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24H Series

Espenlaub Out Front in Opening Hour of 24H Sebring

CP Racing Mercedes yet to pit in wet start to opening hour of Hankook 24H Sebring…

Photo: Creventic/24H Series

The No. 85 CP Racing Mercedes-AMG GT3 Evo of Charles Espenlaub leads the Hankook 24H Sebring with one hour completed in a mixed-condition twice-around-the-clock enduro.

Espenlaub, who is yet to pit his Mercedes, holds a one-lap over the No. 91 Herberth Motorsport Porsche 911 GT3 R of Alfred Renauer, who along with the sister No. 92 Porsche, led the way prior to both cars’ pit stops for slick Hankook tires.

Pole-sitter Markus Winkelhock, who held command after a wet start, has moved up to third after leading early in the No. 18 Rutronik Racing by TECE Audi R8 LMS GT3 Evo, followed by the No. 82 BMW M4 GT3 of Max Hesse.

Hesse suffered a spin in the hairpin after contact from the No. 499 Lionspeed by Car Collection Motors Audi R8 LMS GT4 of Joerg Viebahn, causing rear diffuser damage to the North American debuting BMW.

The car has since gone behind the wall for repairs.

GT4 class honors is currently being led by the No. 489 RENNtech Motorsports Mercedes-AMG GT4 of Kyle Marcelli.

Other class leaders include Kenton Koch in the No. 710 Leipert Motorsport Lamborghini Huracan Super Trofeo (GTX) and Tracy Krohn in the No. 907 RPM Motorsport Porsche 911 GT3 Cup car (991).

Drama struck Pirelli GT4 America Pro-Am class champions Nolasport, with Jason Hart limping his Porsche 718 Cayman GT4 Clubsport back to the pit lane in the opening hour with a right-rear puncture.

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

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