The 2023 FIA Environment Endurance Championship got underway previous week with the 1000 Miles of Sebring. The race was considerable for two key motives. Initially, the new LMDh class of vehicles competed for the 1st time in the leading Hypercar course together with vehicles from the current LMH class. Next, Ferrari produced its return to prime-stage endurance racing after 50 years with the new 499P LMH.
Reigning winner Toyota dominated the race with its updated GR010 Hybrid LMH. It was a a person-two end for the Japanese staff, with the selection 7 GR010 Hybrid of Mike Conway, Kamui Kobayashi, and José María López ending initially, and the no. 8 GR010 Hybrid of Sébastien Buemi, Brendon Hartley, and Ryo Hirakawa coming in just 2.168 seconds behind.
Even though it wasn’t the dream start off Ferrari would have desired, the Italian team’s 3rd-place finish with the no. 50 499P was extraordinary nevertheless. Motorists Antonio Fuoco, Miguel Molina, and Nicklas Nielsen crossed the line two laps driving the Toyotas.
Despite getting rid of the pole situation to Ferrari and its no. 50 499P, Toyota held the tension on the leader by the opening laps. An incident by a GT car on the fifth lap introduced out the basic safety auto and led to the race stopping for 25 minutes. The Ferrari stopped for gasoline through this interval, which gave the Toyotas the direct location. The two Toyotas then crafted up a gap that would improve to two laps.
Toyota at the 2023 1000 Miles of Sebring
There was some drama with the no. 51 Ferrari 499P. Two hours from the end line and in fifth location, with Pier Guidi driving the wheel, the motor vehicle came into make contact with with a Ferrari 488 GTE driven by Francesco Castellacci. The 499P managed to return to the pits for some repairs, but could only manage to come in seventh at the conclude. In advance was the no. 2 Cadillac V-Series.R in fourth, adopted by the no. 5 and no. 6 Porsche 963 LMDhs in fifth and sixth sites.
The subsequent race on the calendar is the 6 Several hours of Portimão (Portugal) on April 19. The all-vital 24 Hrs of Le Mans operates the weekend starting off June 10.