Porsche Leads Three Classes Heading into Final Three Hours

Photo: Jordan Lenssen/Porsche

Porsche held the lead in three of the four classes heading into the final quarter of the Mobil 1 Twelve Hours of Sebring.

Laurin Heinrich remained in control of the race overall, in a continued commanding 1-2 run for Porsche Penske Motorsport up front as the sun began to set over central Florida.

The German, in only his third race in the Porsche 963, held a two-second lead over Laurens Vanthoor in the sister No. 6 entry, with Renger van der Zande third in the No. 93 Meyer Shank Racing Acura ARX-06, but more than 12 seconds adrift.

A three hour and 12-minute green flag stretch ended when the No. 14 Vasser Sullivan Lexus RC F GT3 of Kyle Kirkwood lost its left-front wheel with 4 hours and 22 minutes to go.

The GTD Pro class-leading No. 77 AO Racing Porsche 911 GT3 R Evo of Nick Tandy was forced to make an emergency stop during the yellow for a splash of fuel.

It was followed by front brake rotor and pad changes to the car, which initially dropped down the running order but regained by Alessio Picariello’s subsequent stint that saw him move into second.

Ricardo Feller led GTD Pro at the nine-hour mark in the No. 911 Manthey Racing Porsche, ahead of the Belgian driver.

GTD was led by the sister No. 912 Manthey entry of Riccardo Pera, who muscled his way to the front following a drive-through penalty for the then class-leading No. 21 AF Corse Ferrari 296 GT3 Evo of Antonio Fuoco.

The No. 99 AO Racing Oreca 07 Gibson continued to stay out front in LMP2, which was in the hands of Dane Cameron.

Trouble struck the Heart of Racing Team Aston Martin Valkyrie when Alex Riberas was unable to re-fire the V12 engine during a pit stop. It lost 14 laps behind the wall.

There was also a scary moment for Jack Aitken in the No. 31 Action Express Racing Cadillac V-Series.R, who had an off-course moment in Turn 3 prior to the yellow, dropping from fourth to seventh at the time.

Jordan Taylor, meanwhile, was served with a drive-through penalty for having a tire without crew during his pit stop with three hours and 55 minutes to go.

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