The 2025 Twelve Hours of Sebring delivered a dramatic spectacle for the New Zealand drivers in the field, a true rollercoaster of emotions. While Hunter McElrea secured a commendable third-place finish in the LMP2 class in the TDS Racing Oreca, the race was filled with “what ifs” for the other Kiwi contenders, each facing their own unique challenges on the demanding Sebring circuit.
Dries Vanthoor initially led the 73rd edition of the event from pole position in the No. 24 BMW M Hybrid V8, but an early drive-through penalty for a start procedure infringement immediately disrupted their strategy. This misstep handed the lead to Felipe Nasr in the No. 7 Porsche, who then maintained a strong position for the opening hours.
A pit stop under caution for the Porsche saw the lead change hands once again, with Jack Aitken, teammate to Earl Bamber in the No. 31 Cadillac, taking over at the front. Aitken then passed the baton to Frederik Vesti, who continued to keep the Cadillac in a commanding position, appearing poised for victory as the race approached its halfway point.
However, as conditions shifted late in the race, the Cadillac team struggled to maintain their earlier advantage. Strategy and pace became challenges, particularly as the temperature dropped which heavily affected tyre performance, impacting their ability to hold onto the lead.
In contrast, the Porsches seemed to thrive in the cooler conditions, capitalizing on the Cadillac’s struggles. The No. 7 Porsche, driven by Nick Tandy, Nasr, and Laurens Vanthoor, emerged victorious, edging out the sister No. 6 Porsche of Mathieu Jaminet, Matt Campbell, and Kevin Estre by a mere 2.239 seconds in a nail-biting finish. The No. 93 Acura Meyer Shank Racing completed the podium, showcasing the intense competition at the front.
The No. 31 Whelen Cadillac V-Series.R ultimately finished fourth, a disappointing outcome considering they led for a significant 155 of the 353 laps.
Adding to the day’s drama, the pit lane became a scene of chaos during a late caution period. Kiwi Tom Blomqvist in the No. 60 Acura MSR ARX-06 collided with Philipp Eng in the No. 24 BMW Team RLL while exiting the pits. Blomqvist’s Acura tagged the BMW, resulting in damage to the front-left corner of his car and affecting the steering, forcing him to stop at the pit exit.
This incident marked a reversal of fortune for the No. 60 Acura MSR ARX-06, especially after their impressive second-place finish at Daytona, underscoring the highs and lows of motorsport. Despite Blomqvist, Scott Dixon, and Colin Braun spending much of the race in podium contention, the pit lane contact derailed their efforts.
The team worked diligently to repair the No. 60, ultimately bringing the Acura MSR car home in P10, salvaging valuable points.
Brendon Hartley’s race in the No. 40 Cadillac Wayne Taylor Racing V-Series.R was one to forget, plagued by incidents and penalties. With 7 hours and 43 minutes remaining of the Twelve Hour race, Hartley slid into the Turn 17 tyre barrier, necessitating a nose assembly swap and front tyre change. Further adding to their woes, the No. 40 incurred a stop and hold penalty for receiving more than an emergency service in a closed pit, dropping them to 13th in class. Despite these setbacks, drivers Jordan Taylor, Louis Deletraz, and Hartley managed to recover to finish 11th.
In LMP2, the No. 43 Inter Europol Oreca of Tom Dillmann, Jeremy Clarke, and Bijoy Garg emerged victorious after a race-long battle with the No. 8 Tower Motorsport Oreca and the No. 11 TDS Racing Oreca, a hard-fought victory in the highly competitive class.
Kiwi driver Hunter McElrea, sharing the No. 11 TDS Racing entry with Steven Thomas and Mikkel Jensen, contributed to their third-place finish. While Thomas started on pole, the team couldn’t quite maintain the leading pace throughout the grueling race. Despite McElrea showing flashes of strong speed, they would ultimately finish third and secure a well-deserved podium.
This podium marks McElrea’s second consecutive LMP2 podium at Sebring, building on his second-place result with the TDS Racing team last year, solidifying his reputation at this challenging circuit.
After Round 2 of the IMSA Sportscar Championship in Sebring, the No. 7 Porsche of Nasr, Tandy, and Vanthoor leads the standings with 760 points. The No. 60 Acura of Blomqvist, Dixon, and Braun sits third, 173 points behind. The No. 31 Cadillac of Bamber, Aitken, and Vesti is now sixth, just 41 points behind the No. 60. Hartley, after his challenging race, is tenth, 38 points behind Bamber.
The IMSA Sportscar Championship resumes on April 10-12 with a 100-minute race at Long Beach, promising more thrilling action in the world of sports car racing.
Header Image: TDS Racing Facebook
