2017 Twelve Hours of Sebring - GT Le Mans class

The battle for the lead of the GTLM class at the start of the Twelve Hours.

What was there not to like about the GTLM cars at Sebring this year?    Great variety, beautiful cars and a great race. This is class for manufacturer supported teams with the same regulations as the Pro GT class at the Le Mans 24 hours with 525hp engines.  The GT LM class certainly kept the spectator’s interest all through out the race with Ford, Ferrari, Chevrolet and Porsche all looking as though they had a chance of the win.   In the end good driving and a clever pit strategy gave the Chevrolet Corvette team another Sebring class victory to celebrate even if their other car went out early on.  Ford looked like favourites and led for a long time but eventually could only finish second.  Even this was not certain as Ferrari were always close and the Porsche driven by Pilet was very fast after night fall and really challenged the Corvette for the win before suffering a puncture.   All ten cars in the class shown below:

1^st-No.3 -Corvette Racing-Chevrolet Corvette C7R- A.Garcia, J.Magnussen, M.Rockenfeller (7^th overall)

As the sun gets low in the sky, the No.3 Corvette is down in sixth place it its class.   A few hours later it had won!

Earlier in the day, the winning Corvette rounds the last turn.

2^nd-No.66 -Ford Chip Ganassi Racing-Ford GT- D.Muller, J.Hand, S.Bourdais (8^th overall)

This Chip Ganassi Ford GT was leading the class at dusk but eventually lost out to the Corvette.

The leading Ford GT coming out of turn 3 chased by a Ferrari and a Porsche.

The No.66 Ford braking into the hairpin.

3^rd-No.62 -Risi Competizione-Ferrari 488 GTE- T.Vilander, J.Calado, G.Fisichella (9^th overall)

The sole Ferrari in the GTLM class gave good account of itself all race.

The GTLM Ferrari in fourth place as night falls.  It was still to make up a place.

A light plane taxis along the runway as the Ferrari roars by.

4^th-No.67 -Ford Chip Ganassi Racing-Ford GT- R.Briscoe, R.Westbrook, S.Dixon (10^th overall)

The second of the Chip Ganassi Ford GTs making up lost time after early problems.

5^th-No.68 -Ford Chip Ganassi Team UK-Ford GT-S.Mucke, 

O.Pla, B.Johnson (11^th overall)

The UK based Ford GT being prepared in the paddock.

The UK car leading the Corvette through turn 3 as the sun begins to set.

6^th-No.25 -BMW Team RLL-BMW M6 GTLM- B.Auberlen, A.Sims, K.Wittmer (12^th overall)

Withe the lead Porsche eventually having a very long pit stop, BMW finished in the top six.

7^th-No.911 -Porsche GT Team-Porsche 911 RSR- P.Pilet, D.Werner, F.Makowiecki (13^th overall)

Porsche preparation in the paddock.

The lead Porsche at night when it was leading the class.

The Pilet Porsche racing past Sebring's iconic airport section.

8^th-No.912 -Porsche GT Team- Porsche 911 RSR-K.Estre, L.Vanthoor, R.Lietz (14^th overall)

The second Porsche at speed on the Gurney straight.

9^th-No.24 -BMW Team RLL- BMW M6 GTLM- J.M.Edwards, 

M.Tomczyk, N.Catsburg

The second BMW.

10^th-No.4 -Corvette Racing-Chevrolet Corvette C7R-

 O.Gavin, T.Milner, M.Fassler

The second Corvette approaches the hairpin with the hotel in the background.

The second Corvette early in the race.

For the fast DPi and LMP2 Prototype cars, click here.

For the Sebring Prototype Challenge cars, click here.

For the GT Daytona cars, click here.

It is going to be a long day so the Ford mechanics catch a nap.

John Etherton asserts his copyright to all of the photos on this blogpost.  However, you may post the photos elsewhere on the web as long as you credit the photographer, John Etherton, and this blog post, Rouenlesafx@blogspot.com and provide a link to this page.

John Etherton affirme son droit d'auteur à l'ensemble des photos sur ce billet de blog. Cependant, vous pouvez poster des photos ailleurs sur le web aussi longtemps que vous créditez le photographe, John Etherton, et ce blog, Rouenlesafx@blogspot.com et fournissez un lien vers cette page.