Seiji Ara delivered a masterclass in endurance racing at Sebring International Raceway, piloting the #05 Porsche RS Spyder Evo to an overall victory by completing 106 laps in 3:09:54.362. The Navi Team Goh entry managed a blistering best lap of 1:44.691, holding off Rinaldo Capello's charging #01 Audi R10 by just under a minute across a grueling three-hour contest under the Florida sun. Behind the leading pair, Nicolas Minassian steered the #88 Creation CA06/H to the final step of the podium, two laps down on the leaders but comfortably ahead of Butch Leitzinger's #16 Dyson Porsche.
While the front-runners traded paint and lap records through the infamous Sebring bumps, the rear of the field provided a dramatic exercise in attrition. Fernando Horta's afternoon in the #01 Audi R15 TDI LM24H came to a screeching halt after completing just a single lap, sealing a disappointing DNF that left the garage scrambling for answers. Horta was far from alone in early misfortune; Frederic Bouvy managed only 3 laps in the #14 Corvette before an engine failure intervened, and Gil de Ferran's #66 Acura ARX-02 lasted a mere 17 laps before succumbing to a collision.
Team Principal Skinner (Scuderia Libra, understands nothing): "Look, I was told there would be flamingos. Why are we timing cars when there are so many nice swamp tours nearby? If the red car stops, simply paint it blue and tell everyone it won."
Following the chequered flag, a tense media gaggle gathered in the press tent to dissect the carnage.
Hugh G. Rection (Daily Apex - Pitlane News): "Seiji, how did you manage the tyre degradation over a triple stint through the hairpin?"
Seiji Ara (Race Winner): "Car was good. Tyres stayed round. Very happy."
Anita Brake (Chicane Weekly): "Fernando, your race lasted precisely sixty seconds. Was that tactical tyre preservation for next year?"
Fernando Horta (LM24 Audi Sport Team Joest): "Let us just say the asphalt had strong personal opinions about my front splitter, and we parted ways mutually."
Ps. Lost and found in the paddock: one left driving shoe, a half-eaten pretzel, and a completely unread rulebook belonging to someone named Dave. Please claim them before the marshals turn them into spare bodywork.
