SEBRING, Fla. — Perfect weather and even better HSR on-track action combined for a fantastic Friday at Sebring International Raceway where the opening races of the season were held on the first official day of 2026 racing competition at the HSR Sebring Pistons & Props, presented by Alan Jay Automotive Network.
The popular Sasco Sports International/American Challenge sprint officially started the year’s racing early Friday afternoon, and Fritz Seidel secured overall and Porsche-class honors in his Ecurie Engineering 1973 No. 21 Porsche 911 RSR.
Seidel edged the similar 1974 No. 82 AJR Heritage Motorsports Porsche 911 RSR David Hinton was wheeling for car owner Damon DeSantis. David Agretelis made it an all 1970’s Porsche RSR sweep of the top-three overall with a run to the final outright and Porsche class podium spots in his 901 Shop 1974 No. 92 Porsche 911 RSR.
Porsches swept all but one of the top-eight finishing positions in the packed 34-car field, with the quick Olthoff Racing 1967 No. 28 Ford Mustang coupe of John Spiers not only breaking up the Porsche party but finishing in the top-five overall while securing the American division victory. Spiers led Olthoff Racing teammate Jeff McKee to the line as McKee persevered through some late-race fuel starvation issues to take second in American and complete the top-10 overall in his 1964 No. 51 Olthoff Racing Ford Falcon. Craig Ross shook off an issue of his own and recovered from a late spin to take third in the American division in his 1970 No. 72 Cross Ross Boss Racing Ford Mustang Boss 302.
The Sasco International class was an all-British top-three sweep with the win going to Thomas Grudovich in his 1966 No. 92 Ginetta G4. His Michael’s Vintage Racing Ginetta stablemate Hervey Parke finished third in the1964 No. 111 Ginetta G4 he was racing for the first time. The Ginetta duo was split by the AJR Heritage Motorsports-prepared 1963 No. 63 Jaguar XKE driven to second place by Farrell Preston.
Friday’s on-track schedule concluded with the opening endurance race of the year. The one-hour B.R.M. Modern Endurance Challenge was the first of a record four 60-minute races on this weekend’s schedule. The B.R.M. Legacy Endurance Challenge, a one-hour race for the HSR Prototype Challenge presented by Michelin and the inaugural HSR Mission GT Challenge Enduro will provide three more hours of endurance racing competition on Saturday’s Pistons & Props schedule.
Friday’s overall B.R.M. win went to the Modern GT entry of Nick Karangelen in his 2008 No. 76 Porsche 997 GT3 Cup while the Modern SP (Sports Prototype) class victory went to Jeff Borghesi in his Hudson Historics 2000 No. 7 Carbir CS2/M Sports 2000.
A diverse overall and Modern GT top three was completed by Cliff Berry in the KMW Motorsports 2022 No. 5 Alfa Romeo Giulietta Veloce TCR and the oldest car in the race. The ageless Predator Racing 1972 No. 01 Porsche 911 RSR of Kenneth McKinnon and longtime teammate Mike Bruns – former HSR Sebring Classic 12 Hour presented by Mission Foods Run Group winners – finished a solid third overall.
The Porsche is 15 years older than the next oldest car in Friday’s B.R.M. race and is remarkably 50 years older than the Alfa Romeo the No. 01 drivers and team chased to the finish line.
