Aitken, Goikhberg, Hawksworth, Barrichello… Reactions from the pole-sitters at the 2026 Sebring 12 Hours

Jack Aitken (Cadillac nº31) – GTP poleman:

“The car was really fast and gave me a lot of confidence to push, which is essential on a track like this one at Sebring. It’s never perfect with the bumps and the conditions, but we managed to get close to the fastest possible lap. The gaps are very small, so we expect a very close race. Pole position is good for the team and to show the potential, but it doesn’t fundamentally change what comes next. We’ll need to be solid on every stint and manage the race well to have any hope of winning.”

Misha Goikhberg (Era Motosport nº18) – LMP2 Poleman:

“The weekend didn’t start in the smoothest way, so this pole position is a great reward for all the team’s hard work. We made quite a few adjustments to improve the car, and it paid off at the right time. The lap was good, not perfect, but good enough to be at the front. It’s a good starting position, but we know there are still things to optimize for the race. Over 12 hours, it will mainly be a question of pace and consistency.”

Jack Hawksworth (Vasser Sullivan nº14) – GTD Pro Poleman:

“We have a very good car, the team reacted really well after Daytona and it shows immediately on the track. The lap was clean, I managed to put everything together without too many compromises. Starting from pole here is always a good thing, especially in a race like Sebring. But we know it doesn't guarantee anything. The category is extremely tight, there are many cars capable of winning. The goal now is to stay clean and maintain that over time.”

Eduardo Barrichello (The Heart of Racing nº27) – GTD Poleman:

“It was a solid session, especially considering everything that was new to me this weekend. I tried to stay calm, build the lap gradually, and the car gave me confidence. We found a good balance quite early on, which really helped. Starting at the front is important, but it's only the first step. The race is going to be long, with a lot of management and traffic. We'll need to be consistent and avoid mistakes to stay in contention until the end.”

ALSO READ > Jack Aitken puts Cadillac in pole position for the 12 Hours of Sebring