Sebring is back. One of iRacing’s biggest endurance events returns March 27-29 with the 2026 Sebring 12 Hour powered by VCO, and this year’s race brings a 60-car field, dynamic weather, and a Balance of Performance that already separates the GTP class into clear favorites and clear underdogs. Here is everything you need to know before you strap in.
Race Details
The event runs across a full weekend, with four start times spread across Friday evening and all day Saturday. Each session follows the same format: 30 minutes of warmup, 8 minutes of qualifying with a two-lap limit, then 12 hours of racing. You need a D 4.0 Sportscar license to enter, and this is a team event with a minimum of two and a maximum of 16 drivers per roster. Splits are sorted by iRating, IMSA paint tags are on, and weather is dynamic throughout the race.
| Detail | Info |
|---|---|
| Event | 2026 Sebring 12 Hour powered by VCO |
| Dates | March 27-29, 2026 |
| Track | Sebring International Raceway (International Configuration) |
| License | D 4.0 Sportscar |
| Team Event | Yes (min 2 drivers, max 16) |
| Field Size | 60 cars per split |
| Splits By | iRating |
| Weather | Dynamic |
| IMSA Paint Tag | On |
| Session | GMT | ET |
|---|---|---|
| Session 1 | Friday 22:00 | Friday 6:00 PM |
| Session 2 | Saturday 07:00 | Saturday 3:00 AM |
| Session 3 | Saturday 12:00 | Saturday 8:00 AM |
| Session 4 | Saturday 16:00 | Saturday 12:00 PM |
Incident limits are firm. A drive-through triggers at 50 incidents, with another every 20 after that, and a DQ at 150. In a 12-hour race, staying clean early is survival, not just strategy.
Initial Balance of Performance
iRacing published the initial BOP ahead of the event, and the numbers tell a clear story at the top of the GTP class. Keep in mind that iRacing typically releases an updated BOP on the Wednesday before the race, so check back on March 25 for any changes. A follow-up article will cover the final numbers as soon as they drop.
GTP / Hypercar
| Car | Weight Penalty | Power Adjust | Fuel |
|---|---|---|---|
| Acura ARX-06 GTP | 0 kg | 0.00% | 99% |
| BMW M Hybrid V8 | 0 kg | -0.25% | 99% |
| Cadillac V-Series.R GTP | 0 kg | 0.00% | 100% |
| Ferrari 499P | 12 kg | -1.50% | 96% |
| Porsche 963 GTP | 7 kg | -0.25% | 100% |
LMP2
| Car | Weight Penalty | Power Adjust | Fuel |
|---|---|---|---|
| Dallara P217 | 0 kg | 0.00% | 100% |
GT3
| Car | Weight Penalty | Power Adjust | Fuel |
|---|---|---|---|
| Acura NSX GT3 EVO 22 | 10 kg | -1.00% | 97% |
| Aston Martin Vantage GT3 EVO | 15 kg | -1.00% | 98% |
| BMW M4 GT3 | 5 kg | -1.00% | 98% |
| Chevrolet Corvette Z06 GT3.R | 5 kg | -0.75% | 97% |
| Ferrari 296 GT3 | 5 kg | 0.00% | 98% |
| Ford Mustang GT3 | 10 kg | -1.25% | 100% |
| Lamborghini Huracán GT3 EVO | 10 kg | -0.50% | 97% |
| McLaren 720S GT3 EVO | 5 kg | -0.50% | 98% |
| Mercedes-AMG GT3 2020 | 5 kg | -1.75% | 99% |
| Porsche 911 GT3 R (992) | 0 kg | -0.50% | 98% |
Who Has the Edge
In the GTP class, the Acura ARX-06 and the Cadillac V-Series.R are running the cleanest setups in the field. No weight, no power cut. The Acura drops 1% fuel capacity, the Cadillac gets the full tank. On paper, those two are the cars to beat going into race weekend.
The Ferrari 499P carries the heaviest penalty in the class by a wide margin: 12 kg, a 1.50% power cut, and only 96% fuel capacity. Across a 12-hour race with dynamic weather, that fuel restriction adds up to meaningful time lost in the pits. The 499P can still win with great strategy and clean driving, but it is carrying real weight going into this one.
BMW and Porsche sit in the middle of the pack with minor power trims and penalty weights. In endurance racing, consistency and pit strategy often matter more than peak lap time, so do not count either of them out. Dynamic weather throws another variable into the mix, and the teams that manage tire conditions and rain timing best will pick up places regardless of BOP.
In GT3, the Ferrari 296 GT3 looks like the car to watch. Five kilos of weight and zero power cut is about as close to a free run as you get in a BOP field. The Porsche 911 GT3 R runs clean as well, zero weight and just a half-percent power trim. Those two are the logical GT3 favorites at this BOP.
The Mercedes-AMG GT3 2020 takes the biggest hit in class: 5 kg and a 1.75% power cut, which is the steepest trim of any GT3 car on the grid. The Aston Martin Vantage carries the most total weight at 15 kg. Neither car is impossible to win with, but both need the BOP to move their way on Wednesday if they want to be genuine contenders. In LMP2, the Dallara P217 is the only option and runs clean, so that class comes down entirely to driver skill and pit strategy.
What to Watch For
Dynamic weather is the wild card that can scramble any pre-race prediction. Pit timing around rain windows and the decision to run slicks or wets could decide race positions more than raw pace. Teams that read the weather well and communicate cleanly across driver stints will gain ground on those who react late.
Driver swap coordination is where team races are won and lost. With a minimum of two drivers required, everyone is managing stint lengths, fatigue, and handover timing. In a 12-hour race, a botched driver swap or a miscommunication on pit entry can cost more time than a slow lap.
Incident management is also critical. The drive-through triggers at 50 incidents per car, with another every 20 after that. Early drama, contact at Turn 1 during the rolling start, or a moment of optimism in traffic can put a car on the back foot for the entire race. Patience in the first hour is worth more than any setup gain.
Quick Tips for First-Timers
If this is your first Sebring 12 Hour, a few things to sort before Friday. You need a D 4.0 Sportscar license to enter, so check your license page now rather than the day of the race. You need at least one teammate on your roster, so if you do not have one lined up yet, the iRacing forums and Discord communities are the fastest places to find one. Qualifying is only eight minutes with a two-lap limit, so get a clean lap in early rather than gambling on a hot lap at the end of the session. And keep an eye on Wednesday for the final BOP update before you lock in your car choice for race weekend.
