SEBRING 2012
WILL BE A CLASSIC!
60th ANNIVERSARY 12 HOUR CLASSIC OPENS THE FIA WORLD ENDURANCE CHAMPIONSHIP
Sebring International Raceway will host the opening round of the 2012 FIA World Endurance Championship in conjunction with the 60th Anniversary of the Mobil 1 Twelve Hours of Sebring Fueled by Fresh from Florida. America's premier sports car endurance race runs on Saturday, March 17.
Sebring will also open the 2012 American Le Mans Series presented by Tequila Patrón and mark the return of the FIA to the birthplace of its endurance racing heritage - Sebring hosted the first FIA World Championship race for sports cars in 1953.
"Sebring's 60th anniversary year will certainly be something special with the addition of the FIA World Endurance Championship," stated Sebring Raceway President and General Manager Tres Stephenson. "This brings to Sebring the leading cars and drivers that compete in the legendary Le Mans 24 Hours race in addition to our stellar lineup of ALMS teams."
In 1953, a Cunningham C4R built in West Palm Beach, Florida by Briggs Cunningham and driven by John Fitch and Phil Walters won the Sebring 12 Hours. For the next 20 years, Sebring would be part of the FIA World Championship for sports cars.
"History repeats itself at Sebring 2012," added Stephenson. "The new FIA World Endurance Championship begins at Sebring, America's greatest sports car race, just as it did 58 years ago."
Audi, Peugeot, Toyota, Honda, Nissan and Mazda are expected to be among the top prototype contenders, while Corvette, Ferrari, Porsche, BMW and Aston Martin will lead a large contingent of GT entries. Over 60 cars are expected to start the race, including the radical new DeltaWing entry.
Gates open at Sebring on Wednesday, March 14th. Tickets to the 60th Mobil 1 Twelve Hours of Sebring Fueled by Fresh from Florida can be ordered online or by calling 800-626-7223.
FIA World Endurance Championship Announces Epic Sebring Entry
A stellar entry list was announced today by the FIA World Endurance Championship (WEC) for the 60th Anniversary Mobil 1 Twelve Hours of Sebring Fueled by Fresh from Florida. America's premier endurance race runs on Saturday, March 17, and will mark the debut of the new world championship.
A total of 30 cars will represent the FIA WEC (running with at least 30 more entries from the American Le Mans Series presented by Tequila Patrón). Headlining the list is nine-time Sebring winner Audi. The defending 24 Hours of Le Mans champions will bring three R18 prototypes to battle two Rebellion Lola Toyotas, two Honda Performance Development entries, and two Pescarolos.
The LMP2 category features nine entries, including Nissan, Lotus, Judd and Honda Performance Development powered cars.
The tough GTE-Pro division includes Ferrari, Porsche and Aston Martin entries. In the GTE-Am class, Chevrolet Corvette joins the classic Porsche vs. Ferrari rivalry.
The American Le Mans Series presented by Tequila Patrón portion of the Sebring entry will be announced later this month. A total of 64 cars are expected to start of the once-around-the-clock classic.
"We are honored to host the only FIA World Endurance Championship race in North America," stated Sebring Raceway President and General Manager Tres Stephenson. "Combined with the American Le Mans Series presented by Tequila Patrón, Sebring's 60th anniversary promises to be one for the record books."
Gates open at Sebring on Wednesday, March 14th and remain open 24 hours a day thru Saturday's 12-hour classic. Tickets are available online or by calling 800-626-7223.
The first FIA World Championship for sports car racing made its debut at Sebring International Raceway in 1953. History repeats itself with the 2012 FIA World Endurance Championship launching at Sebring's legendary 3.74-mile circuit that originated from a WWII B-17 training base known as Hendricks Field.
For more information, visit sebringraceway.com, americanlemans.com and fiawec.com.
The 60 Years of Sebring POSTER
"The 60 Years of Sebring" poster by artist Roger Warrick shows all 59 winners of America's greatest sports car race. Only 600 copies of the poster will be sold. It measures 36 x 15 inches. Prices is $30 (includes postage) and can be ordered directly from Sebring International Raceway, or purchased at the event.
NOW AVAILABLE!
Sebring 60th Anniversary Record Book
Just published: The complete record book of Sebring's 12-hour classic. Detailed results for every Sebring race since 1952 and over 600 photographs (every car to finish in the top ten). This limited edition softcover book is ideal for the serious Sebring fan and a great reference for anyone interested in learning about the cars and drivers that helped make Sebring America's greatest endurance race. Price is $40 (includes postage). Order your copy today by calling 800-626-7223.
INAUGURAL SEBRING HISTORICS
SCHEDULED FOR OCTOBER 25-28, 2012
Sebring International Raceway announced the addition of the Sebring Historics event to the 2012 calendar. In conjunction with the 60th anniversary celebration of the Sebring 12 hour classic, the track is creating an annual event to honor the historic cars that have competed on the legendary circuit. Participation is open to all vintage and historic cars meeting the usual eligibility criteria for these types of events.
Full Story >>>
By Wayne Baker - 1983 Sebring Winner
"My favorite Sebring memory was the last half hour of the 1983 race. I was at the wheel of the #9 Porsche 934 for the last stretch of the race. Due to the rough conditions of the track and the constant pounding lap after lap for 10 hours, it finally took its toll on the car because the right front suspension had collapsed and the car was extremely difficult to drive.
I radioed my crew chief, Greg Elliff, that I needed to come in so that the crew could look the car over to see if there was anything that could be done to the suspension to make the car more drivable. But unknown to me, we were leading overall and Greg did not want to relay this to me because he thought I might get too excited and make a mistake that could cost us the lead.
Bob Akin's #5 Coke Cola 935, which had previous mechanical issues was in hot pursuit with only minutes left to go in the race. Greg kept saying "no, don't come in, keep driving. When you come by pit lane, go slow and I'll see if I can see anything obvious that might be wrong".
So I did that for a few laps until the finish. When I finally crossed under the checkered flag, I believed I had just brought the car home to the GTO victory and Greg told me to go to victory lane. I was ecstatic that I had driven to victory in GTO. That's when Greg informed me that we were the 1983 12 Hours of Sebring overall winners. We were the first GTO team to accomplish this amazing feat. What a victory!
It's a good thing that I listened to Greg and didn't bring the car in because Akin's Porsche was only 94 seconds behind to finish in 2nd place. Last note, when loading the car into the transporter after the race, the suspension fell off the car. It's a good thing the race ended when it did!"
Wayne Baker (co-drivers Jim Mullen, Kees Nierop)
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Sebring 1978 - Brian Redman's Comeback Win
Charles Mendez became the new promoter at Sebring, replacing John Greenwood. Mendez also co-drove a Porsche 935 with Bob Garretson and Brian Redman, who was returning to action after a serious accident in a Can-Am race the previous year.
Porsche was again the big favorite, but it was BMW earning the pole position with David Hobbs driving a 320i. A total of 76 cars were on the starting grid.
The race eventually became a battle between the Porsche 935 driven by Hurley Haywood and Bob Hagestad and the Dick Barbour entry driven by Mendez/Redman/Garrteson. Both cars stayed on the same lap for most of the race, and it was the Barbour car winning by 90 seconds. Brian Redman had recorded a historic win in his comeback, and promoter Charles Mendez won his own race.
Porsche won the GTO and GTU classes, while a Buick Skylark won the American Challenge class.
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SEBRING URBAN LEGENDS: FACT or FICTION?
