---
title: "Ferrari 488 GT3 Flips in Dramatic Fashion at 12 Hours of Sebring"
description: "Montecalvo was cleared by the medical staff following a wild collision that left his Ferrari upside down."
date: "2018-03-17"
modified: "2018-03-17"
authors:
  - name: "Jerry Perez"
    job_title: "Deputy Editor"
    link: "https://www.thedrive.com/authors/jerry-perez"
url: "https://www.thedrive.com/accelerator/19350/ferrari-488-gt3-flips-in-dramatic-fashion-at-12-hours-of-sebring"
categories:
  - "Ferrari News"
  - "IMSA"
  - "News"
  - "News by Brand"
  - "Racing"
tags:
  - "12 Hours Of Sebring"
  - "Crash"
  - "Endurance Racing"
  - "Ferrari"
  - "IMSA WeatherTech Sportscar series"
  - "racing"
  - "Scuderia Corsa"
---

# Ferrari 488 GT3 Flips in Dramatic Fashion at 12 Hours of Sebring

![](<https://www.thedrive.com/wp-content/uploads/images-by-url-td/content/2018/03/dygkvpowsaad24s-jpg-large.jpeg>)
*\<em\>www.thedrive.com</em>*

Frankie Montecalvo, the American race car driver for the No. 64 [Scuderia Corsa](<https://www.thedrive.com/news/18915/lego-works-its-block-magic-with-the-scuderia-corsa-ferrari-488-gt3>) Ferrari 488 GTE, suffered a major shunt on Sunset Bend while trying to avoid Sebastian Saavedra's spinning LMP2 racer. The accident took place within the first 19 minutes of the 2018 Mobil 1 12 Hours of Sebring.

As this [video](<https://www.youtube.com/watch?time_continue=43&v=nEjKzk-avTI>) shows, Montecalvo's Ferrari 488 GT3 managed to nip the front end of the No. 52 AFS/PR1 Mathiasen Motorsports Ligier of Saavedra, which caused it to quickly go airborne, flip, and land flat on its roof. The accident brought out the first full course yellow flag of the [12-hour race](<https://www.thedrive.com/porsche/8438/how-porsche-lost-the-twelve-hours-of-sebring>).

It's not quite clear what caused Saavedra to lose control and do a 180-degree spin on the last corner of the [iconic track](<https://www.thedrive.com/video/8617/watch-these-porsche-911-rsrs-crush-sebring-in-slow-motion>), but the Colombian managed to keep his engine alive and slip into the pit lane entrance, which was conveniently located by where the collision took place. Unfortunately, Montecalvo didn't enjoy the same luck, and now his teammates, Bill Sweedler and Townsend Bell, may not get their chance of winning Sebring—a chance that they very much deserve.

With a considerable amount of time still remaining in the event, we're hoping it's a safe and clean race for all participants. It's worth noting that the endurance race itself got off to a troublesome start with Tristan Vautier going wide in the first turn at the wheel of his Spirit of Daytona Cadillac, and punting the Tequila Patron ESM Nissan of Oliver Pla, causing him to retire from the race due to severe gearbox damage.

https://youtube.com/embed/nEjKzk-avTI

## Author
Jerry is responsible for upholding The Drive's ethos as an audience-first, enthusiast-driven car blog that serves up industry-leading news, reviews, culture, and motorsport coverage. Overseeing a staff of writers and editors from his home base in Indianapolis, he helps curate the site's daily rundown, as well as its medium- and long-term content strategies. Jerry joined The Drive in 2018 as a writer and worked as news editor and managing editor before becoming the deputy in 2023. As a lifelong car enthusiast and racing fan, Jerry believes that all cars are cool, but the people behind the machines are even cooler. This belief often gives The Drive a slightly different focus from most other car sites, where we explore the humanity behind the machines. When he's not obsessing over the day's biggest stories or hanging out at a race track, Jerry can be found behind the wheel of a car, most likely sharing a laugh with his teenage son or daughter.

### Author social links  
[Instagram](<https://www.instagram.com/drive_jerry/>)