Crash, bang wallop ends 12 Hours of Sebring duel in 2023
Aitken, Sims and Derani win for Cadillac after action-packed final laps
Both Porsches were wiped out in collision.
IMSA/LAT Images
A late collision eliminated the top three and decided the outcome of a dramatic 71st running of the Sebring 12 Hours.
Taking place a day after the World Endurance Championship opener, the IMSA-sanctioned classic offered Porsche Penske a second bite of Sebring glory this year – only for Mathieu Jaminet to get together with the Wayne Taylor Racing Acura ARX-06 of Filipe Albuquerque as they lapped GTD cars with less than 20 minutes left on the clock. To make matters worse, the other Porsche 963 driven by Felipe Nasr ploughed into the melée, in what was ruled a racing incident.
Action Express trio celebrate
The carnage opened the door for the Action Express Cadillac to take victory in the hands of one-time Williams Formula 1 grand prix starter Jack Aitken. The winning Caddy V-LMDh was shared with Aitken’s British countryman Alexander Sims, who has chosen to focus on endurance racing after his self-confessed struggles in Formula E, and Pipo Derani. At only 29, the Brazilian is now a four-time winner of the Sebring 12 Hours, a tally he shares with Frank Biela and Allan McNish. Only Tom Kristensen (six) and Dindo Capello (five) have more victories in the Florida blue riband.