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The 12 Hours of Sebring is an annual motorsport endurance race for sports cars held at Sebring International Raceway, on the site of the former Hendricks Army Airfield World War II air base in Sebring, Florida. The event is the second round of the United SportsCar Championship and in the past has been a round of the now defunct World Sportscar Championship, IMSA GT Championship and American Le Mans Series. In 2012, the race was the opening event of the FIA World Endurance Championship.

The race is also a leg of the informal Triple Crown of endurance racing, which links the three largest sports car races together in a rough equivalent of Golf or Tennis' Grand Slam with the 24 Hours of Le Mans and the 24 Hours of Daytona forming the other legs.

History[]

The track opened in 1950 on an airfield and is a road racing course styled after those used in European Grand Prix motor racing. The first race was a six-hour race on New Year's Eve 1950, with the next race held 14 months later as the first 12 Hours of Sebring.[1] The race is famous for its "once around the clock" action, starting during the day and finishing at night. From 1953 to 1972 the 12 Hour was a round of the FIA's premier sports car series which was contested under various names including the World Sportscar Championship and the International Championship for Makes.

In its early years, the Sebring circuit combined former airport runways with narrow two-lane service roads. The 1966 event was a turning point in Sebring history, as the facilities and the safety of the circuit were heavily criticized. Five people were killed during the race, which was more people killed than in the race's prior 15-year history combined. Bob McLean crashed while approaching the hairpin; his car rolled several times, struck a utility pole and then exploded, landing in a ditch and killing McLean.

In another incident Mario Andretti in his Ferrari 365 tangled with Don Wester's Porsche 906 on the Warehouse Straight near the Webster Turns, killing four spectators and then crashing into a warehouse next to the track. Subsequent to these events, the facilities were upgraded and the circuit layout was changed, including eliminating the Webster Turns and creating the Green Park Chicane further down the track to move the straight further away from the airport warehouses. The circuit was made safer and there were no fatalities until 1980.

It is known as preparation for the 24 Hours of Le Mans, as the track's extremely bumpy surface, combined with south-central Florida's perennial hot weather, is a test of a car's reliability. In recent years, six overall victories have been achieved by the Audi R8, one fewer than the record seven wins of the Porsche 935.

Tom Kristensen has won the race more times than anyone else, with six victoriesTemplate:Spaced ndashin 19992000, 20052006, 2009 and in 2012.

Race results[]

2008OverallWinner12Hoursof SebringPenskePorsche7

2008 overall winner Porsche RS Spyder.

The 1966 race had Dan Gurney leading at the last lap, when his engine of his Shelby American Ford GT40 Mk II seized near the end. Gurney pushed his car over the finish line, beaten only by Ken Miles and Lloyd Ruby. However, his actions were ultimately determined to be against the rules and he did not receive credit for his finish.[2] In 2005, the Chevrolet Corvette C6.R and Aston Martin DBR9 made their race debut in the hotly contested GT1 class, with Aston Martin winning its class for the first time in 49 years at Sebring ahead of the two Corvettes. Corvette had dominated the class the past three years with its previous generation C5R.

The all-new Audi R10 TDI won the 2006 edition of the race, the car's first ever run in competition. The victory set the stage for an even more momentous win by the R10 in its next race, the Le Mans 24 Hours later in the year. The much-hyped Porsche RS Spyder campaigned by Penske Racing dropped to take 2nd place in its LMP2 class, behind the Intersport Lola car. The GT1 Corvette C6R team got their revenge against the Aston Martin, although the second Corvette came within 1/3 of a second of the podium in the closing laps of the race.

2007 saw Audi again winning in the R10 TDI despite requiring more frequent refueling due to changes in American Le Mans series rules intended to even the field between gasoline and diesel powered engines. In addition to an overall win, Audi also set a track record in 2007 with Marco Werner behind the wheel in qualifying.

Statistics[]

McNish-ALMS-LRP-2006

Audi R8 winner 2000-2005

Rank Constructor Wins Years
1 25px Germany Porsche 18 1960, 1968, 1971, 1973, 197688, 2008
2 25px Italy Ferrari 12 1956, 1958-64, 1970, 1972, 1995, 1997-98
3 25px Germany Audi 11 2000

2007, 2009, 201213

4 25px Japan Nissan 4 198991, 1994
5 25px USA Ford 3 1966-67, 1969
6 25px Japan Toyota 2 1992-93
25px Germany BMW 1975, 1999
25px France Peugeot 2010-11
9 25px Great Britain Allard 1 1950
25px Great Britain Frazer-Nash 1952
25px USA Cunningham 1953
25px Italy O.S.C.A. 1954
25px Great Britain Jaguar 1955
25px Italy Maserati 1957
25px USA Chaparral 1965
25px USA Riley & Scott 1996
25px USA Riley 2014
Rank Driver Wins Years
1 25px Flag of Denmark Tom Kristensen 6 1999-2000, 2005-06, 2009, 2012
2 25px Italy Rinaldo Capello 5 2001-02, 2006, 2009, 2012
3 25px Germany Frank Biela 4 2000, 2003-04, 07
25px Great Britain Allan McNish 2004, 2006, 2009, 2012
5 25px USA Mario Andretti 3 1967, 1970, 1972
25px Germany Hans-Joachim Stuck 1975, 1986, 1988

Overall winners[]

Year Drivers Team Car Tires Distance Championship
3.3 mile/5.31 km circuit
1950D 25px USA Fritz Koster
25px USA Ralph Deshon
25px USA Victor Sharpe/Tommy Cole Crosley HotShot 613.84 km
(381.42 miles)
(Sam Collier
Memorial Sebring
Grand Prix of
Endurance Six Hours) [3]
Non-championship
1951 Not held
5.382 mile/8.6 km circuit
1952 25px USA Harry Gray
25px USA Larry Kulok
25px USA Stuart Donaldson Frazer-Nash Le Mans Replica D 1,213.445 km
(754.0 miles)
American Automobile Association (AAA)
1953 25px USA Phil Walters
25px USA John Fitch
25px USA Briggs Cunningham Cunningham C4R-Chrysler F 1,447.766 km
(899.6 miles)
World Sportscar Championship
1954 25px Great Britain Stirling Moss
25px USA Bill Lloyd
25px USA Briggs Cunningham O.S.C.A. MT4 P 1,405.923 km
(873.6 miles)
World Sportscar Championship
1955 25px Great Britain Mike Hawthorn
25px USA Phil Walters
25px USA Briggs Cunningham Jaguar D-Type D 1,523.083 km
(946.4 miles)
World Sportscar Championship
1956 25px Argentina Juan Manuel Fangio
25px Italy Eugenio Castellotti
25px Italy Scuderia Ferrari Ferrari 860 Monza E 1,623.506 km
(1,008.8 miles)
World Sportscar Championship
1957 25px France Jean Behra
25px Argentina Juan Manuel Fangio
25px Italy Maserati Maserati 450S P 1,648.612 km
(1,024.4 miles)
World Sportscar Championship
1958 25px USA Phil Hill
25px Great Britain Peter Collins
25px Italy Scuderia Ferrari Ferrari 250 TR58 E 1,673.718 km
(1,088.1 miles)
World Sportscar Championship
1959 25px USA Dan Gurney
25px USA Chuck Daigh
25px USA Phil Hill
25px Belgium Olivier Gendebien
25px Italy Scuderia Ferrari Ferrari 250 TR59 Fantuzzi E 1573.295 km
(1,088.1 miles)
World Sportscar Championship
1960 25px Germany Hans Herrmann
25px Belgium Olivier Gendebien
25px Sweden Joakim Bonnier PorscheRS-60 D 1,640.243 km
(1,088.1 miles)
World Sportscar Championship
1961 25px USA Phil Hill
25px Belgium Olivier Gendebien
25px Italy SpA Ferrari SEFAC Ferrari 250 TRI/61 D 1,740.666 km
(1,088.1 miles)
World Sportscar Championship
1962 25px Sweden Joakim Bonnier
25px Belgium Lucien Bianchi
25px Italy Scuderia SSS Republica di Venezia Ferrari 250 TRI/61 D 1,723.929 km
(1,088.1 miles)
International Championship for GT Manufacturers
1963 25px Great Britain John Surtees
25px Italy Ludovico Scarfiotti
25px Italy SpA Ferrari SEFAC Ferrari 250P D 1,749.035 km
(1,088.1 miles)
International Championship for GT Manufacturers
1964 25px Great Britain Mike Parkes
25px Italy Umberto Maglioli
25px Italy SpA Ferrari SEFAC Ferrari 275P D 1,790.878 km
(1,088.1 miles)
International Championship for GT Manufacturers
1965 25px USA Jim Hall
25px USA Hap Sharp
25px USA Chaparral Cars Inc. Chaparral 2-Chevrolet F 1,640.243 km
(1,088.1 miles)
International Championship for GT Manufacturers
1966 25px Great Britain Ken Miles
25px USA Lloyd Ruby
25px USA Shelby American Inc. Ford GT40 X-1 Roadster G 1,908.038 km
(1,088.1 miles)
International Championship for Sports-Prototypes
International Championship for Sports Cars
5.4 mile/8.66 km circuit
1967 25px New Zealand Bruce McLaren
25px USA Mario Andretti
25px United States Ford Motor Company Ford GT40 MkIV F 1,991.724 km
(1,088.1 miles)
International Championship for Sports-Prototypes
International Championship for Sports Cars
1968 25px Switzerland Jo Siffert
25px Germany Hans Herrmann
25px Germany Porsche Automobile Company Porsche 907 D 1,983.356 km
(1,088.1 miles)
International Championship for Makes
1969 25px Belgium Jacky Ickx
25px Great Britain Jackie Oliver
25px Great Britain J.W. Automotive Engineering Ford GT40 MkI F 2,000.093 km
(1,088.1 miles)
International Championship for Makes
1970 25px Italy Ignazio Giunti
25px Italy Nino Vaccarella
25px USA Mario Andretti
25px Italy SpA Ferrari SEFAC Ferrari 512S F 2,075.410 km
(1,088.1 miles)
International Championship for Makes
1971 25px Great Britain Vic Elford
25px France Gérard Larrousse
25px Germany Martini Racing Porsche 917K F 2,175.833 km
(1,088.1 miles)
International Championship for Makes
1972 25px USA Mario Andretti
25px Belgium Jacky Ickx
25px Italy SpA Ferrari SEFAC Ferrari 312PB F 2,167.465 km
(1,088.1 miles)
World Championship for Makes
1973 25px USA Hurley Haywood
25px USA Peter Gregg
25px USA Dave Helmick
25px USA Dave Helmick Porsche Carrera RSR G 1,891.301 km
(1,088.1 miles)
IMSA GT Championship
1974 No race due to energy crisis
1975 25px Germany Hans-Joachim Stuck
25px Great Britain Brian Redman
25px Canada Allan Moffat
25px Germany BMW Motorsport BMW 3.0 CSL D 1,991.724 km
(1,088.1 miles)
IMSA GT Championship
1976 25px USA Al Holbert
25px USA Mike Keyser
25px USA Holbert Porsche-Audi Porsche Carrera RSR G 1,924.775 km
(1,088.1 miles)
IMSA GT Championship
1977 25px USA George Dyer
25px USA Brad Frisselle
25px USA George Dyer Porsche Carrera RSR G 1,958.450 km
(1,088.1 miles)
IMSA GT Championship
1978 25px Great Britain Brian Redman
25px USA Charles Mendez
25px USA Bob Garretson
25px USA Dick Barbour Racing Porsche 935 G 2,008.461 km
(1,088.1 miles)
IMSA GT Championship
1979 25px USA Bob Akin
25px USA Rob McFarlin
25px USA Roy Woods
25px USA Dick Barbour Racing Porsche 935 G 2,000.093 km
(1,088.1 miles)
IMSA GT Championship
1980 25px Great Britain John Fitzpatrick
25px USA Dick Barbour
25px USA Dick Barbour Racing Porsche 935 K3 G 2,117.253 km
(1,088.1 miles)
IMSA GT Championship
1981 25px USA Bruce Leven
25px USA Hurley Haywood
25px USA Al Holbert
25px USA Bayside Disposal Racing Porsche 935/80 G 2,050.304 km
(1,088.1 miles)
IMSA GT Championship
World Endurance Championship
1982 25px USA John Paul, Sr.
25px USA John Paul, Jr.
25px USA JLP Racing Porsche 935 JLP-3 G 2,041.936 km
(1,088.1 miles)
IMSA GT Championship
4.7 mile/7.52 km circuit
1983 25px USA Wayne Baker
25px USA Jim Mullen
25px Canada Kees Nierop
25px USA Personalized Autohaus Porsche 934

A

F 1,765.853 km
(1,088.1 miles)
IMSA GT Championship
1984 25px Flag of Colombia Mauricio de Narvaez
25px Germany Hans Heyer
25px Sweden Stefan Johansson
25px Flag of Colombia De Narvaez Enterprises Porsche 935J G 2,057.031 km
(1,088.1 miles)
IMSA GT Championship
1985 25px USA A. J. Foyt
25px France Bob Wollek
25px USA Preston Henn Porsche 962 G 2,197.817 km
(1,088.1 miles)
IMSA GT Championship
1986 25px Germany Hans-Joachim Stuck
25px Austria Jo Gartner
25px USA Bob Akin
25px USA Bob Akin Motor Racing Porsche 962 Y 2,244.745 km
(1,088.1 miles)
IMSA GT Championship
4.2 mile/6.85 km circuit
1987 25px Germany Jochen Mass
25px USA Bobby Rahal
25px USA Bayside Disposal Racing Porsche 962 G 1,971.092 km
(1,088.1 miles)
IMSA GT Championship
1988 25px Germany Klaus Ludwig
25px Germany Hans-Joachim Stuck
25px USA Bayside Disposal Racing Porsche 962 G 2,103.380 km
(1,088.1 miles)
IMSA GT Championship
1989 25px Australia Geoff Brabham
25px USA Chip Robinson
25px Netherlands Arie Luyendyk
25px USA Electramotive Engineering Nissan GTP ZX-Turbo G 2,182.753 km
(1,088.1 miles)
IMSA GT Championship
1990 25px Flag of Ireland Derek Daly
25px USA Bob Earl
25px USA Nissan Performance Technology Nissan GTP ZX-Turbo G 1,990.936 km
(1,088.1 miles)
IMSA GT Championship
3.72 mile/5.99 km circuit
1991 25px Flag of Ireland Derek Daly
25px Australia Geoff Brabham
25px Australia Gary Brabham
25px USA Nissan Performance Technology Nissan NPT-90 G 1,774.463 km
(1,088.1 miles)
IMSA GT Championship
1992 25px Argentina Juan Manuel Fangio II
25px Great Britain Andy Wallace
25px USA All American Racers Eagle MkIII-Toyota G 2,143.646 km
(1,088.1 miles)
IMSA GT Championship
1993 25px Argentina Juan Manuel Fangio II
25px Great Britain Andy Wallace
25px USA All American Racers Eagle MkIII-Toyota G 1369.552 km
(1,088.1 miles) B
IMSA GT Championship
1994 25px New Zealand Steve Millen
25px USA Johnny O'Connell
25px USA John Morton
25px USA Clayton Cunningham Racing Nissan 300ZX Y 1947.145 km
(1,088.1 miles)
IMSA GT Championship
1995 25px USA Andy Evans
25px Spain Fermín Vélez
25px Belgium Eric van de Poele
25px USA Scandia Motorsports Ferrari 333 SP P 1548.189 km
(1,088.1 miles) B
IMSA GT Championship
1996 25px South Africa Wayne Taylor
25px USA Jim Pace
25px USA Scott Sharp
25px USA Doyle Racing Riley & Scott Mk III-Oldsmobile P 1935.075 km
(1,088.1 miles)
IMSA GT Championship
1997 25px USA Andy Evans
25px Spain Fermín Vélez
25px France Yannick Dalmas
25px Sweden Stefan Johansson
25px USA Team Scandia Ferrari 333 SP G 1628.012 km
(1,088.1 miles) B
IMSA GT Championship
1998 25px Belgium Didier Theys
25px Italy Gianpiero Moretti
25px Italy Mauro Baldi
25px USA MOMO Doran Racing Ferrari 333 SP Y 1925.178 km
(1,088.1 miles)
IMSA GT Championship
3.74 mile/6.02 km circuit
1999 25px Flag of Denmark Tom Kristensen
25px Finland JJ Lehto
25px Germany Jörg Müller
25px Germany BMW Motorsport BMW V12 LMR M 1863.781 km
(1,088.1 miles)
American Le Mans Series
2000 25px Germany Frank Biela
25px Flag of Denmark Tom Kristensen
25px Italy Emanuele Pirro
25px Germany Audi Sport North America Audi R8 M 2143.646 km
(1,088.1 miles)
American Le Mans Series
2001 25px Italy Rinaldo Capello
25px Italy Michele Alboreto
25px France Laurent Aïello
25px Germany Audi Sport North America Audi R8 M 2203.192 km
(1,088.1 miles)
American Le Mans Series
European Le Mans Series
2002 25px Italy Rinaldo Capello
25px Italy Christian Pescatori
25px Great Britain Johnny Herbert
25px Germany Audi Sport North America Audi R8 M 2060.282 km
(1,088.1 miles)
American Le Mans Series
2003 25px Germany Frank Biela
25px Germany Marco Werner
25px Austria Philipp Peter
25px Germany Infineon Team Joest Audi R8 M 2185.328 km
(1,088.1 miles)
American Le Mans Series
2004 25px Great Britain Allan McNish
25px Germany Frank Biela
25px Germany Pierre Kaffer
25px Great Britain Audi Sport UK Team Veloqx Audi R8 M 2084.101 km
(1,088.1 miles)
American Le Mans Series
2005 25px Finland JJ Lehto
25px Germany Marco Werner
25px Flag of Denmark Tom Kristensen
25px USA ADT Champion Racing Audi R8 M 2149.601 km
(1,088.1 miles)
American Le Mans Series
2006 25px Flag of Denmark Tom Kristensen
25px Great Britain Allan McNish
25px Italy Rinaldo Capello
25px USA Audi Sport North America Audi R10 TDI
(Diesel)
M 2078.145 km
(1,088.1 miles)
American Le Mans Series
2007 25px Germany Frank Biela
25px Italy Emanuele Pirro
25px Germany Marco Werner
25px USA Audi Sport North America Audi R10 TDI
(Diesel)
M 2165.8 km
(1,088.1 miles)
American Le Mans Series
2008 25px Germany Timo Bernhard
25px France Romain Dumas
25px France Emmanuel Collard
25px USA Penske Racing Porsche RS Spyder M 2088.45 km
(1,088.1 miles)
American Le Mans Series
2009 25px Flag of Denmark Tom Kristensen
25px Great Britain Allan McNish
25px Italy Rinaldo Capello
25px Germany Audi Sport Team Joest Audi R15 TDI
(Diesel)
M 2278.85 km
(1,088.1 miles)C
American Le Mans Series
2010 25px Spain Marc Gené
25px Austria Alexander Wurz
25px Great Britain Anthony Davidson
25px France Team Peugeot Total Peugeot 908 HDi FAP
(Diesel)
M 2185.328 km
(1,088.1 miles)
American Le Mans Series
2011 25px France Loïc Duval
25px France Nicolas Lapierre
25px France Olivier Panis
25px France Team Oreca Matmut Peugeot 908 HDi FAP
(Diesel)
M 1975.4 km
(1,088.1 miles)
American Le Mans Series
Intercontinental Le Mans Cup
2012 25px Flag of Denmark Tom Kristensen
25px Great Britain Allan McNish
25px Italy Rinaldo Capello
25px Germany Audi Sport Team Joest Audi R18 TDI
(Diesel)
M 1933.8 km
(1,088.1 miles)
FIA World Endurance Championship
American Le Mans Series
2013 25px Switzerland Marcel Fässler
25px France Benoît Tréluyer
25px Great Britain Oliver Jarvis
25px Germany Audi Sport Team Joest Audi R18 e-tron quattro
(hybrid diesel)
M 2191.3 km
(1,088.1 miles)
American Le Mans Series
2014 25px Great Britain Marino Franchitti
25px USA Scott Pruett
25px Mexico Memo Rojas
25px USA Ganassi Racing Riley Mk XXVI-Ford Ecoboost C 1,751.1 km
(1,088.1 miles)
United SportsCar Championship
A The car was in fact, a Porsche 935 K3 that has been modified with a single plug cylinder head and a front nose to resemble a Porsche 934 to comply to IMSA GTO specification.[4]
B These races were stopped for a period of time due to heavy rain and/or accidents. The race clock was not stopped for these periods and counted towards the 12 Hours.
C Race record for most distance covered.
D Technically the race "winner" in 1950 was the Crosley Hot Shot of Fritz Koster / Ralph Deshon, entered by Victor Sharpe Jr. of Tampa. While the Wacker / Burrell Allard did cover more distance, the race was run under the "Index of Performance" handicapping rules and the Crosley, with a much smaller engine than the Cadillac-powered Allard, is listed in the Official Sebring Record Book as the winner.

References[]

  1. McCluggage, Denise (February 20, 2012). "Racing Through History". Autoweek 62 (4): 66–67. 
  2. Watkins, Gary (March 19, 2012). "Fab Five". Autoweek 62 (6): 77. http://www.autoweek.com/article/20120315/ALMS/120319906&template=mobileart. Retrieved April 12, 2012. 
  3. Sam Collier Memorial Sebring Grand Prix of Endurance Six Hours, www.racingsportscars.com Retrieved on 31 July 2012
  4. Starkey, John. 930 to 935: The Turbo Porsches. Renwick & Starkey Ltd.. 

External links[]

Smallwikipedialogo.png This page uses some content from Wikipedia. The original article was at 12 Hours of Sebring. The list of authors can be seen in the page history. As with Autopedia, the text of Wikipedia is available under the GNU Free Documentation License.


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