12 Hours of Sebring

12 Hours of Sebring

United SportsCar Championship
Venue	Sebring International Raceway
Corporate sponsor	Mobil 1
First race	1950
First USCC race	2014
Duration	12 hours
Most wins (driver)	Tom Kristensen (6)
Most wins (team)	Scuderia Ferrari/SpA Ferrari (8)
Most wins (manufacturer)	Porsche (17)

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.

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 P2 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 victories – in 1999–2000, 2005–2006, 2009 and in 2012.

Race results

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

Audi R8 winner 2000-2007

Rank	Constructor	Wins	Years
1	Porsche	18	1960, 1968, 1971, 1973, 1976–1988, 2008
2	Ferrari	12	1956, 1958-1964, 1970, 1972, 1995, 1997-1998
3	Audi	11	2000–2007, 2009, 2012–2013
4	Nissan	4	1989–1991, 1994
5	Ford	3	1966-1967, 1969
6	Toyota	2	1992-1993
	BMW		1975, 1999
	Peugeot		2010-2011
11	Allard	1	1950
	Frazer-Nash		1952
	Cunningham		1953
	O.S.C.A.		1954
	Jaguar		1955
	Maserati		1957
	Chaparral		1965
	Riley & Scott		1996
	Riley		2014
	Coyote		2015
	Ligier		2016

Rank	Driver	Wins	Years
1	Tom Kristensen	6	99-00, 05-06, 2009, 2012
2	Rinaldo Capello	5	01-02, 2006, 2009, 2012
3	Frank Biela	4	2000, 03-04, 07
	Allan McNish		2004, 2006, 2009, 2012
5	Olivier Gendebien	3	1959, 1960, 1961
	Mario Andretti		1967, 1970, 1972
	Hans-Joachim Stuck		1975, 1986, 1988

Overall winners

Year	Drivers	Team	Car	Tires	Distance	Championship
3.3 mile/5.31 km circuit
1950 ^D	Fritz Koster Ralph Deshon	Victor Sharpe/Tommy Cole	Crosley HotShot		613.84 km (381.42 mi) (Sam Collier Memorial Sebring Grand Prix of Endurance Six Hours) [3]	Non-championship
1951	Not held
5.382 mile/8.6 km circuit
1952	Harry Gray Larry Kulok	Stuart Donaldson	Frazer-Nash Le Mans Replica	D	1,213.445 km (754.000 mi)	American Automobile Association (AAA)
1953	Phil Walters John Fitch	Briggs Cunningham	Cunningham C4R-Chrysler	F	1,447.766 km (899.600 mi)	World Sportscar Championship
1954	Bill Lloyd Stirling Moss	Briggs Cunningham	O.S.C.A. MT4	P	1,405.923 km (873.600 mi)	World Sportscar Championship
1955	Mike Hawthorn Phil Walters	Briggs Cunningham	Jaguar D-Type	D	1,523.083 km (946.400 mi)	World Sportscar Championship
1956	Eugenio Castellotti Juan Manuel Fangio	Scuderia Ferrari	Ferrari 860 Monza	E	1,623.506 km (1,008.800 mi)	World Sportscar Championship
1957	Juan Manuel Fangio Jean Behra	Maserati	Maserati 450S	P	1,648.612 km (1,024.400 mi)	World Sportscar Championship
1958	Peter Collins Phil Hill	Scuderia Ferrari	Ferrari 250 TR 58	E	1,673.718 km (1,040.000 mi)	World Sportscar Championship
1959	Phil Hill Dan Gurney Chuck Daigh Olivier Gendebien	Scuderia Ferrari	Ferrari 250 TR 59	E	1,573.295 km (977.600 mi)	World Sportscar Championship
1960	Olivier Gendebien Hans Herrmann	Joakim Bonnier	PorscheRS-60	D	1,640.243 km (1,019.200 mi)	World Sportscar Championship
1961	Phil Hill Olivier Gendebien	SpA Ferrari SEFAC	Ferrari 250 TRI/61	D	1,740.666 km (1,081.600 mi)	World Sportscar Championship
1962	Lucien Bianchi Joakim Bonnier	Scuderia SSS Republica di Venezia	Ferrari 250 TRI/61 (2)	D	1,723.929 km (1,071.200 mi)	International Championship for GT Manufacturers
1963	John Surtees Ludovico Scarfiotti	SpA Ferrari SEFAC	Ferrari 250P	D	1,749.035 km (1,086.800 mi)	International Championship for GT Manufacturers
1964	Mike Parkes Umberto Maglioli	SpA Ferrari SEFAC	Ferrari 275P	D	1,790.878 km (1,112.800 mi)	International Championship for GT Manufacturers
1965	Jim Hall Hap Sharp	Chaparral Cars Inc.	Chaparral 2-Chevrolet	F	1,640.243 km (1,019.200 mi)	International Championship for GT Manufacturers
1966	Lloyd Ruby Ken Miles	Shelby American Inc.	Ford GT40 X-1 Roadster	G	1,908.038 km (1,185.600 mi)	International Championship for Sports-Prototypes International Championship for Sports Cars
5.4 mile/8.66 km circuit
1967	Bruce McLaren Mario Andretti	Ford Motor Company	Ford GT40 MkIV	F	1,991.724 km (1,237.600 mi)	International Championship for Sports-Prototypes International Championship for Sports Cars
1968	Jo Siffert Hans Herrmann	Porsche Automobile Company	Porsche 907	D	1,983.356 km (1,232.400 mi)	International Championship for Makes
1969	Jacky Ickx Jackie Oliver	J.W. Automotive Engineering	Ford GT40 MkI	F	2,000.093 km (1,242.800 mi)	International Championship for Makes
1970	Ignazio Giunti Nino Vaccarella Mario Andretti	SpA Ferrari SEFAC	Ferrari 512S	F	2,075.410 km (1,289.600 mi)	International Championship for Makes
1971	Vic Elford Gérard Larrousse	Martini Racing	Porsche 917K	F	2,175.833 km (1,352.000 mi)	International Championship for Makes
1972	Jacky Ickx Mario Andretti	SpA Ferrari SEFAC(5)	Ferrari 312PB	F	2,167.465 km (1,346.800 mi)	World Championship for Makes
1973	Hurley Haywood Peter Gregg Dave Helmick	Dave Helmick	Porsche Carrera RSR	G	1,891.301 km (1,175.200 mi)	IMSA GT Championship
1974	No race due to energy crisis
1975	Hans-Joachim Stuck Brian Redman Allan Moffat Sam Posey	BMW Motorsport	BMW 3.0 CSL	D	1,991.724 km (1,237.600 mi)	IMSA GT Championship
1976	Al Holbert Mike Keyser	Holbert Porsche-Audi	Porsche Carrera RSR	G	1,924.775 km (1,196.000 mi)	IMSA GT Championship
1977	George Dyer Brad Frisselle	George Dyer	Porsche Carrera RSR (3)	G	1,958.450 km (1,216.924 mi)	IMSA GT Championship
1978	Brian Redman Charles Mendez Bob Garretson	Dick Barbour Racing	Porsche 935	G	2,008.461 km (1,248.000 mi)	IMSA GT Championship
1979	Bob Akin Rob McFarlin Roy Woods	Dick Barbour Racing	Porsche 935 (2)	G	2,000.093 km (1,242.800 mi)	IMSA GT Championship
1980	John Fitzpatrick Dick Barbour	Dick Barbour Racing (3)	Porsche 935 K3	G	2,117.253 km (1,315.600 mi)	IMSA GT Championship
1981	Bruce Leven Hurley Haywood Al Holbert	Bayside Disposal Racing	Porsche 935/80	G	2,050.304 km (1,274.000 mi)	IMSA GT Championship World Endurance Championship
1982	John Paul, Sr. John Paul, Jr.	JLP Racing	Porsche 935 JLP-3	G	2,041.936 km (1,268.800 mi)	IMSA GT Championship
4.7 mile/7.52 km circuit
1983	Wayne Baker Jim Mullen Kees Nierop	Personalized Autohaus	Porsche 934^A	F	1,765.853 km (1,097.250 mi)	IMSA GT Championship
1984	Mauricio de Narvaez Hans Heyer Stefan Johansson	De Narvaez Enterprises	Porsche 935J	G	2,057.031 km (1,278.180 mi)	IMSA GT Championship
1985	Bob Wollek A. J. Foyt	Preston Henn	Porsche 962	G	2,197.817 km (1,365.660 mi)	IMSA GT Championship
1986	Bob Akin Hans-Joachim Stuck Jo Gartner	Bob Akin Motor Racing	Porsche 962	Y	2,244.745 km (1,394.820 mi)	IMSA GT Championship
4.2 mile/6.85 km circuit
1987	Bobby Rahal Jochen Mass	Bayside Disposal Racing	Porsche 962	G	1,971.092 km (1,224.780 mi)	IMSA GT Championship
1988	Klaus Ludwig Hans-Joachim Stuck	Bayside Disposal Racing	Porsche 962 (4)	G	2,103.380 km (1,306.980 mi)	IMSA GT Championship
1989	Geoff Brabham Arie Luyendyk Chip Robinson	Electramotive Engineering	Nissan GTP ZX-Turbo	G	2,182.753 km (1,356.300 mi)	IMSA GT Championship
1990	Bob Earl Derek Daly	Nissan Performance Technology	Nissan GTP ZX-Turbo (2)	G	1,990.936 km (1,237.110 mi)	IMSA GT Championship
3.72 mile/5.99 km circuit
1991	Derek Daly Geoff Brabham Gary Brabham	Nissan Performance Technology	Nissan NPT-90	G	1,774.463 km (1,102.600 mi)	IMSA GT Championship
1992	Juan Manuel Fangio II Andy Wallace	All American Racers	Eagle MkIII-Toyota	G	2,143.646 km (1,332.000 mi)	IMSA GT Championship
1993	Juan Manuel Fangio II Andy Wallace	All American Racers	Eagle MkIII-Toyota	G	1,369.552 km (851.000 mi)^B	IMSA GT Championship
1994	Steve Millen Johnny O'Connell John Morton	Clayton Cunningham Racing	Nissan 300ZX	Y	1,947.145 km (1,209.900 mi)	IMSA Exxon World Sportscar Championship
1995	Andy Evans Fermín Vélez Eric van de Poele	Scandia Motorsports	Ferrari 333 SP	P	1,548.189 km (962.000 mi)^B	IMSA Exxon World Sportscar Championship
1996	Wayne Taylor Jim Pace Scott Sharp	Doyle Racing	Riley & Scott Mk III-Oldsmobile	P	1,935.075 km (1,202.400 mi)	IMSA Exxon World Sportscar Championship
1997	Andy Evans Fermín Vélez Yannick Dalmas Stefan Johansson	Team Scandia	Ferrari 333 SP	G	1,628.012 km (1,011.600 mi)^B	Professional Sports Car Exxon World Sportscar Championship
1998	Didier Theys Gianpiero Moretti Mauro Baldi	MOMO Doran Racing	Ferrari 333 SP (3)	Y	1,925.178 km (1,196.250 mi)	Professional Sportscar Exxon World Sportscar Championship
3.74 mile/6.02 km circuit
1999	Tom Kristensen JJ Lehto Jörg Müller	BMW Motorsport	BMW V12 LMR	M	1,863.781 km (1,158.100 mi)	American Le Mans Series
2000	Frank Biela Tom Kristensen Emanuele Pirro	Audi Sport North America	Audi R8	M	2,143.646 km (1,332.000 mi)	American Le Mans Series
2001	Rinaldo Capello Michele Alboreto Laurent Aïello	Audi Sport North America	Audi R8	M	2,203.192 km (1,369.000 mi)	American Le Mans Series European Le Mans Series
2002	Rinaldo Capello Christian Pescatori Johnny Herbert	Audi Sport North America(3)	Audi R8	M	2,060.282 km (1,280.200 mi)	American Le Mans Series
2003	Philipp Peter Frank Biela Marco Werner	Infineon Team Joest	Audi R8	M	2,185.328 km (1,357.900 mi)	American Le Mans Series
2004	Allan McNish Frank Biela Pierre Kaffer	Audi Sport UK Team Veloqx	Audi R8	M	2,084.101 km (1,295.000 mi)	American Le Mans Series
2005	Marco Werner JJ Lehto Tom Kristensen	ADT Champion Racing	Audi R8 (6)	M	2,149.601 km (1,335.700 mi)	American Le Mans Series
2006	Tom Kristensen Allan McNish Rinaldo Capello	Audi Sport North America	Audi R10 TDI (Diesel)	M	2,078.145 km (1,291.299 mi)	American Le Mans Series
2007	Emanuele Pirro Frank Biela Marco Werner	Audi Sport North America	Audi R10 TDI (Diesel) (2)	M	2,165.8 km (1,345.8 mi)	American Le Mans Series
2008	Timo Bernhard Romain Dumas Emmanuel Collard	Penske Racing	Porsche RS Spyder	M	2,088.45 km (1,297.70 mi)	American Le Mans Series
2009	Tom Kristensen Rinaldo Capello Allan McNish	Audi Sport Team Joest	Audi R15 TDI (Diesel)	M	2,278.85 km (1,416.01 mi)^C	American Le Mans Series
2010	Anthony Davidson Marc Gené Alexander Wurz	Team Peugeot Total	Peugeot 908 HDi FAP (Diesel)	M	2,185.328 km (1,357.900 mi)	American Le Mans Series
2011	Loïc Duval Nicolas Lapierre Olivier Panis	Team Oreca Matmut	Peugeot 908 HDi FAP (Diesel) (2)	M	1,975.4 km (1,227.5 mi)	American Le Mans Series Intercontinental Le Mans Cup
2012	Tom Kristensen Rinaldo Capello Allan McNish	Audi Sport Team Joest	Audi R18 TDI (Diesel)	M	1,933.8 km (1,201.6 mi)	FIA World Endurance Championship American Le Mans Series
2013	Oliver Jarvis Marcel Fässler Benoît Tréluyer	Audi Sport Team Joest(3)	Audi R18 e-tron quattro (hybrid diesel)	M(15)	2,191.3 km (1,361.6 mi)	American Le Mans Series
2014	Marino Franchitti Scott Pruett Memo Rojas	Ganassi Racing	Riley Mk XXVI-Ford Ecoboost	C	1,751.1 km (1,088.1 mi)	United SportsCar Championship
2015	Christian Fittipaldi Sébastien Bourdais João Barbosa	Action Express Racing	Coyote-Corvette DP	C	2,046.4 km (1,271.6 mi)	United SportsCar Championship
2016	Scott Sharp Ed Brown Johannes van Overbeek Pipo Derani	Tequila Patrón ESM	Ligier JS P2-Honda	C	1,432.51 km (890.12 mi)^B	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. 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. ISBN 0-9665094-1-2.

External links

• Official Homepage
• ALMS Official Homepage