Beaten to the wire at Sebring, Sébastien Bourdais criticizes a finish transformed into a “bumper car competition”

It was just a matter of time for Sébastien to Bourdais achieves a third victory at the 12 Hours of Sebring. The French driver was responsible for completing the final stint aboard the gold Cadillac V-Series.R in Florida, which Scott Dixon and Renger van der Zande had given him in first place.

But the Swiss Louis Delétraz (Acura) was decidedly too fast in the final laps. A virile battle began 8 minutes from the end and the son of Jean-Denis Delétraz found the opening after several touches six minutes from the finish:

ALSO READ > Louis Delétraz offers the 12 Hours of Sebring to Acura

Obviously, the Frenchman felt disappointment in the Sebring paddock. But there was really nothing more to do than defend his position to the end. “I gave everything I had. Car No. 40 (Acura) was not synchronized (with the Cadillac strategy. Editor’s note) and they put new tires on at the last stop and we didn't do it because we didn't have time for that and they came like a rocket at the end. »

Sébastien Bourdais had some criticisms to make about this duel for the win, where several wheel kicks were exchanged. “I'm a little disappointed that it turned into a bumper car contest at the end. I'm glad we got out in one piece because we could have flattened four or five times along the way.

I'm obviously disappointed for the whole group and for Cadillac, because we had a very good day. It wasn't as magnificent as we would have liked, but we were at the front for most of the race. It always hurts to get knocked out like that in the final rounds. But it's racing. »

Together, Sébastien Bourdais, Scott Dixon and Renger van der Zande led 96 of the 333 laps of the 12 Hours of Sebring, a high rate of 29% of total distance achieved in first place. But not on arrival.