The 500 Miles of Sebring, the fourth and penultimate round in the 2021-2022 Le Mans Virtual Series, came to a pulse-racing conclusion as #1 Rebellion GPX Esports and Augustin Canapino, Nikodem Wisniewski and Kuba Brzeszinski topped the podium at the legendary Sebring International Raceway in Florida, United States. In second and third places were #8 R8G ESPORTS and #70 Realteam Hydrogen Redline.
Rudy van Buren, Kevin Siggy and Enzo Bonito from #71 BMW Team Redline took first place in the LMGTE category after an intriguing strategic battle with #91 Porsche Esports Team over the 6km / 3.7 mile long track.
The results mean an incredible finale awaits at the 24 Hours of Le Mans Virtual on January 15/16. In the LMP2 Classification, the #4 Floyd ByKolles-Burst now leads the #123 Team Redline by just half a point, while Sebring winners #1 Rebellion GPX Esports now sit a mere four points off top. With so little between the top teams, the stage is set for a three-way winner-takes-all battle for championship honours at Le Mans.
Over in the LMGTE, the #28 BMW Team Redline has extended its championship lead to 77 points, with the #91 Porsche Esports Team further behind in second place with 65.5 points.
Yet with double points up for grabs at the 24 Hours of Le Mans in January – across both classifications – there is so much still to drive for going into the biggest virtual endurance racing event on January 15/16 for the 24 Hours of Le Mans.
A gripping contest throughout on the infamously bump-filled layout, the event at Sebring featured:
- A thrilling action-packed battle for the podium in LMP, with #1 Rebellion GPX Esports, #8 R8G Esports, #70 Realteam Hydrogen Redline and the #4 Floyd ByKolles-Burst clashing throughout the race.
- Intense drama atop the championship rankings as the #123 Team Redline received a drive-through penalty and dropped down the standings for causing a collision with the #888 TESLA R8G Esports GTE, before mounting an impressive comeback.
- A strategic masterclass in LMGTE, which saw #91 Porsche Esports Team slip through into an early lead above the championship-leading #71 BMW Team Redline M8, but an incredible pit stop strategy and a brilliant drive from Porsche’s Enzo Bonito created a tense battle that saw them top the podium.
- Isaac Gillissen in the #49 YAS Heat recorded the fastest lap time at 1:45.341
After the race, Augustin Canapino from GPX Rebellion Williams said: “It was a great job from everyone on the team and I enjoyed every lap of the race. It was a great drive from Niko [Wisniewski] to finish so strongly and now the car is in a really good position to fight for the championship in the final round.
Sebring presented the final challenge to teams and drivers before the 24 Hours of Le Mans Virtual race, which will be held entirely online on January 15/16, 2022.
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