BMW Hits Trouble; Mazda Packs Up Early in Second Day of Sebring Test

Photo: Sebring International Raceway

The second and final day of testing for IMSA WeatherTech SportsCar Championship competitors on Friday saw action on and off the track, with one of the new BMW M8 GTEs suffering a crash and neither Mazda RT24-P turning laps after packing up early.

As was the case in Thursday’s activities, lap times were not officially recorded or released.

An accident for the No. 25 BMW in Turn 17 (pictured above) halted on-track activity, with the car reportedly sustaining moderate damage with the impact into the barriers.

The final three-hour session in the afternoon, meanwhile, was briefly halted for the No. 22 Tequila Patron ESM Nissan Onroak DPi of Pipo Derani, which stopped on track and needed a tow back to the pits.

Friday’s action came without Mazda Team Joest, which packed up on Thursday afternoon, prior to the night session, following an engine-related failure for its No. 55 Mazda of Harry Tincknell.

It’s understood the team’s No. 77 car had successfully completed its separate test plan, focused on development of Continental’s new tire, and was not pulled as a direct result of the sister car’s issue.

Both of the updated Mazdas had struggled with reliability issues in last month’s season-opening Rolex 24 at Daytona.

WeatherTech Championship teams will return to the Florida airfield circuit next month for the Mobil 1 Twelve Hours of Sebring, with practice set to get underway on Thurs. March 15.

John Dagys

John Dagys is the founder and Editor-in-Chief of Sportscar365. Dagys spent eight years as a motorsports correspondent for FOXSports.com and SPEED Channel and has contributed to numerous other motorsports publications worldwide. Contact John