Ric Team Racing wrote its name into the Sebring history books on Saturday, winning the LMP2 class in the 2026 Monster Energy 12 Hours of Sebring after a race that had a bit of everything: changing skies, six full-course yellows, repeated lead changes and a late push that finally put the No. 87 Dallara P217 clear by 30.102 seconds. In a race sponsored by Monster Energy in a landmark title partnership for VSCA, the LMP2 story unfolded like a long chess match played on wet concrete, with teams constantly weighing pace, traffic, risk and survival.
The No. 87 of Marco Vilela, Afonso Reis and Francisco Silva converted pole into victory, giving Ric Team Racing its first career LMP2 class win in VSCA competition. It was also the second career pole for Reis and the second LMP2 pole for the team, both coming this season. Sebring has seen different winners in recent years, from Race4Cat Motorsport to Trading Paints Racing, Rising Panda Racing and Vulture Motorsports, and now Ric Team Racing joins that list by delivering when the conditions became most unforgiving.
Pole, pressure and an early shuffle
Afonso Reis put the No. 87 on pole with a 1:51.034 lap, but the opening phase showed immediately that this would not be a race where clean air guaranteed control. The LMP2 lead changed hands almost from the drop of the green, with Ric Team Racing, Flight Level Racing, Superstar Racing Team, Fury Simsport and Twin Turn SR by Debeka Bornheim all spending time at the front in the early going. It was one of those Sebring afternoons where nobody could afford to blink for too long, because the order was liable to look different by the next timing screen.
In total, the LMP2 class produced 34 lead changes, underlining just how open the contest remained across the full 12-hour distance. The No. 30 Fury Simsport Dallara ultimately led the most laps with 123, but the team had to settle for second at the flag.
Yellow flags and a race turned upside down
The cautions came often and stayed long, turning the race into a stop-start contest that repeatedly scrambled strategy and track position. By the end, the LMP2 field had spent 3 hours and 42 minutes under yellow across six full-course cautions, and each restart felt less like a reset button and more like another roll of the dice.
What made FCY1 especially significant was what happened behind the scenes. Due to errors in the wave-by process, some cars did not receive their lap back correctly. After the race, Race Control admitted that both technical and human errors had affected the procedure and confirmed that changes would be made before the next round at Laguna Seca. The organizers stated, "We sat down to review the issues and determined it was an error made on behalf of the tools that we Organizers provided the Race Directors with, to run the FCY, and the execution of the FCY itself. We as Organizers are raising our hands and taking ownership of this, as this is on us, and apologize to everyone as all competitors deserve better. The process used in 2025 and 2026 so far is very manually driven which has led to the issues we have seen this season so far. After discussion with the Race Directors and the Team Managers, we'll be making changes going into the next race at Laguna Seca, to address these issues."
That backdrop mattered in LMP2 because track position and lap count were golden currency all afternoon. In a class where the race order was already swinging with strategy and conditions, any disruption to the caution procedure had the potential to ripple through the outcome.
Rain changes the script
The weather was another major author of the race. Sebring began with the sun out and partially cloudy skies in the late morning, but the middle and closing stages were shaped by rain. Once the showers arrived, visibility tightened, spray went up and traffic management became even trickier for the prototype field weaving through slower classes while also being hunted by the faster GTP cars.
Marco Vilela later said, "It feels really, really good honestly. This is our first win and it means a lot, especially because this is also our first championship and we’re a team that only formed about a year ago. To achieve something like this at Sebring, after such a long and tough race, really shows how much we’ve grown as a team."
On how the race unfolded, Vilela said, "I actually didn’t drive during the rain — that was a strategic call from the team — but those moments were definitely decisive for the race. Visibility was terrible with all the spray and traffic, so the guys did an amazing job managing it and sticking to the plan. At one point we had an accident that put us two laps behind the leader, but we never gave up, we adapted our strategy and just kept pushing, and in the end it paid off."
That ability to bend without breaking became the defining trait of the winning effort. Sebring often rewards stubbornness as much as speed, and Ric Team Racing showed both.
Fury Simsport knocks on the door
If Ric Team Racing delivered the final blow, Fury Simsport spent much of the day throwing the punches. The No. 30 of Dylan Babcock, Matthew J Luke and Ayrton Farias was a constant presence at the front, leading more laps than anyone else in LMP2 and repeatedly reappearing in the fight whenever the order reset. Fury was not just quick, it was adaptable, and in a race shaped by rain showers and caution periods that counted for plenty.
Second place marked the team’s first VSCA podium, and the post-race tone was understandably mixed. Babcock said, "It feels good to spray the champagne, but I’m gutted we couldn’t hold onto the top step in the last stint. I can’t tell you if I’m more covered in water or champagne, but I can tell you the moisture-wicking abilities of our Abbruzzi Sim Wear are unmatched."
On the keys to the result, Babcock said, "The rain was a bit spotty and we made a great strategy call that saved us a stop and put us far into the lead for a while, and that helped. The boss man wouldn’t be happy with me giving away the secret sauce, but really we’re just coming prepared and trying to keep the Fury Simsport LMP2 clean."
Looking ahead, he added, "Honestly, we’ve just got to keep plugging away. We’ve had the lead on the last restart in the first two rounds, so we can taste the win, we’ve just got to put it together. The sprints will be more demanding in terms of outright pace, and losing time to traffic will hurt even more. It’ll be interesting to see how the strategies play out and who can handle traffic the best. I also just want to say thanks to the organizers and the VSCA staff for the opportunity and for all they do to make this possible."
Ayrton Farias described the result this way: "Honestly, I didn’t think today would end like this. We were just focused on running our race, keeping it clean, and suddenly we realized a podium was right there for us. To stand here with P2 feels unreal, and I’m so proud of the whole team and our partners who made this possible."
On what made the run work, Farias said, "Consistency is everything in these long races. Sebring threw tricky weather and tough battles at us, but staying calm and keeping the right mindset made the difference. Having supportive teammates like Dylan and Matthew, plus the backing of our sponsors, gave me the confidence to push when it mattered most."
For the races ahead, Farias said, "We’re just going to keep hustling. The pace is there, the team is sharp, and we’re ready for whatever comes our way. If we stay focused and keep working together, I believe that win isn’t far off. On a personal note, I just want to thank everyone who supports us — the crew, my teammates and our sponsors. This podium means a lot, and I hope it’s the first of many."
Luke struck a similar note, saying, "It feels good to be on the podium so early in our debut season. We had a lot of ups and downs through the race, but we made a lot of great strategy calls at the right time. Without the help of Paddock Promotions, I’m not sure we would’ve been able to make those calls when we did."
He added, "Leading up to race week, we knew it was going to be about keeping it clean and staying out of incidents, and the best way to do that is to stay at the front. We had a mega setup from the boys back at the factory, so we wanted to make sure we made them proud."
On the bigger picture, Luke said, "We know we should be at the front of the field, so it’s nice to know our results are finally showing it after a frustrating Daytona. We’ll look to be more aggressive for the rest of the season, and hopefully we’ll get the results we know we should have."
Vision 1 stays in the fight, Flight Level hangs on
Third place went to the No. 11 Vision 1 Motorsports Dallara of Kyle Allen, Rico Kollmeier and Cory Cercone, one lap down on the winner. It was not a spotless race. The entry was handed a 60-second post-race penalty for contact with the No. 66 at Turn 7 after failing to serve the required self-serve drive-through during the event, and Rico Kollmeier later also received a warning for incidental contact with the No. 3 in traffic at Turn 16. Even so, the No. 11 kept itself in the picture all day, spent time at the front and came away with a hard-earned podium.
Cercone said, "Honestly, I’m feeling a mix of exhaustion and adrenaline right now. After 12 hours in the car, everything feels a little heavy, but it’s also incredibly satisfying. The team worked nonstop, the car held together, and we kept pushing every stint. Stepping out now, it’s relief, pride and just taking a moment to breathe and appreciate the effort everyone put in to get us to the finish."
On the race itself, he said, "We took the race as it came to us. We faced a lot of adversity out there with the different conditions, but we knew it was a long race. We kept our heads down and pushed forward no matter the situation we were in. Knowing we weren’t the only team facing the weather is what kept the drive to keep pushing even after our misfortunes. The car felt strong, and with the guys behind the wheel, I had no doubt in my mind we would bring the car home with a strong finish."
Kollmeier kept his outlook brief and measured: "We are early in the season. We’ll take it one race at a time."
Fourth place went to the No. 757 Flight Level Racing Dallara, two laps down, after a race that also saw the team spend time leading the class. The No. 757 received two warnings during the race weekend, one for contact at Turn 10 that was reduced on review, and another for an unsafe rejoin at Turn 5 after Anthony Maffucci pushed the No. 420 wide. Even so, Flight Level remained in the hunt longer than many and came away with a solid top-five result.
The rest of the top ten
Fifth went to the No. 99 Monarch Racing Team Dallara, five laps behind. The entry showed flashes of speed but also collected post-race attention from the stewards. Nuno Sousa received a warning and one license penalty point for a low-percentage dive bomb at Turn 17, while Vitor Pita was later warned for moving too late into Turn 2 and forcing another car toward a puddle. Another earlier incident involving Pita at Turn 10 was ruled no further action. The No. 99 still emerged with a respectable fifth-place finish.
Sixth place belonged to one of the quieter success stories of the LMP2 race, the No. 14 Grow Racing Team Dallara of Ricardo Anselmo, Jorge Leitão Dias and Ruben Pinho. The team started 11th and gained five spots to finish sixth, the biggest upward move among the front-runners. It also spent meaningful time at the front during the race and backed up that pace with a sharp recovery drive. A warning for incidental contact with a GT car at Turn 4 did little to overshadow a strong Sebring performance.
Seventh place went to the No. 23 Twin Turn SR by Debeka Bornheim, also seven laps down. On paper, that may look modest for a car that led repeatedly and remained a factor in the race, but the bigger picture matters here. The No. 23 maintained a share of the SportsCar Championship lead at 890 points and also retained first place in the Endurance Cup standings with 25 points. That is where the clean racing bonus points system becomes part of the story. Winning the race does not always mean leaving with the biggest championship advantage, and Sebring underlined that again. Even after finishing seventh, the No. 23 remained level at the top overall, while the No. 87 only drew alongside on points through its victory.
Eighth place went to the No. 420 Track Limits SimRacing Dallara, which also had a brief spell at the head of the class. Ninth was the No. 552 RedLab Competizione Dallara, a car that spent plenty of time in command but lost ground through penalties and trouble. The No. 552 was hit with a 60-second post-race penalty for avoidable contact with the No. 68 at Turn 17, and Oli Schwarz later also received a warning for a tow request violation at Turn 13. Even with those setbacks, RedLab still finished inside the top ten.
Tenth place went to the No. 22 Twin Turn SR by Debeka Bornheim Dallara after one of the more turbulent afternoons in the class. The No. 22 showed enough speed to get to the front at points, but it also took two separate 60-second post-race penalties, one for contact at Turn 17 and another after William Alcala’s spin into Turn 4 triggered additional collisions. In a field as competitive as this one, that was enough to turn a possible top-five into a fight just to remain in the top ten.
Stewards, survival and the hidden cost of Sebring
The post-race penalty sheet told its own story about how demanding this event became once weather and multiclass traffic fully took hold. The No. 87 was fortunate to see an earlier decision overturned at Turn 7, with the penalty reduced to a warning after review determined the other car had been mostly unaffected. The No. 47 received a warning for a pit road fast-lane violation. The No. 512 Wolf Motorsport Simracing car received a warning for incidental contact while passing a GT entry. Several LMP2 teams found themselves judged on the same core principle: in mixed-class racing, the faster car still has to complete the move safely.
That thread ran through Sebring from start to finish. The rain narrowed the margins, the bumps punished impatience and the traffic constantly asked drivers to decide whether to force a move or live to fight another lap. Some got that balance right more often than others.
A first win, and a title picture that tightens
For Ric Team Racing, the result was about more than a trophy. Vilela said, "It feels really good to be at the top step, especially because this is our first win and our first championship as a team. We only formed about a year ago, so to achieve something like this at Sebring after such a long and difficult race says a lot about how much we’ve grown."
On the championship picture, he said, "Being at the top of the championship this early feels great and it’s really motivating for everyone in the team. It just makes us want to work even harder to keep these results coming and fight for the championship. And of course a big thank you to our sponsors RIC Fazeres, PC Componentes and MV Skinlab for supporting us. After 12 hours like this, I also have to thank the whole team — everyone worked incredibly hard today and this win is really for all of them."
That championship nuance is worth underlining. The No. 23 maintained first place in the standings, while the No. 87 moved up into a tie for first at the same total of 890 points. Fury Simsport climbed to second in the standings, just 30 points back, while the Endurance Cup picture now shows the No. 23 still leading, the No. 87 up to second and the No. 11 dropping to third, both five points adrift.
So although the No. 87 won the LMP2 battle at Sebring, the class left Florida with no runaway leader. If anything, the opposite is true. The title race is tightening, and Sebring may yet be remembered as the round where several contenders truly announced themselves.
Looking ahead
The next round of the SportsCar Championship is the JRT Course De Monterey on March 21, 2026, with the race scheduled to start at 16:00 GMT at WeatherTech Raceway Laguna Seca. After the controversy of Sebring’s first caution period, all eyes will also be on the promised FCY procedure changes. In LMP2, meanwhile, Sebring showed that this class has no shortage of contenders, and that when the weather turns and the cautions pile up, keeping your nose clean can matter just as much as outright speed.
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