The Scuderia Corsa paddock set-up is graced by the large scale Ferrari 488 Lego model pictured above.
Constructed by some of Lego’s fabled ‘Master Builders’ the model is attracting plenty of attention, and the team are offering the chance for racegoers to have a go themselves with a ‘Speed Challenge’ for fans to build the newly released Lego Speed Champions 488 based on the title winning 488 GT3 from 2017.
In addition to the IMSA Weathertech Sportscar Championship the Sebring paddock is packed with the traditionally superb support series: IMSA’s Continental Tire Sportscar Challenge races on Friday with a two hour encounter featuring a 38 car grid (including 27 GS class entries).
The IMSA Prototype Challenge sees a 27 car entry (18 x LMP3 and 9 x MPC) with the series growing steadily. The IMSA GT3 Cup Challenge is here too, the regular US season grid joined here by an additional nine cars from the Canadian Series. HSR also has a presence with their usual eclectic mix.
Also on the historic front Bob Tullius was inducted into the Motorsports Hall of Fame of America in Daytona Beach, on Tuesday.
Now 87 years young the founder of the Group 44 team and 10-time IMSA race winner was recognised for his career in motorsport both on and off track including 14 Sports Car Club of America (SCCA) national championships, including three Trans Am Series titles. And the 1978 Trans Am trophy.
Internationally he is likely best remembered for bringing the Jaguar name back into international sportscar racing with the XJR5, following on from adventures with a catalogue of GT machinery including the Triumph TR7 and Jaguar XKE and XJS.
The view from the DC Ed’s seat at Sebring International Raceway this week not only directly aligns with the rather narrower finish line for this season (above), but also affords a view of the adjacent and historic airfield which is now housing some rather larger aircraft than we have seen in past years. The tail-fins of a number of Boeing 727s are visible as a locally based business refurbishes and converts smaller airliners (727s and 737s in the main) to new lives as freighters.
A current planning application sees the runway here getting a major extension which could prove interesting in view of the opportunities to fly freight directly to Sebring either for testing or racing.
Plans moving to reality though are likely to be measured in years rather than months on that front.
