Fast and furious start to 2025 12 Hours of Sebring: 4-hour report

Welcome to sunny, humid mid-Florida where we are four hours down… with eight to go for the 73rd running of the 12 Hours of Sebring. At the start of the 4th hour, Earl Bamber in the #31 Cadillac Whelen Cadillac leads the entire WeatherTech field.

Leading the other categories is Juan Manuel Correa in the United Autosports LMP2, Klaus Bachler in the #77 AO Racing Porsche in GTD Pro, and after a struggle in the start of the race, the #21 AF Corse for GTD with Lilou Wadoux behind the wheel.

#1 Paul Miller Racing BMW M4 GT3 EVO: Madison Snow, Neil Verhagen, Connor De Phillippi

Photo by: Andreas Beil

In the first four hours…

HOUR 1: A tough start for Dries Vanthoor and the pole-winning #24 BMW M Team RLL as it lost its race lead near immediately. Race control issued a drive through penalty for the #24’s false race start, which the team served during the first full course yellow.

Not even ten minutes into the race was the first major incident triggering the inaugural caution of the race between the #88 AF Corse and #18 Era Motorsport LMP2s — with the #18 stopped on track in Turn 3.

Alessandro Pier Guidi also tried to navigate a braking issue on the #21 AF Corse Ferrari after going off into the grass into Turn 10. He pitted for repairs.

The end of the hour closed on the second caution, issued after an incident between the #10 Wayne Taylor Racing Cadillac with driver Ricky Taylor, and the #023 Triarsi Competizione Ferrari with the #10 aggressively bumping the rear of the #023, launching it into the wall of Turn 13. The #10 was issued a stop and hold penalty, with a hold of 60 seconds, putting it down two laps.

#04 Crowdstrike Racing by APR, ORECA LMP2 07: George Kurtz, Malthe Jakobsen, Toby Sowery

Photo by: IMSA

HOUR 2: The second hour starts with a dicey return to green as the leader of the field — the #63 Automobili Lamborghini Squadra Corse — pulled off to the right side of the field as it struggled to come up to race start speed. IMSA radio has reported two explanations for the situation, initially reporting that Lamborghini’s team radio said to team and driver Romain Grosjean that they were late with the transmission to go for the green flag, and later reporting that the team was redressing an improper wave by on the race start. The team would only be issued a warning for the start.

A third caution for the race within the first two hours after the #18 Era Motorsport hit the barrier on its way into the final corner, Turn 17. It was able to directly limp the pits with some damage to the front end, as track safety had to repair the considerable damage to the tire barrier.

#14 Vasser Sullivan Racing Lexus RC F GT3: Ben Barnicoat, Aaron Telitz, Kyle Kirkwood, Jose Maria Lopez

Photo by: IMSA

HOUR 3: Experiencing mechanical issues, the #47 Cetilar Racing Ferrari is found moving slowly through Turn 16, where it is able to move behind the wall. Its crew members are spotted literally sprinting from the paddock to work on the car.

The #14 Vassar Sullivan Lexus faces a couple of setbacks in the third hour, with a penalty after changing a tire without the proper crew. A later incident with the #48 Paul Miller Racing BMW brought the car behind the wall needing to address front suspension issues.

HOUR 4: A story of comebacks and retirements: 20 laps down, the #14 returns with Kyle Kirkwood at the wheel, while the #47 Cetilar Racing Ferrari, officially retires.

Follow our continuing race coverage through the 2025 12 Hours of Sebring at the Motorsport.com IMSA hub.