Toyota double at Sebring, Ferrari on the podium

Pole position signed by Ferrari Thursday suggested a great battle with Toyota for victory in 1000 Miles of Sebring (USA), first round of WEC 2023. Unfortunately, this never took place on the atypical Florida route. 

Pole sitter Antonio Fuoco got off to a perfect start and nevertheless consolidated his first place during the very first moments of the race.

The spectacular exit from the track by Luis Pérez Companc at the wheel of the Richard Mille AF Corse would cut him off in his tracks.

Called to the pits under the Safety Car regime, the Italian left control of the event to the Toyotas. A drive-through for overtaking under a safety car would definitively penalize the #50 Ferrari for victory. 

The Toyotas took off quickly and claimed their first victory of the season. This came back to n°7 of Mike conway, Kamui Kobayashi et Jose Maria Lopez, in front of n°8 of Sébastien Buemi, Brendon Hartley and Ryo Hirakawa.

TOYOTA #7 WIN IN SEBRING! @TGR_WEC
#WEC #1000MSebring pic.twitter.com/Wyo76nxAKT

— FIA World Endurance Championship (@FIAWEC) March 18, 2023

Despite a few mishaps, Ferrari validated its return to the premier Endurance category after a 50-year absence by climbing onto the podium with Fuoco, Miguel Molina and Nicklas Nielsen.

The race went less well for the #51 of Antonio Giovinazzi, James Calado and Alessandro Pier Guidi. The latter was a little too optimistic in traffic and found himself involved in a double collision with GTEs, damaging the red and yellow prototype, 7th in its category at the finish, behind the Cadillac and the two Porsche.

To Peugeot , this opening round of the season was very complicated even before the start of the race. At the end of the second formation lap, the #94 plunged into the pits due to a problem with the electric gearbox actuator. LThe trio formed by Nico Mueller, Gustavo Menezes and Loïc Duvala was then delayed for a long time by a problem with the hybrid system.

The sister car was not spared either, notably with a contact which led to a change of bonnet in confusion. The 9X8s finished in 9th and 10th places, far, very far from the front, and behind the modest Vanwall.

Glickenhaus retired in the third hour of the race due to a mechanical problem.

Doriane Pin so close to first WEC victory

It was very close in LM P2 between Prema and Hertz Team JOTA, two teams with two different strategies. While Will Stevens was leading the race in the final hour, the Briton had to dive into the pits 11 minutes from time for a final refueling.

The perfect opportunity to allow Mirko Bortolotti to steal first place and offer victory to Daniil Kvyat and Dorian Pin.

However, the Italian also had to dive into the pits with less than four minutes remaining. Stevens therefore crossed the line as winner, winning with his teammates Yifei Ye and David Beckmann. Filipe Albuquerque placed the #22 United Autosports car in second position ahead of the young Frenchwoman's Prema.

On the LMGTE Am side, the battle also promised between the Corvette and the Iron Dames. A slightly wide exit from Rahel Frey greatly damaged the rear of the pink Porsche which tumbled down the rankings. Nicky Catsburg, Nicolás Varrone and Ben Keating easily won ahead of Dempsey – Proton Racing and Kessel Racing.

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