12 Hours of Sebring

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2008 overall winner Porsche RS Spyder.


The 12 Hours of Sebring is an annual motorsport endurance race held at Sebring International Raceway, a former Army Air Force base in Sebring, Florida.


Contents

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 race is now considered one of the premier endurance races in the United States and is famous for its "once around the clock" action, starting during the day and finishing at night. For many years Sebring was part of the World Sportscar Championship.

1963 Programme Cover

The race has a rich history, as legendary drivers such as Mario Andretti, Briggs Cunningham, Juan Manuel Fangio, A.J. Foyt, Jacky Ickx, Stirling Moss and Lake Underwood, and manufacturers such as Ferrari, Porsche, BMW, Jaguar, Cunningham, Audi and Ford have all been victorious.

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

The Event

Fans are allowed to camp inside the green of the race track, starting several days before the actual race. Both general admission and, for a fee, reserved camping exists. RVs and cars are allowed into the track. Fans that show up during the week (and in some cases months before the actual race) can bear witness to many practice and qualification races, as well as a vintage race. There are several classes of tickets, ranging anywhere from full-access to simply the (usually Saturday) actual race. The tickets are numbered, and there are designated numbered tickets needed to access pit areas, press and spectator boxes, and certain parts of the track.

Within the track is a Midway, containing everything from souvenirs and official merchandise, to hot coffee and cold beer. Attractions are also featured in the midway and differ from year to year; In recent years Spring Break attractions have been set up to draw in college students on break during the week of the race. Radio promotions for the race are not uncommon to hear in Florida weeks before the race, advertising to both race fans and spring breakers.

Aston Martin DBR9 at dusk during the 2005 12 Hours of Sebring

Recent results

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.


Overall Winners

Year Drivers Team Car Distance Championship
1952 Image:22px-Flag_of_the_United_States.png Harry Gray
Image:22px-Flag_of_the_United_States.png Larry Kulok 		Image:22px-Flag_of_the_United_States.png Stuart Donaldson Frazer-Nash Le Mans 1213.445km American Automobile Association (AAA)
1953 Image:22px-Flag_of_the_United_States.png Phil Walters
Image:22px-Flag_of_the_United_States.png John Fitch 		Image:22px-Flag_of_the_United_States.png Briggs Cunningham Cunningham C4R-Chrysler 1447.766km World Sportscar Championship
1954 Image:22px-Flag_of_the_United_Kingdom.png Stirling Moss
Image:22px-Flag_of_the_United_States.png Bill Lloyd 		Image:22px-Flag_of_the_United_States.png Briggs Cunningham O.S.C.A. MT4 1405.923km World Sportscar Championship
1955 Image:22px-Flag_of_the_United_Kingdom.png Mike Hawthorn
Image:22px-Flag_of_the_United_States.png Phil Walters 		Image:22px-Flag_of_the_United_States.png Briggs Cunningham Jaguar D-Type 1523.083km World Sportscar Championship
1956 Image:22px-Flag_of_Argentina.svg.png Juan Manuel Fangio
Eugenio Castellotti 		Scuderia Ferrari Ferrari 860 Monza 1623.506km World Sportscar Championship
1957 Image:22px-Flag_of_France.png Jean Behra
Image:22px-Flag_of_Argentina.svg.png Juan Manuel Fangio 		Maserati Maserati 450S 1648.612km World Sportscar Championship
1958 Image:22px-Flag_of_the_United_States.png Phil Hill
Image:22px-Flag_of_the_United_Kingdom.png Peter Collins 		Scuderia Ferrari Ferrari 250 TR58 1673.718km World Sportscar Championship
1959 Image:22px-Flag_of_the_United_States.png Dan Gurney
Image:22px-Flag_of_the_United_States.png Chuck Daigh 		Scuderia Ferrari Ferrari 250 TR59 Fantuzzi 1573.295km World Sportscar Championship
1960 Image:22px-Flag_of_Germany.svg.png Hans Herrmann
Image:22px-Flag_of_Belgium_(civil).png Olivier Gendebien 		Image:22px-Flag_of_Sweden.svg.png Joakim Bonnier Porsche 718RS 1640.243km World Sportscar Championship
1961 Image:22px-Flag_of_the_United_States.png Phil Hill
Image:22px-Flag_of_Belgium_(civil).png Olivier Gendebien 		SpA Ferrari SEFAC Ferrari 250 TRI/61 1740.666km World Sportscar Championship
1962 Image:22px-Flag_of_Sweden.svg.png Joakim Bonnier
Image:22px-Flag_of_Belgium_(civil).png Lucien Bianchi 		Scuderia SSS Republica di Venezia Ferrari 250 TRI/61 1723.929km World Sportscar Championship
1963 Image:22px-Flag_of_the_United_Kingdom.png John Surtees
Ludovico Scarfiotti 		SpA Ferrari SEFAC Ferrari 250P 1749.035km World Sportscar Championship
1964 Image:22px-Flag_of_the_United_Kingdom.png Mike Parkes
Umberto Maglioli 		SpA Ferrari SEFAC Ferrari 275P 1790.878km World Sportscar Championship
1965 Image:22px-Flag_of_the_United_States.png Jim Hall
Image:22px-Flag_of_the_United_States.png Hap Sharp 		Image:22px-Flag_of_the_United_States.png Chaparral Cars Inc. Chaparral 2-Chevrolet 1640.243km World Sportscar Championship
1966 Image:22px-Flag_of_the_United_Kingdom.png Ken Miles
Image:22px-Flag_of_the_United_States.png Lloyd Ruby 		Image:22px-Flag_of_the_United_States.png Shelby American Inc. Ford X1 Roadster 1908.038km World Sportscar Championship
1967 Image:22px-Flag_of_New_Zealand.png Bruce McLaren
Image:22px-Flag_of_the_United_States.png Mario Andretti 		Image:22px-Flag_of_the_United_States.png Ford Motor Company Ford GT40 MkIV 1991.724km World Sportscar Championship
1968 Image:20px-Flag_of_Switzerland.png Jo Siffert
Image:22px-Flag_of_Germany.svg.png Hans Herrmann 		Image:22px-Flag_of_Germany.png Porsche Automobile Company Porsche 907 1983.356km World Sportscar Championship
1969 Image:22px-Flag_of_Belgium_(civil).png Jacky Ickx
Image:22px-Flag_of_the_United_Kingdom.png Jackie Oliver 		Image:22px-Flag_of_the_United_Kingdom.png J.W. Automotive Engineering Ford GT40 MkII 2000.093km World Sportscar Championship
1970 Ignazio Giunti
Nino Vaccarella
Image:22px-Flag_of_the_United_States.png Mario Andretti 		SpA Ferrari SEFAC Ferrari 512S 2075.410km World Sportscar Championship
1971 Image:22px-Flag_of_the_United_Kingdom.png Vic Elford
Image:22px-Flag_of_France.png Gérard Larrousse 		Image:22px-Flag_of_Germany.png Martini Racing Porsche 917K 2175.833km World Sportscar Championship
1972 Image:22px-Flag_of_the_United_States.png Mario Andretti
Image:22px-Flag_of_Belgium_(civil).png Jacky Ickx 		SpA Ferrari SEFAC Ferrari 312PB 2167.465km World Sportscar Championship
1973 Image:22px-Flag_of_the_United_States.png Hurley Haywood
Image:22px-Flag_of_the_United_States.png Peter Gregg
Image:22px-Flag_of_the_United_States.png Dave Helmick 		Image:22px-Flag_of_the_United_States.png Dave Helmick Porsche Carrera RSR 1891.301km IMSA GT Championship
1974 No race due to energy crisis
1975 Image:22px-Flag_of_the_United_Kingdom.png Brian Redman
Image:22px-Flag_of_the_Canada.png Allan Moffat 		Image:22px-Flag_of_Germany.png BMW Motorsport BMW 3.0 CSL 1991.724km IMSA GT Championship
1976 Image:22px-Flag_of_the_United_States.png Al Holbert
Image:22px-Flag_of_the_United_States.png Mike Keyser 		Image:22px-Flag_of_the_United_States.png Holbert Porsche-Audi Porsche Carrera RSR 1924.775km IMSA GT Championship
1977 Image:22px-Flag_of_the_United_States.png George Dyer
Image:22px-Flag_of_the_United_States.png Brad Frisselle 		Image:22px-Flag_of_the_United_States.png George Dyer Porsche Carrera RSR 1958.450km IMSA GT Championship
1978 Image:22px-Flag_of_the_United_Kingdom.png Brian Redman
Image:22px-Flag_of_the_United_States.png Charles Mendez
Image:22px-Flag_of_the_United_States.png Bob Garretson 		Image:22px-Flag_of_the_United_States.png Dick Barbour Racing Porsche 935 2008.461km IMSA GT Championship
1979 Image:22px-Flag_of_the_United_States.png Bob Akin
Image:22px-Flag_of_the_United_States.png Rob McFarlin
Image:22px-Flag_of_the_United_States.png Roy Woods 		Image:22px-Flag_of_the_United_States.png Dick Barbour Racing Porsche 935 2000.093km IMSA GT Championship
1980 Image:22px-Flag_of_the_United_Kingdom.png John Fitzpatrick
Image:22px-Flag_of_the_United_States.png Dick Barbour 		Image:22px-Flag_of_the_United_States.png Dick Barbour Racing Porsche 935 K3 2117.253km IMSA GT Championship
1981 Image:22px-Flag_of_the_United_States.png Bruce Leven
Image:22px-Flag_of_the_United_States.png Hurley Haywood
Image:22px-Flag_of_the_United_States.png Al Holbert 		Image:22px-Flag_of_the_United_States.png Bayside Disposal Racing Porsche 935/80 2050.304km IMSA GT Championship
World Sportscar Championship
1982 Image:22px-Flag_of_the_United_States.png John Paul, Sr.
Image:22px-Flag_of_the_United_States.png John Paul, Jr. 		Image:22px-Flag_of_the_United_States.png JLP Racing Porsche 935 JLP-3 2041.936km IMSA GT Championship
1983 Image:22px-Flag_of_the_United_States.png Wayne Baker
Image:22px-Flag_of_the_United_States.png Jim Mullen
Image:22px-Flag_of_the_Canada.png Kees Nierop 		Image:22px-Flag_of_the_United_States.png Personalized Autohaus Porsche 934 1765.853km IMSA GT Championship
1984 Image:22px-Flag_of_Colombia.png Mauricio de Narvaez
Image:22px-Flag_of_Germany.svg.png Hans Heyer
Image:22px-Flag_of_Sweden.svg.png Stefan Johansson 		Image:22px-Flag_of_Colombia.png De Varzaez Enterprises Porsche 935J 2057.031km IMSA GT Championship
1985 Image:22px-Flag_of_the_United_States.png A. J. Foyt
Image:22px-Flag_of_France.png Bob Wollek 		Image:22px-Flag_of_the_United_States.png Preston Henn Porsche 962 2197.817km IMSA GT Championship
1986 Image:22px-Flag_of_Germany.svg.png Hans-Joachim Stuck
Image:22px-Flag_of_Austria.png Jo Gartner
Image:22px-Flag_of_the_United_States.png Bob Akin 		Image:22px-Flag_of_the_United_States.png Bob Akin Motor Racing Porsche 962 2244.745km‡ IMSA GT Championship
1987 Image:22px-Flag_of_Germany.svg.png Jochen Mass
Image:22px-Flag_of_the_United_States.png Bobby Rahal 		Image:22px-Flag_of_the_United_States.png Bayside Disposal Racing Porsche 962 1971.092km IMSA GT Championship
1988 Image:22px-Flag_of_Germany.svg.png Klaus Ludwig
Image:22px-Flag_of_Germany.svg.png Hans-Joachim Stuck 		Image:22px-Flag_of_the_United_States.png Bayside Disposal Racing Porsche 962 2103.380km IMSA GT Championship
1989 Image:22px-Flag_of_Australia.svg.png Geoff Brabham
Image:22px-Flag_of_the_United_States.png Chip Robinson
Image:22px-Flag_of_the_Netherlands.svg.png Arie Luyendyk 		Image:22px-Flag_of_the_United_States.png Electramotive Engineering Nissan GTP ZX-Turbo 2182.753km IMSA GT Championship
1990 Image:22px-Flag_of_Ireland.png Derek Daly
Image:22px-Flag_of_the_United_States.png Bob Earl 		Image:22px-Flag_of_the_United_States.png Nissan Performance Technology Nissan GTP ZX-Turbo 1990.936km IMSA GT Championship
1991 Image:22px-Flag_of_Ireland.png Derek Daly
Image:22px-Flag_of_Australia.svg.png Geoff Brabham
Image:22px-Flag_of_Australia.svg.png Gary Brabham 		Image:22px-Flag_of_the_United_States.png Nissan Performance Technology Nissan NPT-90 1774.463km IMSA GT Championship
1992 Image:22px-Flag_of_Argentina.svg.png Juan Manuel Fangio II
Image:22px-Flag_of_the_United_Kingdom.png Andy Wallace 		Image:22px-Flag_of_the_United_States.png All American Racers Eagle MkIII-Toyota 2143.646km IMSA GT Championship
1993 Image:22px-Flag_of_Argentina.svg.png Juan Manuel Fangio II
Image:22px-Flag_of_the_United_Kingdom.png Andy Wallace 		Image:22px-Flag_of_the_United_States.png All American Racers Eagle MkIII-Toyota 1369.552km† IMSA GT Championship
1994 Image:22px-Flag_of_New_Zealand.png Steve Millen
Image:22px-Flag_of_the_United_States.png Johnny O'Connell
Image:22px-Flag_of_the_United_States.png John Morton 		Image:22px-Flag_of_the_United_States.png Clayton Cunningham Racing Nissan 300ZX 1947.145km IMSA GT Championship
1995 Image:22px-Flag_of_the_United_States.png Andy Evans
Image:22px-Flag_of_Spain.svg.png Fermín Vélez
Image:22px-Flag_of_Belgium_(civil).png Eric van de Poele 		Image:22px-Flag_of_the_United_States.png Scandia Motorsports Ferrari 333 SP 1548.189km† IMSA GT Championship
1996 Template:FlagiconZAF Wayne Taylor
Image:22px-Flag_of_the_United_States.png Jim Pace
Image:22px-Flag_of_Belgium_(civil).png Eric van de Poele 		Image:22px-Flag_of_the_United_States.png Doyle Racing Riley & Scott Mk III-Oldsmobile 1935.075km IMSA GT Championship
1997 Image:22px-Flag_of_the_United_States.png Andy Evans
Image:22px-Flag_of_Spain.svg.png Fermín Vélez
Image:22px-Flag_of_France.png Yannick Dalmas
Image:22px-Flag_of_Sweden.svg.png Stefan Johansson 		Image:22px-Flag_of_the_United_States.png Team Scandia Ferrari 333 SP 1628.012km† IMSA GT Championship
1998 Image:22px-Flag_of_Belgium_(civil).png Didier Theys
Gianpiero Moretti
Mauro Baldi 		Image:22px-Flag_of_the_United_States.png MOMO Doran Racing Ferrari 333 SP 1925.178km IMSA GT Championship
1999 Image:22px-Flag_of_Denmark.svg.png Tom Kristensen
Image:22px-Flag_of_Finland.png JJ Lehto
Image:22px-Flag_of_Germany.svg.png Jörg Müller 		Image:22px-Flag_of_Germany.png BMW Motorsport BMW V12 LMR 1863.781km American Le Mans Series
2000 Image:22px-Flag_of_Germany.svg.png Frank Biela
Image:22px-Flag_of_Denmark.svg.png Tom Kristensen
Emanuele Pirro 		Image:22px-Flag_of_Germany.png Audi Sport North America Audi R8 2143.646km American Le Mans Series
2001 Rinaldo Capello
Michele Alboreto
Image:22px-Flag_of_France.png Laurent Aïello 		Image:22px-Flag_of_Germany.png Audi Sport North America Audi R8 2203.192km American Le Mans Series
European Le Mans Series
2002 Rinaldo Capello
Christian Pescatori
Image:22px-Flag_of_the_United_Kingdom.png Johnny Herbert 		Image:22px-Flag_of_Germany.png Audi Sport North America Audi R8 2060.282km American Le Mans Series
2003 Image:22px-Flag_of_Germany.svg.png Frank Biela
Image:22px-Flag_of_Germany.svg.png Marco Werner
Image:22px-Flag_of_Austria.png Philipp Peter 		Image:22px-Flag_of_Germany.png Infineon Team Joest Audi R8 2185.328km American Le Mans Series
2004 Image:22px-Flag_of_the_United_Kingdom.png Allan McNish
Image:22px-Flag_of_Germany.svg.png Frank Biela
Image:22px-Flag_of_Germany.png Pierre Kaffer 		Image:22px-Flag_of_the_United_Kingdom.png Audi Sport UK Team Veloqx Audi R8 2084.101km American Le Mans Series
2005 Image:22px-Flag_of_Finland.png JJ Lehto
Image:22px-Flag_of_Germany.svg.png Marco Werner
Image:22px-Flag_of_Denmark.svg.png Tom Kristensen 		Image:22px-Flag_of_the_United_States.png ADT Champion Racing Audi R8 2149.601km American Le Mans Series
2006 Image:22px-Flag_of_Denmark.svg.png Tom Kristensen
Image:22px-Flag_of_the_United_Kingdom.png Allan McNish
Rinaldo Capello 		Image:22px-Flag_of_Germany.svg.png Audi Sport North America Audi R10 TDI
(Diesel) 		2078.145km American Le Mans Series
2007 Image:22px-Flag_of_Germany.svg.png Frank Biela
Emanuele Pirro
Image:22px-Flag_of_Germany.svg.png Marco Werner 		Image:22px-Flag_of_Germany.svg.png Audi Sport North America Audi R10 TDI
(Diesel) 		2165.8km American Le Mans Series
2008 Image:22px-Flag_of_Germany.svg.png Timo Bernhard
Image:22px-Flag_of_France.png Romain Dumas
Image:22px-Flag_of_France.png Emmanuel Collard 		Image:22px-Flag_of_the_United_States.png Penske Racing Porsche RS Spyder 2088.45km American Le Mans Series


† - 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.

‡ - Race record for most distance covered


External links

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