DAYTONA BEACH, Fla. – It’s not very often that a driver gets to pick what their car livery looks like. But then again, this weekend has a new set of rules, so drivers get the chance to do just this for today’s IMSA Sebring SuperSaturing on iRacing.
While the Mobil 1 Twelve Hours of Sebring presented by Advance Auto Parts has been rescheduled as the 2020 IMSA WeatherTech SportsCar Championship season finale on November 11-14, there will still be plenty of racing action this weekend in the form of eSports.
Saturday’s IMSA Sebring SuperSaturday on iRacing brings a field of 50 sports car stars together in a 90-minute GT Le Mans (GTLM)-class shootout at Sebring and many may be wondering what these virtual cars will look like.
Fans can watch the race today at 2:30 p.m. ET by tuning in to iRacing eSports Network on YouTube and Twitch. But as we gear up for the race, here’s a sneak peek at some of the creative liveries you’ll see on the virtual Sebring International Raceway.
Turner Motorsport driver Foley keeps it simple and yellow
The first is one that many longtime IMSA fans are certainly familiar with. Robby Foley, the current co-driver of the No. 96 Turner Motorsport BMW M6 GT3 in the WeatherTech Championship GT Daytona (GTD), will trade his GTD BMW for a GTLM one, as he will be behind the wheel of the No. 96 BMW M8 GTE. While what’s underneath the hood may be different, the outside certainly seems similar and gives fans something to look out for – just as it does in real life.
While the Turner Motorsport bright yellow car catches the eye of many on the race track, this next one might make you hungry for some guacamole.
Bryan Herta Autosport Teammates Race “Fresh A Vaca Do” Cars
IMSA Michelin Pilot Challenge Touring Car (TCR) class teammates Mason Filippi and Michael Lewis swept the top two spots in the 2019 class championship for Bryan Herta Autosport in separate Hyundai Veloster N TCR race cars, but they’re co-drivers this year in BHA’s No. 98 Hyundai.
That is, except for today’s iRacing event, where they’ll be trading their IMPC Hyundais for WeatherTech Championship BMWs they’ll be wheeling the No. 98 and No. 198 BMW M8 GTE respectively. They’ll be hard to miss – the bright green cars look like giant avocados.
Bortolotti’s Bright Blue Porsche
If cooler colors are more your thing, GTD driver Mirko Bortolotti’s car will probably catch your attention.
The Italian driver for the WRT Speedstar Audi Sport team will have to wait until November to attempt to score his second Mobil 1 Twelve Hours of Sebring class victory. On Saturday however, he’ll be sporting an aqua blue and black livery on his Porsche 911 RSR.
IndyCar Drivers get creative too
It won’t just be IMSA and sports car regulars behind their own sim racing wheels. Santino Ferrucci, an IndyCar regular, will be making his Sebring GTLM debut.
So, what car did he choose? The 21-year-old went with the No. 18 BMW M8 GTE, and he’s bringing some wooden panels on his black virtual machine.
Pink has never looked so good
Last, but certainly not least, we have the No. 40 Ford GT GTE – one of only four in the 50-car field – driven by Ford Mustang GT4 driver James Pesek.
Most of us are used to seeing Ford GT’s with red, white, and blue patterns on them a la the GT’s of Chip Ganassi. This one, however, is hot pink. And it works.
Pesek, who drives for PF Racing, usually races a pink Ford Mustang GT4 in the Michelin Pilot Challenge GS class. It’s only natural that his Ford GT would adopt the same color scheme.
IMSA Sebring SuperSaturday Schedule/Platform (All Times ET)
1:30-2:30 p.m. – The Torque Show iRacing Pre-Race Show – Facebook Live
2:30-4 p.m. – IMSA Sebring SuperSaturday on iRacing – iRacing eSports Network on YouTube, Twitch
4 p.m. – The Torque Show – iRacing Post-Race Show – Facebook Live
7:30 p.m. – The Torque Show – NBCSN Preview
8 p.m. – 2019 Twelve Hours of Sebring Highlight Show – NBCSN
Join the conversation before, during and after the event through the hashtag #IMSASuperSaturday