Preview: 12 Hours of Sebring
The newly founded racing series kicked off its inaugural season at Daytona back in January and Fischer Motorsport – represented with three cars, two GT3 class entries and a P2 Prototype – finished eighth, seventh and sixth, respectively.
Even though this weekend’s race will go half the distance - 12 hours instead of the season opener’s 24 – an exceptionally physically and mentally challenging racetrack, that Sebring is, will make sure this race isn’t any easier.
If anything, Sebring presents an even bigger challenge in many ways, Niclas Pedersen, driver of the No. 14 Dallara P217 says:
“Daytona is an oval with an infield course that is pretty smooth, where you can actually relax quite a bit and take it easy. At Sebring you don’t really get that luxury, aside from the back straight maybe. The bumps, the rough concrete – everything is a lot more of a grid here compared to Daytona. A stint here can feel pretty long and exhaust you.”
Pedersen will be joined by team-mate Patrick Schindler, a 20-year-old German driver signed by Fischer Motorsport for a tryout and Jason Birnie, who has already competed at Daytona.
The team has brought back both its GT3 entries to Sebring, the No. 84 Porsche 911 GT3 R with drivers Manuel Mayer and Nelson Eberth and the No. 85 Porsche 911 GT3 R with Pascal Theis and Marton Tihanyi.
All three teams will be hoping to leave the troubles at Daytona behind and to be in position to fight for a podium finish at the end of the race this time.
“We haven’t done a good job putting ourselves in a position to content, at Daytona. By the time we got to the final hour, all three of our cars had been in trouble and laps back. The guys did a fantastic job under the circumstances, but everybody in the team is hungry for more. We want wins and podium finishes. Hopefully we can get closer to that this weekend.”, team owner Benjamin Fischer said.
For Nelson Eberth, Saturday’s 12-hour endurance event is the first race since the official announcement that he has signed with Fischer Motorsport on a full-time, long-term deal.
“I can’t wait, honestly. This race is very important for us. I’ll do the best I can, to help the team and my personal goal is, to make no mistakes this time.”
The 12 Hours of Sebring is set to take the green flag on Saturday at 15:00 CET / 10 am EDT and will be streamed live on VSCA’s YouTube channel.
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