Oscar Tunjo and Valentino Catalano win the debut of the IMSA Airbnb Endurance Challenge in Sebring in dramatic fashion for GEBHARDT Motorsport.
The traditional Sebring circuit hosted the debut of the IMSA Airbnb Endurance Challenge 2026, the endurance classification of the IMSA VP Racing SportsCar Challenge. GEBHARDT Motorsport fielded two Duqueine D08. Oscar Tunjo and Valentino Catalano shared one car, while Danny Soufi and Jake Williamson drove the second LMP3 prototype.
Saturday's qualifying took place on a wet track, but that didn't stop Oscar Tunjo. The Colombian, who is considered one of the world's best LMP3 prototypes, secured a commanding pole position on the historic circuit in Florida. Tunjo was able to defend his lead in the early stages of the race and establish himself at the front of the field. During the driver change to Valentino Catalano, the team made a mistake, which meant that the talented young German driver had to serve a drive-through penalty and fell back before starting a comeback.
After the penalty, it looked for a long time as if the GEBHARDT Duqueine would finish the race in second place. But around four minutes before the end of the race, the leading car rolled out and Catalano took the lead. Last year's IMSA VP Racing SportsCar Challenge champion was under intense pressure from the pursuer and won the race by just 1.112 seconds.
Danny Soufi and Jake Williamson drove the German team's second Duqueine to fourth place. The duo was classified third in the Bronze Cup. In this class, it is mandatory that a driver classified as bronze must drive the car. American Williamson, who is the team's bronze driver, made his LMP3 debut at Sebring, having previously competed in Radical racing.
What a race at Sebring! Congratulations to the entire team for their strong performance over the weekend and their victory in the debut of the IMSA Airbnb Endurance Challenge,’ said team owner Fritz Gebhardt. ‘We are delighted that we were able to secure victory in a dramatic final phase. The successful start to the season makes us very confident about the next races and reinforces our goal of winning the title! I am also satisfied with our second car; third place in the Bronze Cup is a good result for Jake's LMP3 debut, securing us important points.’
The IMSA Airbnb Endurance Challenge continues on the second weekend in May, when the series stops off at the Circuit of the Americas in Texas. The next sprint weekend of the IMSA VP Racing SportsCar Challenge takes place at the Mid-Ohio Sports Car Course at the beginning of June.
IMSA VP SportsCar Challenge 2026 schedule:
16.01. – 19.01. – Daytona (Sprint)
27.02. – 28.02. – Circuit of the Americas Austin (Sprint)
06.03. – 08.03. – Sebring (Endurance)
07.05. – 09.05. – Circuit of the Americas Austin (Endurance)
05.06. – 07.06. – Mid-Ohio Sports Car Course (Sprint)
19.06. – 21.06. – Virginia International Raceway (Endurance)
10.07. – 12.07. – Canadian Tire Motorsport Park (Sprint)
14.08. – 16.08. – Road America (Endurance)
01.10. – 03.10. – Road Atlanta (Sprint)
