IMSA releases bumper 58-car entry list for Sebring

IMSA has released a 58-car entry list – an increase of five from 2023 – for the Mobil 1 Twelve Hours of Sebring, taking place March 14-16. Included in the driver roster are 54 former winners of the race, led by defending overall winner Pipo Derani at four. Derani will be going for number five with Jack Aitken and Tom Blomqvist in the No. 31 Whelen Cadillac Racing V-Series.R.

The Grand Touring Prototype (GTP) list grows by one with the debut of the Lamborghini Iron Lynx SC63, to be driven by Matteo Cairoli, Andrea Caldarelli and Romain Grosjean. Other items of note in the GTP category include Renger van der Zande making his 100th IMSA WeatherTech SportsCar Championship start; Van der Zande is joined by Sebastien Bourdais and Scott Dixon in the No. 01 Cadillac Racing V-Series.R.

For many drivers in the field, Sebring will be their third race in Florida this year, having competed in the Rolex 24 at Daytona in January, and the Firestone Grand Prix of St. Petersburg IndyCar Series race the weekend prior to Sebring. Dixon, Grosjean, Blomqvist and Colton Herta (No. 40 Wayne Taylor Racing with Andretti Acura ARX-06) are all full-time IndyCar Series drivers adding sports car racing to their season, while LMP2 driver Colin Braun (No. 04 CrowdStrike Racing by APR ORECA) will be making his IndyCar debut with Dale Coyne Racing at St. Pete. IndyCar Series regular Kyle Kirkwood will continue his role as third driver in the No. 14 Vasser Sullivan Racing Lexus RC F in GTD PRO.

LMP2 has 13 entries, with the Era Motorsport trio of Dwight Merriman, Ryan Dalziel and Connor Zilisch looking to carry their momentum from the team’s Rolex 24 at Daytona victory into the race. John Farano, Scott McLaughlin and Kyffin Simpson were the 2023 winners, but Farano is partnered with Charlie Eastwood and Michael Dinan in the No. 8 Tower Motorsports ORECA for this season.