2021 12 Hours of Sebring

File:2018 12 Hours of Sebring Sunset Bend.jpg, where the race was held.]]

International Motor Sports Association's (IMSA) president John Doonan confirmed the race was part of the schedule for the 2021 IMSA SportsCar Championship (IMSA SCC) in September 2020. It was the eighth consecutive year it was part of the IMSA SCC, and 69th 12 Hours of Sebring.{{Cite web |last=Pruett |first=Marshall |date=September 9, 2020 |title=IMSA reveals 2021 WeatherTech Championship calendar |url=https://racer.com/2020/09/09/imsa-reveals-2021-weathertech-championship-calendar/ |access-date=July 26, 2023 |website=racer.com}} The 12 Hours of Sebring was the second of twelve sports car endurance races of 2021 by IMSA, and the second of four races of the Michelin Endurance Cup (MEC).{{Cite web |date=September 9, 2020 |title=2021 WeatherTech Championship Schedule Published |url=https://www.dailysportscar.com/2020/09/09/2021-weathertech-championship-schedule-published.html |access-date=July 27, 2023 |website=dailysportscar.com}} It was held at the 17-turn, 3.741-mile (6.021 km) Sebring International Raceway in Sebring, Florida on March 20, 2021.{{Cite web |last=Malsher-Lopez |first=David |date=September 9, 2020 |title=IMSA reveals 2021 schedule, LMP3 to join WeatherTech series |url=https://us.motorsport.com/imsa/news/2021-schedule-lmp3-joins-weathertech-championship/4871411/ |access-date=July 26, 2023 |website=us.motorsport.com}}

After being postponed to November the previous year due to the COVID-19 pandemic, the race returned to its traditional March date for 2021. Originally, the 1000 Miles of Sebring, the FIA World Endurance Championship event run in conjunction with the 12 Hours in 2019, was slated to return, but was later cancelled due to international travel restrictions still imposed by the pandemic.{{cite web|url=https://sportscar365.com/lemans/wec/1000-miles-of-sebring-canceled-portimao-to-stage-2021-opener|title=1000 Miles of Sebring Canceled; Portimao to Stage 2021 Opener|first=Daniel|last=Lloyd|date=January 22, 2021|accessdate=March 21, 2021|website=Sportscar365.com|publisher=John Dagys Media, LLC.}}

Supporting the race during the week were IMSA's Michelin Pilot Challenge series, Porsche Carrera Cup North America series, and Mazda MX-5 Cup series.{{cite web|url=https://www.imsa.com/events/2021-mobil-1-twelve-hours-of-sebring-presented-by-advance-auto-parts/|title=Mobil 1 Twelve Hours of Sebring presented by Advance Auto Parts Weekend Schedule|website=imsa.com|publisher=International Motor Sports Association, LLC.}}

The race would see the debut of the new for 2021 GTD qualifying format, with two sessions for the category.{{Cite web |last=Pruett |first=Marshall |date=March 16, 2021 |title=New GTD qualifying format debuts this weekend |url=https://racer.com/2021/03/16/new-gtd-qualifying-format-debuts-this-weekend/ |access-date=August 4, 2023 |website=racer.com}} The first session would mandate any bronze/silver driver to qualify their car and determine the starting lineup for the race. The second session would see each team allow to change tires and drivers, and championship points would be awarded.{{Cite web |date=September 9, 2020 |title=New Points Structure, Qualifying Format for 2021 |url=https://sportscar365.com/imsa/impc/new-points-structure-qualifying-format-for-2021/ |access-date=August 4, 2023 |website=sportscar365.com}}

Before the race, Filipe Albuquerque, Hélio Castroneves, Alexander Rossi, and Ricky Taylor led the DPi Drivers' Championship with 376 points, ahead of Jimmie Johnson, Kamui Kobayashi, Simon Pagenaud, and Mike Rockenfeller in second with 345 points.{{Cite web |date=February 3, 2021 |title=00_Championship Points - Official.pdf |url=http://results.imsa.com/Results/21_2021/02_Daytona%20International%20Speedway/01_IMSA%20WeatherTech%20SportsCar%20Championship/00_Championship%20Points%20-%20Official.pdf |access-date=August 3, 2023 |website=results.imsa.com}} Nicky Catsburg, Antonio García, and Jordan Taylor led the GTLM Drivers' Championship with 382 points, 27 points ahead of Tommy Milner, Alexander Sims, and Nick Tandy. With 376 points, the GTD Drivers' Championship was led by Indy Dontje, Philip Ellis, Maro Engel, and Russell Ward. Acura, Chevrolet, and Mercedes-AMG were leading their respective Manufacturers' Championships while WTR-Konica Minolta Acura, Corvette Racing, and Winward Racing each led their own Teams' Championships. LMP2 drivers and teams as well as LMP3 drivers and teams would be scoring their first championship points of the season due to Daytona only counting towards the Michelin Endurance Cup championship.

{{Further|2021 IMSA SportsCar Championship#Entries}}

A total of 37 cars took part in the event split across five classes. 7 cars were entered in DPi, 5 in LMP2, 7 in LMP3, 5 in GTLM, and 13 in GTD.{{cite web |last=Ryan |first=Nate |date=March 10, 2021 |title=Entry list for the 2021 Twelve Hours of Sebring |url=https://motorsports.nbcsports.com/2021/03/10/entry-list-twelve-hours-of-sebring-2021/ |accessdate=March 21, 2021 |website=nbcsports.com |publisher=NBC Universal}} In DPi, Action Express Racing confirmed their #48 entry would contest the remaining Michelin Endurance Cup events.{{Cite web |last=Dagys |first=John |date=March 2, 2021 |title=Johnson, Pagenaud, Kobayashi Confirmed for Endurance Cup |url=https://sportscar365.com/imsa/iwsc/johnson-pagenaud-kobayashi-confirmed-for-endurance-cup/ |access-date=August 3, 2023 |website=sportscar365.com}} In LMP2, High Class Racing, Racing Team Nederland, Cetilar Racing, RWR Eurasia, and DragonSpeed USA skipped the event. United Autosports made their first start in the IMSA WeatherTech SportsCar Championship since 2018.{{Cite web |last=Dagys |first=John |date=January 29, 2021 |title=United Autosports Enters 12H Sebring in LMP2 with Smith |url=https://sportscar365.com/imsa/iwsc/united-enters-12h-sebring-in-lmp2-with-smith/ |access-date=August 3, 2023 |website=sportscar365.com}} In LMP3, Mühlner Motorsports America were absent while WIN Autosport made their class debut.{{Cite web |last=Dagys |first=John |date=March 16, 2021 |title=WIN Autosport Adds LMP3 Entry; 37 Cars for Sebring |url=https://sportscar365.com/imsa/iwsc/win-autosport-adds-lmp3-entry-37-cars-for-sebring/ |access-date=August 3, 2023 |website=sportscar365.com}} Oliver Askew and Stevan McAleer joined Austin McCusker in the Forty7 Motorsports entry.{{Cite web |last=Dagys |first=John |date=March 19, 2021 |title=Sebring Friday Notebook |url=https://sportscar365.com/imsa/iwsc/sebring-friday-notebook-9/ |access-date=August 3, 2023 |website=sportscar365.com}} Dan Goldburg joined Mateo Llarena and Rasmus Lindh in the Performance Tech Motorsports entry.{{Cite web |last=Dagys |first=John |date=March 17, 2021 |title=Sebring Wednesday Notebook |url=https://sportscar365.com/imsa/iwsc/sebring-wednesday-notebook-8/ |access-date=August 3, 2023 |website=sportscar365.com}} In GTLM, Risi Competizione were absent. Matt Campbell and Mathieu Jaminet joined Cooper MacNeil in the WeatherTech Racing entry.{{Cite web |last=Lloyd |first=Daniel |date=March 3, 2021 |title=Jaminet, Campbell to Drive WeatherTech Porsche at Sebring |url=https://sportscar365.com/imsa/iwsc/jaminet-campbell-to-drive-weathertech-porsche-at-sebring/ |access-date=August 3, 2023 |website=sportscar365.com}} In GTD, AF Corse, NTE Sport, HTP Winward Motorsport, Scuderia Corsa, Team TGM, and TF Sport were absent while GRT Grasser Racing Team scaled down to one entry.{{Cite web |last=Dagys |first=John |date=March 10, 2021 |title=36 Entries for 12H Sebring |url=https://sportscar365.com/imsa/iwsc/36-entries-for-12h-sebring/ |access-date=August 3, 2023 |website=sportscar365.com}} Stephen Simpson subbed for Misha Goikhberg in the #19 GRT Grasser Racing Team entry.{{Cite web |last=Dagys |first=John |date=March 18, 2021 |title=Simpson to Sub for Goikhberg in GRT Lamborghini |url=https://sportscar365.com/imsa/iwsc/simpson-to-sub-for-goikhberg-in-grt-lamborghini/ |access-date=August 3, 2023 |website=sportscar365.com}} Michael de Quesada joined Daniel Morad and Billy Johnson in the Alegra Motorsports entry. Maro Engel joined Mikaël Grenier and Kenny Habul in the SunEnergy1 Racing entry. Trent Hindman subbed for Ryan Hardwick in the Wright Motorsports entry.{{Cite web |last=Dagys |first=John |date=March 16, 2021 |title=Hindman to Again Sub for Hardwick at Sebring |url=https://sportscar365.com/imsa/impc/hindman-to-again-sub-for-hardwick-at-sebring/ |access-date=August 3, 2023 |website=sportscar365.com}} Team Hardpoint EBM added a second entry featuring Earl Bamber,Trenton Estep, and Rob Ferriol.{{Cite web |last=Dagys |first=John |date=March 8, 2021 |title=Legge, Nielsen to Complete Season With Hardpoint EBM |url=https://sportscar365.com/imsa/iwsc/legge-nielsen-set-for-full-season-in-second-hardpoint-ebm-porsche/ |access-date=August 3, 2023 |website=sportscar365.com}}

There were three practice sessions preceding the start of the race on Saturday, all three one on Thursday. The first session on Thursday morning lasted one hour. The second session on Thursday afternoon ran for 75 minutes while the final session on Thursday evening ran for 90 minutes.{{Cite web |title=2021 IMSA Official Schedule and SR Sebring 12H 031021 V1 |url=http://results.imsa.com/Results_NoticeBoard/21_2021/05_Sebring%20International%20Raceway/00_Official%20Schedule.pdf |access-date=August 3, 2023 |website=results.imsa.com/noticeBoard.php}}

In the first session, Felipe Nasr's No. 31 Cadillac lapped quickest at 1:46.212, 0.407 seconds ahead of CGR's Renger van der Zande. Dane Cameron was third in MSR's No. 60 Acura. Vautier's No. 5 Cadillac, along with Ricky Taylor's WTR Acura were fourth and fifth.{{Cite web |last=Dagys |first=John |date=March 18, 2021 |title=Nasr Quickest in Opening Practice at Sebring |url=https://sportscar365.com/imsa/iwsc/conway-quickest-in-opening-practice-at-sebring/ |access-date=August 3, 2023 |website=sportscar365.com}} The quickest LMP2 lap was set by Mikkel Jensen in PR1's Oreca. Jeroen Bleekemolen led LMP3 in Riley Motorsports' No. 91 Ligier. The quickest GTLM entry was the No. 3 Corvette of Jordan Taylor, whose 1:56.715 lap led Mathieu Jaminet's second-placed WeatherTech Porsche.{{Cite web |last=Malsher-Lopez |first=David |date=March 18, 2021 |title=Sebring 12H: Conway heads Cadillac 1-2 in first practice |url=https://us.motorsport.com/imsa/news/sebring-12h-conway-heads-cadillac-1-2-in-first-practice/5787116/ |access-date=August 3, 2023 |website=motorsport.com}} With a 2:00.456 lap, Bill Auberlen led the 13-car GTD class in Turner Motorsports' No. 96 BMW M6 by 0.207 seconds over Jack Hawksworth's No. 14 Lexus.{{Cite web |last=O'Malley |first=J.J. |date=March 18, 2021 |title=Mike Conway paces Sebring Practice 1 in Whelen Cadillac |url=https://racer.com/2021/03/18/mike-conway-paces-sebring-practice-1-in-whelen-cadillac/ |access-date=August 3, 2023 |website=racer.com}}

In the second session, Nasr's No. 31 WER Cadillac set the fastest overall lap of 1 minute, 47.323 seconds. Duval was 0.181 seconds behind in second, with the No. 55 Mazda of Jarvis in third. Kevin Magnussen fourth in CGR's No. 01 Cadillac and Albuquerque's WTR Acura was fifth.{{Cite web |last=Dagys |first=John |date=March 18, 2021 |title=Nasr Quickest Again in Second Practice at Sebring |url=https://sportscar365.com/imsa/iwsc/nasr-quickest-again-in-practice-2/ |access-date=August 3, 2023 |website=sportscar365.com}}{{Cite web |last=Allaway |first=Phil |date=March 18, 2021 |title=Action Express Racing Sweeps Thursday Sebring Practices |url=https://frontstretch.com/2021/03/18/action-express-racing-sweeps-thursday-sebring-practices/ |access-date=August 3, 2023 |website=frontstretch.com}} Jensen led in LMP2 with a 1:50.224 lap in PR1's car, 0.456 seconds ahead of Tristan Nunez in WIN Autosport's second-placed No. 11 entry.{{Cite web |last=O'Malley |first=J.J. |date=March 18, 2021 |title=Mercedes tops GTD, Cadillacs 1-2 in Sebring Practice 2 |url=https://racer.com/2021/03/18/mercedes-tops-gtd-cadillacs-1-2-in-sebring-practice-2/ |access-date=August 3, 2023 |website=racer.com}} The quickest LMP3 lap was set by Dylan Murry in Riley Motorsports' No. 91 Ligier, and Pigot was second in the sister No. 74 Riley Motorsport Ligier.{{Cite web |last=Malsher-Lopez |first=David |date=March 18, 2021 |title=Sebring 12H: Nasr keeps AXR Cadillac on top in FP2 |url=https://us.motorsport.com/imsa/news/sebring-12h-nasr-keeps-axr-cadillac-on-top-in-fp2/5790377/ |access-date=August 3, 2023 |website=motorsport.com}} Campbell's 1:56.891 lap led the GTLM class in WeatherTech Racing's Porsche, 0.573 seconds faster than Connor De Phillippi's No. 25 BMW; Nick Tandy's No. 4 Corvette was third. GTD saw Mikaël Grenier's SunEnergy1 Mercedes-AMG record the fastest class lap: 2:01.111, 0.208 seconds faster than Foley's No. 96 Turner Motorsport BMW.

Pipo Derani led the last practice session in the No. 31 WER car with a lap of 1 minute, 46.898 seconds. van der Zande's No. 01 CGR car was second-fastest. The No. 10 Acura of Ricky Taylor set the third-quickest lap. Kobayashi's No. 48 Ally Cadillac, along with Bourdais' No. 5 JDC car were fourth and fifth.{{Cite web |last=O'Malley |first=J.J. |date=March 18, 2021 |title=Porsches lead GT, Cadillacs stay quick in Sebring night practice |url=https://racer.com/2021/03/18/porsches-lead-gt-cadillacs-stay-quick-in-sebring-night-practice/ |access-date=August 3, 2023 |website=racer.com}} Jensen's No. 52 PR1 car led LMP2 with a 1:50.270 lap, faster than Boyd's No. 22 United Autosports vehicle.{{Cite web |last=Malsher-Lopez |first=David |date=March 18, 2021 |title=Sebring 12H: Derani continues AXR domination in night practice |url=https://us.motorsport.com/imsa/news/sebring-derani-continues-axr-domination/5793830/ |access-date=August 3, 2023 |website=motorsport.com}} Riley Motorsports occupied first and second in LMP3 with Bleekemolen faster than his teammate Pigot by 0.525 seconds. In GTLM, Jaminet was fastest again in the class with a lap of 1 minute, 56.563 seconds. García was second-fastest in the No. 3 Corvette, and his teammate Sims took third in the sister No. 4 car. Vanthoor set the fastest time in GTD, followed by Aaron Telitz's No. 14 VSR Lexus.{{Cite web |last=Dagys |first=John |date=18 March 2021 |title=Derani Keeps AXR On Top in Night Practice |url=https://sportscar365.com/imsa/iwsc/derani-keeps-axr-on-top-in-night-practice/ |access-date=2 January 2024 |website=sportscar365.com}}

File:Felipe_Nasr_2015_Malaysia.jpg (pictured in 2015) helped take the No. 31 Cadillac's second pole position of 2021.]]

Qualifying was broken into four sessions. The first was for cars in GTD class. Tim Zimmermann set the fastest time driving the #19 car for GRT Grasser Racing Team.{{Cite web |date=March 19, 2021 |title=Derani Puts #31 Cadillac On Pole For 2021 Sebring 12 Hours |url=https://www.dailysportscar.com/2021/03/19/derani-puts-31-cadillac-on-pole-for-2021-sebring-12-hours.html |access-date=August 4, 2023 |website=dailysportscar.com}} However, the team were sent to the back of the GTD grid after the team's Lamborghini was found to have a wifi hotspot onboard. As a result, Jan Heylen was promoted to pole position.{{Cite web |last=Malsher-Lopez |first=David |date=March 19, 2021 |title=Sebring 12H: Derani takes pole, teammate Johnson crashes |url=https://us.motorsport.com/imsa/news/sebring-derani-pole-jimmie-johnson-crashes/5803542/ |access-date=August 4, 2023 |website=motorsport.com}} Zacharie Robichon suffered an ABS failure on his #9 Porsche and touched the tire barrier at turn 13.{{Cite web |last=O'Malley |first=J.J. |date=March 19, 2021 |title=Derani on pole, Johnson crashes in Sebring qualifying |url=https://racer.com/2021/03/19/derani-on-pole-johnson-crashes-in-sebring-qualifying/ |access-date=August 4, 2023 |website=racer.com}} Robichon went off at the same part of the track on his second lap and didn't set a competitive time.

The second session was for cars in the GTLM and GTD classes. Antonio García qualified on pole in GTLM driving the #3 car for Corvette Racing, beating teammate Tommy Milner in the sister #4 Corvette Racing entry by less than 0.050 seconds.{{Cite web |last=Dagys |first=John |date=March 19, 2021 |title=Derani on Sebring Pole; Two-Stage GTD Qualifying Debuts |url=https://sportscar365.com/imsa/iwsc/derani-on-sebring-pole-two-stage-gtd-qualifying-debuts/ |access-date=August 4, 2023 |website=sportscar365.com}} Jack Hawksworth set the fastest time in the GTD points paying session and earned 35 championship points.

The third session was for cars in the LMP3 class. Rasmus Lindh qualified on pole for the class driving the #38 car for Performance Tech Motorsports, beating Oliver Askew in the Forty7 Motorsports entry by less than one-tenth of a second.

The final session of qualifying was for cars in the DPi and LMP2 classes. Pipo Derani took overall pole for the event driving the #31 car for Whelen Engineering Racing, besting Ricky Taylor in the WTR-Konica Minolta Acura entry. Steven Thomas qualified on pole in LMP2 driving the WIN Autosport Oreca. Jimmie Johnson, driving the #48 Ally Cadillac Racing entry, spun at turn 16 in the closing moments of the session and attempted to get one more lap in. However, Johnson crashed at turn 17 and the #48 Cadillac suffered extensive damage. Due to the damage from the accident, Ally Cadillac Racing would use a spare tub for the race.{{Cite web |last=Dagys |first=John |date=March 19, 2021 |title=Action Express Goes to Spare Tub After Johnson Accident |url=https://sportscar365.com/imsa/iwsc/action-express-goes-to-spare-tub-after-johnson-accident/ |access-date=August 4, 2023 |website=sportscar365.com}} For causing a red flag, Johnson had his best two laps from the session deleted.{{Cite web |last=Marshall-Lopez |first=David |date=March 19, 2021 |title=Sebring 12H: Derani takes pole, team-mate Johnson crashes |url=https://www.autosport.com/imsa/news/sebring-12h-derani-takes-pole-teammate-johnson-crashes/5803551/ |access-date=August 4, 2023 |website=autosport.com}}

Pole positions in each class are indicated in bold and by {{Double-dagger}}.

• {{ref|ref1|1}} The No. 48 Ally Cadillac Racing entry had its two fastest laps deleted as penalty for causing a red flag during its qualifying session.
• {{ref|ref2|2}} The No. 19 GRT Grasser Racing Team entry entry initially qualified on pole position for the GTD class. However, the car was found to have a wifi hotspot onboard. By IMSA rules, the entry was moved to the rear of the GTD field on the starting grid.{{Cite web |last=Dagys |first=John |date=March 19, 2021 |title=Heylen Promoted to GTD Pole After Grasser DQ |url=https://sportscar365.com/imsa/iwsc/heylen-promoted-to-gtd-pole-after-grasser-dq/ |access-date=April 22, 2023 |website=sportscar365.com}}

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The result kept Filipe Albuquerque, Alexander Rossi, and Ricky Taylor atop the DPi Drivers' Championship with 688 points. Bourdais, Duval, and Vautier advanced from sixth to second while Johnson, Kobayashi, and Pagenaud dropped from second to fifth. Bomarito, Jarvis, and Tincknell jumped from third to second.{{Cite web |date=March 26, 2021 |title=00_Championship Points - Official.pdf |url=http://results.imsa.com/Results/21_2021/05_Sebring%20International%20Raceway/01_IMSA%20WeatherTech%20SportsCar%20Championships/00_Championship%20Points%20-%20Official.pdf |access-date=August 3, 2023 |website=results.imsa.com}} Since it was the season's first points paying race, Huffaker, Jensen, and Keating led the LMP2 Drivers' Championship with 382 points. Since it was the season's first points paying race, Bennett, Braun, and Kurtz led the LMP3 Drivers' Championship with 378 points. As a result of winning the race, MacNeil advanced from sixth to second in the GTLM Drivers' Championship. Milner, Sims, and Tandy dropped from second to fourth. As a result of winning the race, Long, Hindman, and Heylen advanced from fourth to first in the GTD Drivers' Championship. Grenier and Habul dropped from second to fifth while Kern, Robichon, and Vanthoor advanced from eleventh to fourth. Cadillac and Porsche took the lead in their respective Manufacturers' Championships while Chevrolet continued to top the GTLM Manufacturers' Championship. WTR-Konica Minolta Acura and Corvette Racing continued to top their respective Teams' Championships while Wright Motorsports took the lead of the GTD Teams' Championship. PR1/Mathiasen Motorsports and CORE Autosport became the leaders of their respective class Teams' Championships with ten rounds remaining in the season.

Class winners are denoted in bold and {{Double-dagger}}.

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{{Sportscar Race Report

| Year_of_race = 2021

| Sportscar_Series = IMSA SportsCar Championship

| Previous_race_in_season = 2021 24 Hours of Daytona

| Next_race_in_season = 2021 Sports Car Challenge at Mid-Ohio

}}{{United SportsCar Championship Rounds}}{{12 Hours of Sebring}}

Category:12 Hours of Sebring

12 Hours of Sebring

12 Hours of Sebring

12 Hours of Sebring