MADDIE AUST’s IMSA Sebring Run Derailed by Fuel Drama Despite Strong Pace

March 18, 2025

by RACERS // from www.racers-behindthehelmet.com

• MADDIE AUST’s strong IMSA debut momentum from a top-five Daytona finish hit a roadblock at Sebring when fuel issues struck during her stint, forcing the Bryan Herta Autosport #9 Hyundai to park trackside on lap 26. Despite starting P14 and making early moves to climb to P11, the mechanical drama cost crucial track position and ultimately left the team 11 laps down.
• The Texas native’s racing resume tells the story of smart progression—from F4 single-seaters to TC America podiums and wins, then solid top-20 consistency in the competitive 30-car Toyota GR Cup field. Her adaptability across platforms is exactly what we want to see from drivers making the jump to IMSA’s premier support series, and the pace was clearly there at Sebring before the fuel gremlins struck.
• Co-driver Suellio Almeida salvaged what he could after taking over the wounded car, posting a strong 2:14.455 lap time that showed the #9 had genuine speed underneath the drama. The duo gained a position to P12 when the race-leading Bryan Herta Autosport entry was disqualified post-race, keeping them eighth in TCR championship standings with 470 points heading to Laguna Seca in May.

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