the best of the E-Ray and ZR1, this C8 features the 5.5-liter twin-turbo V8 combined with an electric drive unit, bringing combined outputs well into EV territory at 1,064 hp and 828 lb-ft. Like the E-Ray, it has e-AWD. The combination of immense power and AWD grip makes it a rocket, with a 0-60 mph time of under two seconds and a quarter-mile time of under nine seconds. In Stealth Mode, the ZR1X can be driven for 4 to 5 miles at speeds of up to 45 mph in silence, but most will prefer operating it with the V8 in full flow. Careful attention to aerodynamics make this the Corvette with the highest ever downforce, and massive carbon ceramic brakes are there to bring the car down from the insanely high speeds it can reach. Pricing for the ZR1X is yet to be revealed, but we expect something in the vicinity of $230,000 to $250,000. Like every other C8, it offers unmatched power and performance from a gas or hybrid sports car for the price. Copyright 2025 The Arena Group, Inc. All Rights Reserved.

USA Today

2 hours ago

• USA Today

Nikolas Motta vs. Nazim Sadykhov prediction, pick, start time for UFC on ABC 8

Nikolas Motta and Nazim Sadykhov meet Saturday on the main card of UFC on ABC 8 at Baku Crystal Hall in Baku, Azerbaijan. Check out this quick breakdown of the matchup from MMA Junkie analyst Dan Tom. Last event: 5-1 UFC main cards, 2025: 57-44-1 Nikolas Motta vs. Nazim Sadykhov UFC Baku preview Motta (15-5 MMA, 3-2 UFC) enters his first fight of the year on the heels of back-to-back wins in 2024. Last January, he finished Tom Nolan in the first round, followed by a unanimous decision over Hayisaer Maheshate. The hard-hitting lightweight has finished 10 of his 15 victories by KO or TKO. ... Sadykhov (10-1-1 MMA, 3-0-1 UFC) has only suffered one defeat in his career, which came in 2018. Since then, he's gone unbeaten, winning 10 and drawing once – the only time he's reached the scorecards in the UFC. In his last outing in February, Sadykhov won a doctor's stoppage TKO over Ismael Bonfim. Nikolas Motta vs. Nazim Sadykhov UFC Baku expert pick, prediction Serving as a solid action fight at lightweight is a battle between Nazim Sadykhov and Nikolas Motta. Sadykhov, a savvy southpaw who has long been hailed as a prospect by the legendary Serra-Longo camp, has followed his stablemate Merab Dvalishvili to Las Vegas to train with coach John Wood and the Syndicate MMA crew. This change hasn't appeared to be drastic for Sadykhov, but the Azerbaijani native is one of many fighters on this card with a more deceptive resume than meets the eye. Aside from the fact that Sadykhov lost two rounds to Evan Elder and Viacheslav Borschev without having to suffer a single loss, the 31-year-old tends to find himself in deceptively close fights where either cuts or scorecards have arguably bailed him out. Motta, on the other hand, had a handful of bad performances early on in his UFC career that came amid a slew of camp changes and short-notice bookings that subsequently caused everyone from the bookmakers to the gamblers to continually disrespect his chances despite his recent results. Motta is still a kill-or-be-killed fighter for the most part, but the Brazilian has made some measurable improvements to his overall game since splitting his time between his home bases of Xtreme Couture MMA and Bangtao Muay Thai. Now, Motta appears to be in the best shape of his life, showing more tools at range and improved pacing and grappling. Motta also shows the style of leg kicks and shoveling body shots that previous Sadykhov opponents have found success with. Don't get me wrong: Sadykhov is the deserved favorite and no one should be shocked if he replicates the murder scenes that Manual Torres and Jim Miller made before him. That said, we can't ignore the fact that power is a potent two-way street, and Motta has way too much of it for Sadykhov to be this heavily favored with his fast-and-loose style. For that reason, I suspect that the southpaw killer that is Motta's left hook will be live for as long as this fight lasts. A decision win isn't totally out of the question, but I'll take an unpopular flier on Motta to shock the world by catching Sadykhov cold in round 1. Nikolas Motta vs. Nazim Sadykhov UFC Baku odds The oddsmakers and the public heavily favor the hometown fighter, listing Sadykhov -430 and Motta +320 via FanDuel. Nikolas Motta vs. Nazim Sadykhov UFC Baku start time, how to watch Motta and Sadykhov are expected to walk to the cage at approximately 3:40 p.m. ET. The fight broadcasts on ABC, ESPN and ESPN+.

Associated Press

7 hours ago

• Associated Press

Dusty Cars Announces Updated Content for Porsche Appraisal Service

Dusty Cars proudly announces updated content for classic car enthusiasts. A Porsche appraisal service could be the right move to get the best price. 'When someone doesn't know how to move forward with selling their classic Porsche, such as a 1986 Porsche 911, they might experience a mental block keeping them in limbo.' — Douglas Berry PLEASANTON, CA, UNITED STATES, June 21, 2025 / / -- Dusty Cars, a California-based classic car buyer and valuation service at , is proud to announce new content focused on the Porsche brand. Owners of classic luxury sports cars may be ready to sell, yet may be confused about which path to take to get the best price. Beginning with a professional Porsche appraisal service could be the right way to secure a market-based offer. 'When someone doesn't know how to move forward with selling their classic Porsche , such as a 1986 Porsche 911 , they might experience a mental block keeping them in limbo. They want to sell but don't know how to do it properly,' stated Douglas Berry, the visionary founder of Dusty Cars. 'We are here to help them achieve their goals and get their classic Porsche sold at the best price!' The new content zeros in on a 1986 Porsche 911 Carrera Coup at . The 1986 Porsche 911 Carrera Coupe is a highly sought-after classic car by enthusiasts and collectors. The Porsche brand remains popular in the classic car market. Several decades could be currently 'hot' in the classic car market. Porsche models vary across the decades, including the 1960 Porsche Cabriolet, the 1980 Porsche Targa, and the 1972 Porsche 911T coupe, for example. Those seeking to self-educate about valuing a classic Porsche 911 can visit the updated page at . A thorough evaluation by an expert appraiser of classic sports cars can help move an owner toward a fair selling process. Dusty Cars provides valuations for classic sports cars, including not just Porsches but also Jaguars, Corvettes, Maseratis, and Ferraris, as well as other makes and models. The company can help provide an evaluation and purchase for so-called classic 'old school' cruising cars, such as those from Chevrolet, Cadillac, Lincoln, and Ford. The car appraisal service process typically begins with an initial phone discussion. If the classic car owner chooses to proceed, a personal visit can be scheduled for a comprehensive evaluation. Details on a Porsche appraisal service can be found at . PROFESSIONAL PORSCHE APPRAISAL SERVICE BREAKS THE CYCLE FOR SELLING A CLASSIC SPORTS CAR Here is the background on this release. Selling a classic sports car such as a Jaguar or Porsche may require professional support. The details of handling the sale of a classic vehicle can be more complex than that of a regular car. The value of the vehicle may not be reflected by appearance or mileage. An owner of a classic sports car may be caught in a cycle of indecision about how to properly prepare and sell the automobile. Working with a Porsche appraisal service could be the right direction to break the cycle of uncertainty. ABOUT DUSTY CARS Dusty Cars ( ) is California's top classic car buyer. The company buys classic cars, offering top prices, free evaluations, and best-in-class cash offers. The company focuses on truly 'classic' vehicles such as classic Porsches, classic Jaguars (especially the Jaguar E-series), and classic Mercedes. It buys classic Alfa Romeos, Fords, Chevys, and Toyotas, depending on year and condition. Individuals looking to sell a classic car can contact the company for a discussion. Lee McDonald JM Internet Group +1 415-655-1071 email us here Legal Disclaimer: EIN Presswire provides this news content 'as is' without warranty of any kind. We do not accept any responsibility or liability for the accuracy, content, images, videos, licenses, completeness, legality, or reliability of the information contained in this article. If you have any complaints or copyright issues related to this article, kindly contact the author above.