#24: BMW M Team RLL, BMW M Hybrid V8, GTP: Philipp Eng, Dries Vanthoor, Kevin Magnussen

IMSA News: Vanthoor puts #24 BMW on 12 Hours of Sebring Pole

No. 24 BMW driver Dries Vanthoor stormed to pole for the IMSA Mobil 1 Twelve Hours of Sebring with a lap of 1m47.091s in qualifying.

Vanthoor, in the No. 24 Team RLL BMW M Hybrid V8, beat the No. 60 Meyer Shank Racing Acura ARX-06 of Tom Blomqvist by just 0.025 seconds.

#24m BMW M Team RLL, BMW M Hybrid V8, GTPm Philipp Eng, Dries Vanthoor, Kevin Magnussen. LAT Images for IMSA at Sebring

It marked Vanthoor’s second pole in as many races this season in the car the Belgian will share with Philipp Eng and Kevin Magnussen in Saturday’s second leg of the Michelin Endurance Cup.

Related ArticleIMSA News: Van Der Linde, BMW Pace Sebring Thursday Practice

Vanthoor’s older brother Laurens is part of the driver lineup for the championship-leading No. 7 Porsche Penske Motorsport Penske 963, the Rolex 24 winner, along with Felipe Nasr and Nick Tandy, who is in pursuit of his first Sebring overall win. Nasr qualified the No. 7 Porsche third for Saturday’s 12-hour race.

“The red flag didn’t cause any issues,” Dries Vanthoor remarked. “We had a plan, so at the end, it didn’t change much. In a normal qualifying session, you maybe get two chances. Now you only had one. It makes a bit more pressure to get that lap together. It makes it a bit more difficult. But yeah, it also makes me a bit, how I would say, nervous or fired up at the same time. Looks like it’s working!”

Rolex 24 at Daytona winner Felipe Nasr recorded the third quickest time in the No. 7 Penske Porsche 963, ahead of teammate Mathieu Jaminet in fourth.

#7: Porsche Penske Motorsports, Porsche 963, GTP: Felipe Nasr, Nick Tandy, Laurens Vanthoor. LAT Images for IMSA at Sebring

Neel Jani made it three Porsches in the top-five in the No. 5 Proton Competition entry, with Renger van der Zande sixth in the No. 93 MSR Acura.

Defending race winner Louis Deletraz, of Wayne Taylor Racing, was the best of the Cadillac contingent in seventh.

#10: Cadillac Wayne Taylor Racing, Cadillac V-Series.R, GTP: Ricky Taylor, Filipe Albuquerque, Will Stevens at Sebring. LAT Images for IMSA

LMP2: Thomas is Tops in No. 11 TDS Racing ORECA at Sebring

Steven Thomas claimed LMP2 pole honors, taking his No. 11 TDS Racing Oreca 07 Gibson to a fast lap of 1m51.804.

It was 0.115 seconds quicker than the No. 99 AO Racing entry of PJ Hyett, with United Autosports’ Nick Boulle qualifying third in class.

The pole was the sixth in IMSA competition for Thomas, but his first since the 2022 WeatherTech Championship Motul Petit Le Mans season finale at Michelin Raceway Road Atlanta. Thomas also earned the LMP2 pole at Sebring in 2021.

“When they changed the LMP2 cars when the GTP formula started in 2023, the balance of the cars changed and I struggled that first year,” Thomas said. “I thought I was driving as fast as I ever had, but there are so many fast Bronze-rated drivers and every week it seems like it’s someone else.

“This feels really good for an old man to get a pole.”

Thomas paid tribute to his co-drivers – Platinum-rated Jensen and Silver-rated Hunter McElrea.

“The great thing about qualifying as a Bronze driver is we are all on our limit,” said Thomas, who will chase his sixth career win in the WeatherTech Championship. “Here at Sebring with the bumps, it’s very challenging to stay on your limit every corner the whole way round. Hunter and Mikkel coached my up and helped me get this pole, which I really enjoy.

“To be able to qualify the car means so much because it feels like you’re really contributing to the win at the end of the day,” he added. “We also start the race, and that gives you a chance to put your team in a good position. I think qualifying means a lot to all the Bronze drivers because it makes us a factor in the race, which is what we really want.”

Ferraris Claim GTD Pro, GTD Pole Positions at Sebring

DragonSpeed led a Ferrari sweep of the production-based classes, with Albert Costa giving the Elton Julian-led team its first GTD Pro pole position.

Costa recorded a best lap of 1m59.225s in the No. 81 Ferrari 296 GT3 to edge out defending class champion Laurin Heinrich in the No. 77 AO Racing Porsche 911 GT3 R by 0.172 seconds.

#81: DragonSpeed, Ferrari 296 GT3, GTD PRO: Albert Costa, Davide Rigon, Giacomo Altoe. LAT Images for IMSA at Sebring

Neil Verhagen qualified third in class in the No. 1 Paul Miller Racing BMW M4 GT3 EVO, ahead of teammate Dan Harper and the No. 3 Pratt Miller Motorsports-run Chevrolet Corvette Z06 GT3.R of Antonio Garcia, who completed the top-five.

GTD pole honors went to the No. 21 AF Corse Ferrari of Alessandro Pier Guidi, who was quickest overall amongst the GT classes but will start behind the entire GTD Pro grid per IMSA’s updated sporting regulations for this year.

#21: Af Corse, Ferrari 296 GT3, GTD: Simon Mann, Lilou Wadoux Ducellier, Alessandro Pier Guidi. LAT Images for IMSA at Sebring

Pier Gudi’s time of 1m59.131 lap time was more than three-tenths clear of the No. 32 Korthoff Competition Motors Mercedes-AMG GT3 Evo of Kenton Koch.

Jack Hawksworth was third in the No. 12 Vasser Sullivan Lexus RC F GT3.

The Mobil 1 Twelve Hours of Sebring is set for a 10 a.m. EST start time on Saturday, with live coverage on Peacock.

12 Hours of Sebring Qualifying Results

Pos

PiC

No.

Class

Drivers

Team

Car

Time

Behind

1

1

24

GTP

P. Eng / D. Vanthoor / K. Magnussen

BMW M Team RLL

BMW M Hybrid V8

1m47.091s

+0.000

2

2

60

GTP

T. Blomqvist / C. Braun / S. Dixon

Acura Meyer Shank Racing w/Curb Agajanian

Acura ARX-06

1m47.116s

+0.025

3

3

7

GTP

F. Nasr / N. Tandy / L. Vanthoor

Porsche Penske Motorsport

Porsche 963

1m47.522s

+0.431

4

4

6

GTP

M. Jaminet / M. Campbell / K. Estre

Porsche Penske Motorsport

Porsche 963

1m47.598s

+0.507

5

5

5

GTP

N. Jani / T. Vautier / N. Pino

Proton Competition

Porsche 963

1m48.074s

+0.983

6

6

93

GTP

R. van der Zande / N. Yelloly

A. Palou

Acura Meyer Shank Racing w/Curb Agajanian

Acura ARX-06

1m48.108s

+1.017

7

7

40

GTP

J. Taylor / L. Deletraz / B. Hartley

Wayne Taylor Racing

Cadillac V-Series.R

1m48.126s

+1.035

8

8

10

GTP

R. Taylor / F. Albuquerque

W. Stevens

Wayne Taylor Racing

Cadillac V-Series.R

1m48.171s

+1.080

9

9

85

GTP

T. van der Helm / G. Bruni

N. Mueller

JDC Miller MotorSports

Porsche 963

1m48.228s

+1.137

10

10

25

GTP

M. Wittmann / S. van der Linde

R. Frijns

BMW M Team RLL

BMW M Hybrid V8

1m48.780s

+1.689

11

11

63

GTP

M. Bortolotti / R. Grosjean / D. Kvyat

Automobili Lamborghini Squadra Corse

Lamborghini SC63

1m49.304s

+2.213

12

12

23

GTP

R. Gunn / R. De Angelis / A. Riberas

ASTON MARTIN THOR Team

Aston Martin Valkyrie

1m49.400s

+2.309

13

1

11

LMP2

S. Thomas / M. Jensen / H. McElrea

TDS RACING

ORECA LMP2 07

1m51.804s

+4.713

14

2

99

LMP2

P. Hyett / D. Cameron / J. Edgar

AO Racing

ORECA LMP2 07

1m51.919s

+4.828

15

3

2

LMP2

N. Boulle / J. Correa / B. Hanley

United Autosports USA

ORECA LMP2 07

1m52.444s

+5.353

16

4

22

LMP2

D. Goldburg / P. Di Resta / R. Lindh

United Autosports USA

ORECA LMP2 07

1m52.604s

+5.513

17

5

18

LMP2

K. Ohta / D. Hansson / T. Lutke

Era Motorsport

ORECA LMP2 07

1m52.944s

+5.853

18

6

88

LMP2

L. Perez Companc / M. Perez Companc

N. Nielsen

Af Corse

ORECA LMP2 07

1m53.196s

+6.105

19

7

52

LMP2

R. Sales / B. Pedersen / M. Beche

PR1 Mathiasen Motorsports

ORECA LMP2 07

1m53.400s

+6.309

20

8

04

LMP2

G. Kurtz / M. Jakobsen / T. Sowery

Crowdstrike Racing by APR

ORECA LMP2 07

1m53.443s

+6.352

21

9

74

LMP2

G. Robinson / F. Fraga / J. Burdon

Riley

ORECA LMP2 07

1m53.498s

+6.407

22

10

43

LMP2

T. Dillmann / B. Garg / J. Clarke

Inter Europol Competition

ORECA LMP2 07

1m53.769s

+6.678

23

11

73

LMP2

P. Fittipaldi / J. Roe / C. Cumming

Pratt Miller Motorsports

ORECA LMP2 07

1m53.891s

+6.800

24

12

8

LMP2

J. Farano / S. Alvarez / S. Bourdais

Tower Motorsports

ORECA LMP2 07

1m55.877s

+8.786

25

1

21

GTD

S. Mann / L. Wadoux Ducellier

A. Pier Guidi

Af Corse

Ferrari 296 GT3

1m59.131s

+12.040

26

1

81

GTDPRO

A. Costa / D. Rigon / G. Altoè

DragonSpeed

Ferrari 296 GT3

1m59.225s

+12.134

27

2

77

GTDPRO

L. Heinrich / K. Bachler / A. Picariello

AO Racing

Porsche 911 GT3 R (992)

1m59.397s

+12.306

28

2

32

GTD

S. Lucas / K. Koch / M. Goetz

Korthoff Competition Motors

Mercedes-AMG GT3

1m59.513s

+12.422

29

3

12

GTD

J. Hawksworth / P. Thompson

F. Montecalvo

Vasser Sullivan Racing

Lexus RC F GT3

1m59.518s

+12.427

30

3

1

GTDPRO

M. Snow / N. Verhagen

C. De Phillippi

Paul Miller Racing

BMW M4 GT3 EVO

1m59.666s

+12.575

31

4

57

GTD

R. Ward / P. Ellis / I. Dontje

Winward Racing

Mercedes-AMG GT3

1m59.684s

+12.593

32

4

48

GTDPRO

M. Hesse / D. Harper / J. Krohn

Paul Miller Racing

BMW M4 GT3 EVO

1m59.768s

+12.677

33

5

3

GTDPRO

A. Garcia / A. Sims / D. Juncadella

Corvette Racing by Pratt Miller Motorsports

Chevrolet Corvette Z06 GT3.R

1m59.897s

+12.806

34

6

4

GTDPRO

T. Milner / N. Catsburg / N. Varrone

Corvette Racing by Pratt Miller Motorsports

Chevrolet Corvette Z06 GT3.R

1m59.926s

+12.835

35

5

47

GTD

L. Patrese / G. Sernagiotto / A. Fuoco

CETILAR RACING

Ferrari 296 GT3

2m00.048s

+12.957

36

6

27

GTD

T. Gamble / C. Stevenson

Z. Robichon

Heart of Racing Team

Aston Martin Vantage GT3 Evo

2m00.061s

+12.970

37

7

78

GTD

M. Goikhberg / M. Farnbacher

P. Kligerman

Forte Racing

Lamborghini Huracan GT3 EVO2

2m00.226s

+13.135

38

7

14

GTDPRO

A. Telitz / K. Kirkwood / J. Lopez

Vasser Sullivan Racing

Lexus RC F GT3

2m00.227s

+13.136

39

8

021

GTD

S. Monk / S. McAleer / M. Skeen

Triarsi Competizione

Ferrari 296 GT3

2m00.258s

+13.167

40

8

9

GTDPRO

A. Caldarelli / M. Mapelli

J. Hinchcliffe

Pfaff Motorsports

Lamborghini Huracan GT3 EVO2

2m00.493s

+13.402

41

9

64

GTDPRO

M. Rockenfeller / S. Priaulx / B. Barker

Ford Multimatic Motorsports

Ford Mustang GT3

2m00.533s

+13.442

42

10

65

GTDPRO

C. Mies / F. Vervisch / D. Olsen

Ford Multimatic Motorsports

Ford Mustang GT3

2m00.614s

+13.523

43

9

34

GTD

M. Franco / D. Serra / C. Sbirrazzuoli

Conquest Racing

Ferrari 296 GT3

2m00.734s

+13.643

44

10

96

GTD

P. Gallagher / R. Foley / J. Walker

Turner Motorsport

BMW M4 GT3 EVO

2m00.782s

+13.691

45

11

20

GTDPRO

C. Schiavoni / M. Cressoni / R. Lietz

Proton Competition

Porsche 911 GT3 R (992)

2m00.814s

+13.723

46

11

83

GTD

S. Bovy / R. Frey / M. Gatting

Iron Dames

Porsche 911 GT3 R (992)

2m00.843s

+13.752

47

12

023

GTD

O. Triarsi / C. Scardina / A. Rovera

Triarsi Competizione

Ferrari 296 GT3

2m00.946s

+13.855

48

13

120

GTD

A. Adelson / E. Skeer / T. Sargent

Wright Motorsports

Porsche 911 GT3 R (992)

2m01.206s

+14.115

49

14

80

GTD

D. Knox / E. Filgueiras / S. Andrews

Lone Star Racing

Mercedes-AMG GT3

2m01.728s

+14.637

50

15

36

GTD

S. Yoluc / A. Udell / C. Eastwood

DXDT Racing

Chevrolet Corvette Z06 GT3.R

2m01.814s

+14.723

51

16

19

GTD

R. van der Steur / V. Hasse-Clot

A. McIntosh

van der Steur Racing

Aston Martin Vantage GT3 Evo

2m01.983s

+14.892

52

17

13

GTD

O. Fidani / M. Bell / L. Kern

AWA

Chevrolet Corvette Z06 GT3.R

2m02.274s

+15.183

53

18

66

GTD

J. Hand / T. Bechtolsheimer

T. Calderon

Gradient Racing

Ford Mustang GT3

2m02.435s

+15.344

54

19

45

GTD

D. Formal / T. Hindman / G. Doyle

Wayne Taylor Racing

Lamborghini Huracan GT3 EVO2

2m02.786s

+15.695

55

13

31

GTP

J. Aitken / E. Bamber / F. Vesti

Cadillac Whelen

Cadillac V-Series.R

56

20

70

GTD

B. Iribe / F. Schandorff / O. Millroy

Inception Racing

Ferrari 296 GT3