Sebring International Raceway: Samantha Tan and Neil Verhagen had a fantastic day at the Sebring International Raceway. Samantha, for the first time, won the big race in the Fanatec GT World Challenge America powered by AWS series. On the other hand, Jan Heylen and Madison Snow also did really well, winning two races in a row. It was like they had a clear path to victory.
Let’s talk about the PRO Class first. Heylen began the day in the best position but had some tough competition from the PRO-AM Class. He let them pass him so that Snow could take over the No. 45 Wright Motorsports Porsche 911 GT3 R car. Snow did a fantastic job and got them another win. Bill Auberlen and Chandler Hull in the No. 120 BimmerWorld BMW M4 GT3 started early and finished second.
Stevan McAleer in the No. 28 RS1 Porsche 911 GT3 R was the first to go to the pit stop after being in fourth place for a while. Eric Filgueiras managed to finish third, thanks to some smart moves during pit stops. Seth Lucas in the No. 53 MDK Motorsports Porsche 911 GT3 R lost a place to Filgueiras, and his team ended up in fourth place. Manny Franco and Alessandro Balzan in the No. 21 Ferrari 296 GT3 came in fifth. Unfortunately, Mario Farnbacher in the No. 93 Racers Edge Motorsports Acura NSX GT3 EVO had to stop racing early because his car got too hot.
Now, let’s talk about the PRO-AM Class. Neil Verhagen in the No. 38 ST Racing BMW M4 GT3 had a tough start because of a penalty in the qualifying rounds. But he quickly moved up the ranks and then handed the car over to Samantha Tan while in third place. Tan did an excellent job and left the pit lane in first place. This happened because the pole-sitter Ryan Dalziel and Justin Wetherill in the No. 33 Ferrari Triarsi Competizione 296 had some trouble with their handoff. Tan kept her lead and won the race.
Elliot Skeer in the No. 120 Wright Motorsports Porsche 911 GT3 R started the race in fourth place, but he tried really hard to get ahead in the very first lap. Adam Adelson took over for Skeer and finished the race in second place. Third place went to Wetherill and Dalziel in the No. 33 Triarsi Competizione 296 Ferrari.
Further down the list, George Kurtz and Colin Braun in the No. 04 CrowdStrike by Riley Mercedes-AMG GT3 had a calm race and finished fourth with some space between them and the other racers. Anthony Bartone and Adam Christodoulou in the No. 43 RealTime Racing Mercedes-AMG did a good job avoiding trouble on the track and came in fifth.
In another part of the race, Ross Gunn in the No. 007 TRG Aston Martin Vantage AMR GT3 started in fourth place but had a bit of a spin after a bump from the No. 08 DXDT Racing Mercedes-AMG GT3 driven by Scott Smithson. Smithson and Bryan Sellers ended up behind their teammates, Jeff Burton and Corey Lewis, in the No. 91 DXDT Racing Mercedes-AMG GT3.
The 2023 racing season will wrap up at the Indianapolis Motor Speedway on October 5-8. You can watch all the action live on the GT World YouTube page. It will be an exciting finish to a great season of racing!
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Our Reader’s Queries
Does NASCAR own Sebring International Raceway?
IMSA Properties, a subsidiary of NASCAR, has been the proud owner and manager of Sebring International Raceway since 2012.
Has there ever been a 24 hour race at Sebring?
Contrary to popular belief, Sebring race was never a 24-hour race. It’s a common misconception that needs to be debunked.
How much does it cost to go to track day in Sebring?
For just $475, you and your co-driver can enjoy the full Gravity Rally Track Day experience, including track entry fee. Plus, you can bring along one vehicle to join in on the fun. If you’re looking to take your driving skills to the next level, you can also opt to add a professional driving instructor for an additional $150. Don’t miss out on this thrilling opportunity!
Is Sebring a difficult track?
The track in Florida is known for its flat terrain and lack of elevation changes, making it a tough challenge for drivers, especially in wet conditions. Additionally, Sebring is famous for its unpredictable and uneven surfaces, adding to the difficulty of the track.