Credit: LAT Images / After testing with Era Motorsport at Sebring last month, driver and former 12 Hours of Sebring LMP2 class winner Ryan Dalziel has stated that the famously rough track is even rougher than before.
Prior to the 12 Hours of Sebring on 16 March, Dalziel expressed confidence in their team’s performance, noting their history of strong races at Sebring. He also mentioned that the track seemed to have become even bumpier during testing, which could have an impact on the race. Additionally, he acknowledged the larger and more competitive LMP2 field as another factor to consider.
The #18 Oreca 07, which won the LMP2 class at the 24 Hours of Daytona, currently holds a 20-point lead heading into the second round of the IMSA WeatherTech SportsCar Championship.
Era Motorsport has consistently finished on the podium in the past three editions of the endurance classic, but has yet to secure a victory. This year, there will be a total of 13 LMP2 cars competing, compared to eight in the previous year.
Connor Zilisch, who dominated a TransAm race at Sebring in February, is eagerly anticipating his first 12 Hours of Sebring. The 17-year-old driver expressed confidence in the team’s momentum after their success at Daytona and is looking forward to racing alongside Ryan Dalziel and Dwight Merriman for a smooth weekend.
In the previous year, the team finished in third place, more than three seconds behind the leading #8 Tower Motorsports Oreca and #11 TDS Racing Oreca.
In the LMP2 standings, the #04 Crowdstrike Racing by Algarve Pro Oreca currently sits in second place with 350 points, trailing behind the #74 Riley Motorsports Oreca with 328 points.
Qualifying will be crucial not only for securing a favorable starting position, but also for accumulating valuable points, as IMSA traditionally awards 10% of the race points in addition to the race allocation.
Merriman, a bronze-rated driver, will strive to improve upon his P11 qualifying position from the Roar Before the 24, and the 24 Hours of Daytona race will provide more opportunities for track time and overtaking.