Fans of the FIA WEC and the IMSA WeatherTech Sportscar Championship have been eyeing up the “Super Sebring” weekend in mid-March for some time. With entry lists for both the WEC and IMSA races now finalised, a number of drivers are taking the opportunity to race in both the 1000 Miles and the 12 Hours of Sebring on consecutive days.
Always a welcome presence in the FIA WEC paddock and pit lane, Corvette Racing (pictured above at the 6 Hours of Shanghai) will be taking all three of its current C7.R chassis to central Florida – entering its customary two cars in the 12 Hours of Sebring on Saturday afternoon and an additional car in the 1000 Miles of Sebring on Friday evening.
In addition, drivers Antonia Garcia, Jan Magnussen and Mike Rockenfeller will be tackling both events for the team. With one overall victory and nine class wins at Le Mans between the trio, they are certainly among the most capable of taking on such a challenge.
“I’ve never driven in two races like this on the same weekend,” said Corvette Racing driver Jan Magnussen. “So it’s something I’m looking forward to. Everyone at Chevrolet and Corvette Racing enjoys coming to Sebring and testing ourselves against the best in the sport. We have two chances to do that now!”
Drivers in the hunt for unique double victory
Elsewhere, a number of prototype drivers will also have a unique chance of victory in both events. Two-time World Endurance Champion Brendon Hartley marks his return to the FIA World Endurance Championship, filling in for Jenson Button in the #11 SMP Racing LMP1 car in the 1000 Miles of Sebring. In addition, the Kiwi driver will also be racing for Action Express team in its Cadillac DPi.
Fellow DPi competitors Olivier Pla and Harry Tincknell will combine their roles battling for overall victory in the 12 Hours with Mazda Team Joest with factory drivers for Ford in GTE Pro. Jonathan Bomarito – Tincknell and Pla’s Mazda teammate in the endurance rounds of the IMSA WeatherTech Sportscar Championship – will also be racing for Ford in the WEC, alongside Tincknell himself and fellow Brit Andy Priaulx.
Fresh from victory at the Rolex 24 at Daytona, Dutchman Renger van der Zande will be another driver in contention for double victory at Sebring. The 33-year-old will pilot the #10 Dragonspeed LMP1 car on Friday evening before driving the #10 Cadillac DPi on Saturday. Joining van der Zande in the #10 Cadillac DPi will be French driver Matthieu Vaxivière, who will race the 1000 Miles alongside Francois Perrodo and Loic Duval for TDS Racing in LMP2.
In GTE Am, Team Project 1 driver Patrick Lindsey will also be taking on the challenge of double duty. The American will be racing in the 12 Hours of Sebring for Park Place Motorsports in a Porsche 911 GT3 R.