Red marquis at 09:47, 19 January 2007

2007-01-19T09:47:57Z

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The '''12 Hours of Sebring''' is an annual [[motorsport]] [[endurance race]] held at [[Sebring Raceway]], a former [[United States Air Force|Air Force]] base in [[Sebring, Florida]].

== History ==

The track opened in [[1950 in sports|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]].

The race has a rich history, as legendary drivers such as [[Stirling Moss]], [[Juan Manuel Fangio]], [[Jacky Ickx]], [[Briggs Cunningham]], [[Lake Underwood]], and [[Mario Andretti]] and manufacturers such as [[Ferrari]], [[Porsche]], [[BMW]], [[Jaguar (car)|Jaguar]], [[Briggs Cunningham|Cunningham]], and [[Ford Motor Company|Ford]] have all been victorious.

Since the [[24 Hours of Daytona]] are part of the [[Grand-Am]] only, the Sebring race is now the season opening event in the [[American Le Mans Series]]. 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 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 all-conquering [[Audi R8 Race Car|Audi R8]], one shy of the seven wins of the [[Porsche 935]] since 1978.

== The Event ==

Fans are allowed to camp inside the green of the race track, starting several days before the actual race. They can bear witness to many practice and qualification races, as well as a vintage race. There are several classes of tickets, anywhere from full-access to simply the (usually Saturday) actual race.

Within the track is a Midway, containing everything from souvenirs and official merchandise, to hot coffee and cold beer.

== Recent results ==

In 2005, the [[Chevrolet]] [[Chevrolet Corvette|Corvette]] C6R and [[Aston Martin]] DB9R made their race debut in the hotly contested GT1 class, with Aston Martin winning 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.

=== Overall Winners===
The very first race on [[New Year's Eve]] of [[1950]] was won by Frits Koster and Ralph Deshon in a [[Crosley]] Hot Shot [http://www.ggw.org/~cac/Sebring/Sebring.html]

{| class="wikitable"
|-
! Year
! Drivers
! Car
|-
| 1952
| {{flagicon|USA}} H. Gray / {{flagicon|USA}} L. Kulok
| [[Frazer-Nash]]
|-
| 1953
| {{flagicon|USA}} P. Walters / {{flagicon|USA}} J. Fitch
| [[Briggs Cunningham|Cunningham]] C4R
|-
| 1954
| {{flagicon|GBR}} [[Stirling Moss]] / {{flagicon|USA}} B. Lloyd
| [[Osca]] MT4
|-
| 1955
| {{flagicon|GBR}} [[Mike Hawthorn]] / {{flagicon|USA}} P. Walters
| [[Jaguar D-Type]]
|-
| 1956
| {{flagicon|ARG}} [[Juan Manuel Fangio]] / {{flagicon|ITA}} [[Eugenio Castellotti]]
| [[Ferrari Lampredi engine|Ferrari 860]]
|-
| 1957
| {{flagicon|FRA}} [[Jean Behra]] / {{flagicon|ARG}} [[Juan Manuel Fangio]]
| [[Maserati 450S]]
|-
| 1958
| {{flagicon|USA}} [[Phil Hill]] / {{flagicon|GBR}} [[Peter Collins (racing driver)|Peter Collins]]
| [[Ferrari 250]]
|-
| 1959
| {{flagicon|USA}} [[Dan Gurney]] / {{flagicon|USA}} [[Chuck Daigh]] / {{flagicon|USA}} [[Phil Hill]] / {{flagicon|BEL}} [[Olivier Gendebien]]
| [[Ferrari Lampredi engine|Ferrari 860]]
|-
| 1960
| {{flagicon|DEU}} [[Hans Herrmann]] / {{flagicon|BEL}} [[Olivier Gendebien]]
| [[Porsche 718]]
|-
| 1961
| {{flagicon|USA}} [[Phil Hill]] / {{flagicon|BEL}} [[Olivier Gendebien]]
| [[Ferrari TR]] 250
|-
| 1962
| {{flagicon|SWE}} [[Jo Bonnier]] / {{flagicon|BEL}} [[Lucien Bianchi]]
| [[Ferrari TR]] 250
|-
| 1963
| {{flagicon|GBR}} [[John Surtees]] / {{flagicon|ITA}} [[Ludovico Scarfiotti]]
| [[Ferrari P|Ferrari 250P]]
|-
| 1964
| {{flagicon|GBR}} [[Mike Parkes]] / {{flagicon|ITA}} [[Umberto Maglioli]]
| [[Ferrari P|Ferrari 275P]]
|-
| 1965
| {{flagicon|USA}} [[Jim Hall]] / {{flagicon|USA}} [[Hap Sharp]]
| [[Chaparral (car)|Chaparral 2]]
|-
| 1966
| {{flagicon|USA}} [[Ken Miles]] / {{flagicon|USA}} [[Lloyd Ruby]]
| [[Ford GT40|Ford X1]]
|-
| 1967
| {{flagicon|NZL}} [[Bruce McLaren]] / {{flagicon|USA}} [[Mario Andretti]]
| [[Ford GT40|Ford Mk IV]]
|-
| 1968
| {{flagicon|CHE}} [[Jo Siffert]] / {{flagicon|DEU}} [[Hans Herrmann]]
| [[Porsche 907]]
|-
| 1969
| {{flagicon|BEL}} [[Jacky Ickx]] / {{flagicon|GBR}} [[Jackie Oliver]]
| [[Ford GT40]]
|-
| 1970
| {{flagicon|ITA}} [[Ignazio Giunti]] / {{flagicon|ITA}} [[Nino Vaccarella]] / {{flagicon|USA}} [[Mario Andretti]]
| [[Ferrari 512]]S
|-
| 1971
| {{flagicon|GBR}} [[Vic Elford]] / {{flagicon|FRA}} [[Gérard Larrousse]]
| [[Porsche 917]]K
|-
| 1972
| {{flagicon|USA}} [[Mario Andretti]] / {{flagicon|BEL}} [[Jacky Ickx]]
| [[Ferrari 312]]PB
|-
| 1973
| {{flagicon|USA}} [[Hurley Haywood]] / {{flagicon|USA}} [[Peter H. Gregg]] / {{flagicon|USA}} D. Helmick
| [[Porsche 911]]
|-
| 1974
|colspan="2"| No race
|-
| 1975
| {{flagicon|GBR}} [[Brian Redman]] / {{flagicon|AUS}} [[Allan Moffat]] / {{flagicon|USA}} [[Sam Posey]] / {{flagicon|DEU}} [[Hans-Joachim Stuck]]
| [[BMW E9|BMW 3.0 CSL]]
|-
| 1976
| {{flagicon|USA}} [[Al Holbert]] / {{flagicon|USA}} M. Keyser
| [[Porsche 911]]
|-
| 1977
| {{flagicon|USA}} G. Dyer / {{flagicon|USA}} B. Frisselle
| [[Porsche 911]]
|-
| 1978
| {{flagicon|GBR}} [[Brian Redman]] / {{flagicon|USA}} C. Mendez / {{flagicon|USA}} B. Garretson
| [[Porsche 935]]
|-
| 1979
| {{flagicon|USA}} B. Akin / {{flagicon|USA}} R. McFarlin / {{flagicon|USA}} R. Woods
| [[Porsche 935]]
|-
| 1980
| {{flagicon|GBR}} [[John Fitzpatrick]] / {{flagicon|USA}} [[Dick Barbour]]
| [[Porsche 935]]
|-
| 1981
| {{flagicon|USA}} B. Leven / {{flagicon|USA}} [[Hurley Haywood]] / {{flagicon|USA}} [[Al Holbert]]
| [[Porsche 935]]
|-
| 1982
| {{flagicon|USA}} [[John Paul, Sr.]] / {{flagicon|USA}} [[John Paul, Jr.]]
| [[Porsche 935]]
|-
| 1983
| {{flagicon|USA}} W. Baker / {{flagicon|USA}} J. Mullen / {{flagicon|USA}} K. Nierop
| [[Porsche 934]]
|-
| 1984
| {{flagicon|COL}} [[Mauricio de Narvaez|M. de Narvaez]] / {{flagicon|DEU}} [[Hans Heyer]] / {{flagicon|SWE}} [[Stefan Johansson]]
| [[Porsche 935]]
|-
| 1985
| {{flagicon|USA}} [[A. J. Foyt]] / {{flagicon|FRA}} [[Bob Wollek]]
| [[Porsche 962]]
|-
| 1986
| {{flagicon|DEU}} [[Hans-Joachim Stuck]] / {{flagicon|AUT}} [[Jo Gartner]] / {{flagicon|USA}} B. Akin
| [[Porsche 962]]
|-
| 1987
| {{flagicon|DEU}} [[Jochen Mass]] / {{flagicon|USA}} [[Bobby Rahal]]
| [[Porsche 962]]
|-
| 1988
| {{flagicon|DEU}} [[Klaus Ludwig]] / {{flagicon|DEU}} [[Hans-Joachim Stuck]]
| [[Porsche 962]]
|-
| 1989
| {{flagicon|AUS}} [[Geoff Brabham]] / {{flagicon|USA}} [[Chip Robinson]] / {{flagicon|NLD}} [[Arie Luyendyk]]
| [[Nissan Motors|Nissan GTP]]
|-
| 1990
| {{flagicon|IRL}} [[Derek Daly]] / {{flagicon|USA}} B. Earl
| [[Nissan Motors|Nissan GTP]]
|-
| 1991
| {{flagicon|IRL}} [[Derek Daly]] / {{flagicon|AUS}} [[Geoff Brabham]] / {{flagicon|AUS}} [[Gary Brabham]]
| [[Nissan Motors|Nissan NPT-90]]
|-
| 1992
| {{flagicon|ARG}} [[Juan Manuel Fangio II]] / {{flagicon|GBR}} [[Andy Wallace (racer)|Andy Wallace]]
| [[All American Racers|Eagle Mk III]]
|-
| 1993
| {{flagicon|ARG}} [[Juan Manuel Fangio II]] / {{flagicon|GBR}} [[Andy Wallace (racer)|Andy Wallace]]
| [[All American Racers|Eagle Mk III]]
|-
| 1994
| {{flagicon|NZL}} [[Steve Millen]] / {{flagicon|USA}} [[Johnny O'Connell]] / {{flagicon|USA}} [[John Morton (racing)|John Morton]]
| [[Nissan 300ZX]]
|-
| 1995
| {{flagicon|USA}} [[Andy Evans]] / {{flagicon|ESP}} [[Fermín Velez]] / {{flagicon|BEL}} [[Eric van de Poele]]
| [[Ferrari 333 SP]]
|-
| 1996
| {{flagicon|ZAF}} [[Wayne Taylor]] / {{flagicon|USA}} [[Jim Pace]] / {{flagicon|BEL}} [[Eric van de Poele]]
| [[Riley & Scott]] Mk III
|-
| 1997
| {{flagicon|USA}} [[Andy Evans]] / {{flagicon|ESP}} [[Fermín Velez]] / {{flagicon|FRA}} [[Yannick Dalmas]] / {{flagicon|SWE}} [[Stefan Johansson]]
| [[Ferrari 333 SP]]
|-
| 1998
| {{flagicon|BEL}} [[Didier Theys]] / {{flagicon|ITA}} [[Gianpiero Moretti]] / {{flagicon|ITA}} [[Mauro Baldi]]
| [[Ferrari 333 SP]]
|-
| 1999
| {{flagicon|DNK}} [[Tom Kristensen (race driver)|Tom Kristensen]] / {{flagicon|FIN}} [[Jyrki Jarvilehto|JJ Lehto]] / {{flagicon|DEU}} [[Jörg Müller]]
| [[BMW V12]] LMR
|-
| 2000
| {{flagicon|DEU}} [[Frank Biela]] / {{flagicon|DNK}} [[Tom Kristensen (race driver)|Tom Kristensen]] / {{flagicon|ITA}} [[Emanuele Pirro]]
| [[Audi R8 Race Car|Audi R8]]
|-
| 2001
| {{flagicon|ITA}} [[Rinaldo Capello]] / {{flagicon|ITA}} [[Michele Alboreto]] / {{flagicon|FRA}} [[Laurent Aïello]]
| [[Audi R8 Race Car|Audi R8]]
|-
| 2002
| {{flagicon|ITA}} [[Rinaldo Capello]] / {{flagicon|ITA}} [[Christian Pescatori]] / {{flagicon|GBR}} [[Johnny Herbert]]
| [[Audi R8 Race Car|Audi R8]]
|-
| 2003
| {{flagicon|DEU}} [[Frank Biela]] / {{flagicon|DEU}} [[Marco Werner]] / {{flagicon|AUT}} [[Philipp Peter]]
| [[Audi R8 Race Car|Audi R8]]
|-
| 2004
| {{flagicon|GBR}} [[Allan McNish]] / {{flagicon|DEU}} [[Frank Biela]] / {{flagicon|CHE}} [[Pierre Kaffer]]
| [[Audi R8 Race Car|Audi R8]]
|-
| 2005
| {{flagicon|FIN}} [[Jyrki Jarvilehto|JJ Lehto]] / {{flagicon|DEU}} [[Marco Werner]] / {{flagicon|DNK}} [[Tom Kristensen (race driver)|Tom Kristensen]]
| [[Audi R8 Race Car|Audi R8]]
|-
| 2006
| {{flagicon|DNK}} [[Tom Kristensen (race driver)|Tom Kristensen]] / {{flagicon|GBR}} [[Allan McNish]] / {{flagicon|ITA}} [[Rinaldo Capello]]
| [[Audi R10]] [[Diesel]]
|}

== External links ==
*[http://www.sebringraceway.com/ Official Homepage]
*[http://www.project-lemans.de German Page]
*[http://www.wspr-racing.com/wspr/results/wscc/nf_ms_home.html Results in WSC]

[[Category:Sports car racing]]
[[Category:Auto races]]

12 Hours of Sebring - Revision history

Red marquis at 09:47, 19 January 2007