Sebring International Raceway
{{Short description|Motorsport track in the United States}}
{{Use mdy dates|date=June 2013}}
{{Infobox motorsport venue
| Name = Sebring International Raceway{{cite web |title=Sebring - RacingCircuits.info |url=https://www.racingcircuits.info/north-america/usa/sebring.html |access-date=17 March 2023}}
| Location = Highlands County, east of
Sebring, Florida, U.S.
| Time = UTC-05:00 (UTC-04:00 DST)
| Logo = Sebring International Raceway logo (2021).svg
| Image = 275px
| Image_caption = Grand Prix Road Course (1999–present)
| Opened = {{Start date and age|df=no|1950|12|31}}
| FIAGrade = 2
| Owner = NASCAR via IMSA Holdings, LLC{{Cite web |url=https://sports.yahoo.com/news/nascar-makes-big-purchase-plans-merger-fan-reaction-121900600--nascar.html/ |title=NASCAR Makes Big Purchase and Plans Merger: A Fan's Reaction |access-date=January 15, 2017 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140322000807/http://sports.yahoo.com/news/nascar-makes-big-purchase-plans-merger-fan-reaction-121900600--nascar.html |archive-date=March 22, 2014 |url-status=dead |df=mdy-all}}
| Operator = Sebring International Raceway, LLC
| Events = Current:
IMSA WeatherTech SportsCar Championship
12 Hours of Sebring (1950–present)
GT World Challenge America
(2001–2009, 2021–present)
Trans-Am Series
(1966–1968, 1999–2001, 2011, 2013–present)
Former:
FIA WEC
1000 Miles of Sebring (2019, 2022–2023)
Formula One
United States Grand Prix (1959)
FIA GT (1997)
| Capacity = open seating without capacity limitation
| Layout1 = GP Road Course (8th variation) (1999–present)
| Miles_first = True
| Surface = Asphalt/Concrete
| Length_km = 6.019
| Length_mi = 3.741
| Turns = 17
| Record_time = 1:41.800
| Record_driver = {{flagicon|JPN}} Kamui Kobayashi
| Record_car = Toyota TS050 Hybrid
| Record_year = 2019
| Record_class = LMP1
| Layout2 = School Circuit (1998–present)
| Length_km2 = 3.219
| Length_mi2 = 2.000
| Turns2 = 9
| Record_time2 =
| Record_driver2 =
| Record_car2 =
| Record_year2 =
| Record_class2 =
| Layout3 = Johnson Club Circuit (1998–present)
| Length_km3 = 2.736
| Length_mi3 = 1.700
| Turns3 = 13
| Record_time3 =
| Record_driver3 =
| Record_car3 =
| Record_year3 =
| Record_class3 =
| Layout4 = 7th variation (1996–1998)
| Length_km4 = 5.794
| Length_mi4 = 3.600
| Turns4 = 13
| Record_time4 = 1:51.867
| Record_driver4 = {{flagicon|ITA}} Andrea Montermini
| Record_car4 = Ferrari 333 SP
| Record_year4 = 1997
| Record_class4 = WSC
| Layout5 = 6th variation (1991–1995)
| Length_km5 = 5.954
| Length_mi5 = 3.700
| Turns5 = 18
| Record_time5 = 1:49.616
| Record_driver5 = {{flagicon|AUS}} Geoff Brabham
| Record_car5 = Nissan NPT-91 A
| Record_year5 = 1992
| Record_class5 = IMSA GTP
| Layout6 = 5th variation (1987–1990)
| Length_km6 = 6.614
| Length_mi6 = 4.110
| Turns6 = 17
| Record_time6 = 1:58.582
| Record_driver6 = {{flagicon|AUS}} Geoff Brabham
| Record_car6 = Nissan GTP ZX-Turbo
| Record_year6 = 1990
| Record_class6 = IMSA GTP
| Layout7 = 4th variation (1984–1986)
| Length_km7 = 7.821
| Length_mi7 = 4.860
| Turns7 = 17
| Record_time7 = 2:13.857
| Record_driver7 = {{flagicon|GBR}} Derek Bell
| Record_car7 = Porsche 962
| Record_year7 = 1986
| Record_class7 = IMSA GTP
| Layout8 = 3rd variation (1983)
| Length_km8 = 7.644
| Length_mi8 = 4.750
| Turns8 = 16
| Record_time8 = 2:12.750
| Record_driver8 = {{flagicon|USA}} Bill Whittington
| Record_car8 = March 83G
| Record_year8 = 1983
| Record_class8 = IMSA GTP
| Layout9 = 2nd variation (1967–1982)
| Length_km9 = 8.369
| Length_mi9 = 5.200
| Turns9 = 17
| Record_time9 = 2:28.630
| Record_driver9 = {{flagicon|USA}} John Paul Jr.
| Record_car9 = Porsche 935
| Record_year9 = 1981
| Record_class9 = IMSA GTP
| Layout10 = Original short road course (1969–1970)
| Length_km10 = 3.540
| Length_mi10 = 2.200
| Turns10 = 5
| Record_time10 = 1:04.800
| Record_driver10= {{flagicon|GBR}} David Hobbs
| Record_car10 = Surtees TS5
| Record_year10 = 1969
| Record_class10 = F5000
| Layout11 = 1st variation (1952–1966)
| Length_km11 = 8.356
| Length_mi11 = 5.192
| Turns11 = 17
| Record_time11 = 2:54.800
| Record_driver11= {{flagicon|USA}} Dan Gurney
| Record_car11 = Ford GT40 Mk.II
| Record_year11 = 1966
| Record_class11 = Group 4
| Layout12 = Original circuit (1950–1951)
| Length_km12 = 5.632
| Length_mi12 = 3.500
| Turns12 = 12
| Record_time12 =
| Record_driver12=
| Record_car12 =
| Record_year12 =
| Record_class12 =
}}
Sebring International Raceway is a road course auto racing facility in the southeastern United States, located near Sebring, Florida.
Sebring Raceway is one of the oldest continuously operating race tracks in the U.S., its first race being run in 1950. Sebring is one of the classic race tracks in North American sports car racing,{{Cite web |title=Sebring, Florida: Avon Park, Sebring and Lake Placid |url=https://visitsebring.com/sebring-international-raceway/history/ |access-date=2023-01-09 |website=Visit Sebring |language=en}} and plays host to the 12 Hours of Sebring.
The raceway occupies a portion of Sebring Regional Airport (an active airport for private and commercial traffic that was originally built as Hendricks Army Airfield, which was a World War II training base for the United States Army Air Forces).
History
File:Sebring International Raceway logo (1998).svg
Sebring Raceway occupies the site of Hendricks Army Airfield (a training base for B-17 pilots in operation from 1941 to 1946), in the middle of southern Florida, {{cvt|70|mi|km|adj=on}} south and southeast respectively of Orlando and Tampa, and {{cvt|140|mi|km|adj=on}} northwest of Miami. After the war, Russian-American aeronautical engineer Alec Ulmann{{cite web|url=https://www.nytimes.com/1986/04/26/obituaries/alec-ulmann-is-dead-at-82-pioneer-in-sports-car-racing.html|title=Alec Ulmann Is Dead at 82; Pioneer in Sports Car Racing|date=April 26, 1986|work=The New York Times|access-date=January 16, 2017|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170821090436/http://www.nytimes.com/1986/04/26/obituaries/alec-ulmann-is-dead-at-82-pioneer-in-sports-car-racing.html|archive-date=August 21, 2017|url-status=live|df=mdy-all}} was seeking sites for converting military aircraft to civilian use when he discovered potential in Hendricks' runways and service roads to stage a sports car endurance race similar to the 24 Hours of Le Mans, a race Ulmann was inspired to somewhat re-create in the United States. Sebring's first race was held on New Year's Eve of 1950, attracting thirty race cars from across North America.{{cite web |url=http://www.ggw.org/~cac/Sebring/Sebring.html |title=Forgotten History: The First Sebring Race 12/31/1950 |access-date=2004-11-08 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20041011232630/http://ggw.org/~cac/Sebring/Sebring.html |archive-date=October 11, 2004 |df=mdy-all }}{{Cite web |title=Sebring, Florida: Avon Park, Sebring and Lake Placid |url=https://visitsebring.com/sebring-international-raceway/history/ |access-date=2023-01-09 |website=Visit Sebring |language=en}} The Sam Collier 6 Hour Memorial race was won by Frits Koster and Ralph Deshon in a Crosley Hot Shot that had been driven to the track by Victor Sharpe.
The first 12 Hours of Sebring was held on March 15, 1952, shortly growing into a major international race. In 1959, the track hosted the U.S.' first Formula One race (the successor to historic European Grand Prix motor racing), held as that year's instalment of the historic United States Grand Prix competition (although the Indianapolis 500 was an official part of the Formula One World Championship from 1950 to 1960, the 500 was never considered a true Grand Prix by the European and British based teams who largely ignored it at the time). However poor attendance and high costs relocated the next U.S. Grand Prix to Riverside International Raceway in southern California.{{cite web|url=http://www.ddavid.com/formula1/usgp.htm|title=History of Formula 1 - The United States Grand Prix (USGP)|work=ddavid.com|access-date=January 16, 2017|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120716191241/http://www.ddavid.com/formula1/usgp.htm|archive-date=July 16, 2012|url-status=live|df=mdy-all}}
Image:12HoursofSebring2008PressBox.jpg
For much of Sebring's history, the track followed a {{convert|5.200|mi|km|abbr=on}} layout. After a disastrous 1966 12 Hours with five fatalities, the track was widened in parts and also lengthened a total of {{convert|50|yd|m|abbr=on}} for 1967 with the removal of the Webster Turn between the hairpin and the top of the track and replacement with the faster Green Park Chicane, further down the track. This was closer to the hairpin and allowed a flat-out run through a very fast corner to the top of the track and the runway. This was done to move the track off the dangerous Warehouse Straight and the warehouses, hangars and airplanes flanking it; a crash during that 1966 12 Hours involved a privately-entered Porsche that went into one of the warehouses (this area was off-limits to non-track personnel) and into a crowd, killing four spectators.
The circuit was changed and shortened in 1983 to allow simultaneous use of the track and one of the runways, and major changes in 1987 allowed use of another runway. Further changes in 1991 accommodated expansion of the airport's facilities, allowing the entire track to be used without interfering with normal airport operations and bringing it close to its current configuration. The hairpin was removed in 1997 due to a lack of run-off, and replaced with what became known as the "safety pin". Gendebien Bend was also re-profiled to slow the cars' entry to the Ullman straight.[http://www.sebringraceway.com/history_evolution.lasso 12 Hours of Sebring] {{webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20070310195043/http://www.sebringraceway.com/history_evolution.lasso |date=March 10, 2007 }}
File:Final Hours of Sebring 2011.tif
The track is currently owned by IMSA Holdings, LLC through its subsidiary Sebring International Raceway, LLC via its purchase of the Panoz MSG in September 2012.{{Cite web |url=https://sports.yahoo.com/news/nascar-makes-big-purchase-plans-merger-fan-reaction-121900600--nascar.html |title=NASCAR Makes Big Purchase and Plans Merger: A Fan's Reaction |access-date=January 15, 2017 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140322000807/http://sports.yahoo.com/news/nascar-makes-big-purchase-plans-merger-fan-reaction-121900600--nascar.html |archive-date=March 22, 2014 |url-status=dead |df=mdy-all }} It is currently leased by the Sebring International Raceway, LLC, which acquired the facility from Andy Evans in 1997.{{cite web|url=http://www.theautochannel.com/news/date/19980113/news009158.html|title=The TACH Report: USRRC Announces '98 Sched, Panoz Buys Sebring From Andy Evans, GM Has New Longer Range Battery For EVs.|work=theautochannel.com|access-date=January 16, 2017|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20161018211149/http://www.theautochannel.com/news/date/19980113/news009158.html|archive-date=October 18, 2016|url-status=live|df=mdy-all}}
The track is often recognized for its famous, high-speed "Turn 17",{{citation needed|date=January 2017}} a long, bumpy, fast right-hander that can make or break a car's speed down the front straight. The corner can fit up to three cars wide.
Skip Barber Racing School held numerous programs at the facility, including a scholarship opportunity for young racers.
From 2019 to 2023 (with no races run in 2020 or 2021 due to the COVID-19 pandemic), the World Endurance Championship ran a round called the 1000 Miles of Sebring, run concurrently with the famed 12 Hours. The first race in 2019 was won by Toyota Gazoo Racing. When the event returned after the pandemic in 2022 it was won by the French Alpine Elf Team. Toyota then won their second race at Sebring in 2023. The FIA dropped the race from the WEC calendar in 2024 and 2025, its place being taken by the Lone Star Le Mans race at the Circuit of the Americas in Austin, Texas..
On October 30, 2021, the first-ever 24-hour race at Sebring took place, hosted by the World Racing League, an amateur endurance championship series, with W2W Racing winning the overall race by four laps on the field in their #983 Porsche Motorsports type 981 Cayman GT4 Clubsport MR.{{citation needed|date=April 2024}}
Track configuration
File:2018 12 Hours of Sebring Sunset Bend.jpg.]]
Sebring International Raceway consists of three tracks: the Full Circuit, the Short Circuit, and the Club Circuit. The course of the track itself is {{convert|3.741|mi|km|abbr=on}} long. It is a seventeen-turn road course with long straights, several high-speed corners, and very technical slower corners. Many of the turns and points along the track are named for the early teams and drivers. Due to Florida's flat nature there is very little elevation change around the track and little camber on the surface, providing a challenging track for drivers, especially when it rains.
Sebring is renowned for its rough, bumpy and changing surfaces. The course still runs on old sections of World War II-era landing fields that were constructed of concrete sections with large seams. The transitions between sections are quite rough and often, sparks fly from the undercarriages of the cars as they traverse them. Much of the track has intentionally been left with its original concrete runway surface. The 12 Hours of Sebring is renowned as a race that is even harder on machinery and drivers than Le Mans, and is seen as an ideal preparation run for the famed French race.
The track surface has {{convert|3.04|mi|km|abbr=on}} of asphalt and {{convert|0.7|mi|km|abbr=on}} of concrete. Mario Andretti, a 3-time 12 Hours winner, said that one of the hardest parts about the original Sebring track was "finding the track to begin with." There had been many accounts of drivers retiring due to accidents at night, quite simply because they got lost on the runway sections and couldn't find the track again. Some drivers got lost even during the day, mostly because the track was poorly marked down with white lines and cones.[http://www.sebringraceway.com/track_test.lasso About Sebring Raceway] {{webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20070303095334/http://www.sebringraceway.com/track_test.lasso |date=March 3, 2007 }}
=Layout history=
{{Gallery
| title = Sebring International Raceway Layout History
| align = center
| footer =
| style = text-align:center;
| mode = packed
| File:Sebring International Raceway - Historical (1952).svg
| The track layout from 1952 to 1966 (1st variation)
| File:Sebring 1967-1982.png
| The track layout from 1967 to 1982 (2nd variation)
| File:Sebring 1987-1990.png
| The track layout from 1987 to 1990 (5th variation)
| File:Sebring International Raceway.svg
| The track layout from 1999 (8th variation)
}}
Events
Sebring is most notable for hosting the 12 Hours of Sebring, sanctioned by the FIA and IMSA, as part of many major endurance racing series, including the World Sportscar Championship, Intercontinental Le Mans Cup, ALMS, and now, the WeatherTech SportsCar Championship. This race is the second of four races in the Michelin Endurance Cup. It has also hosted the final round of the 24H Series in 2021.
The track also hosts the Legends of Motorsport and Historic Sportscar Racing series, and is the winter home of the Skip Barber Racing School. Many IndyCar, sports prototype, and Grand Touring teams use Sebring for winter testing due to the warm climate.
The track is used numerous times each year by the Sports Car Club of America (SCCA) and the National Auto Sport Association (NASA) for amateur events that draw participants from all over the country.
IndyCar regularly holds tests at the top half of the facility to simulate street circuits on its calendar.
=Current events=
- January: SCCA Super Tour
- February: Trans-Am Series Sebring SpeedTour, Sportscar Vintage Racing Association
- March: IMSA WeatherTech SportsCar Championship 12 Hours of Sebring, Michelin Pilot Challenge, Porsche Carrera Cup North America, Lamborghini Super Trofeo North America, IMSA Ford Mustang Challenge, Porsche Sprint Challenge North America, Historic Sportscar Racing Sebring Spring Fling
- May: GT World Challenge America, GT America Series, GT4 America Series, TC America Series, Toyota Gazoo Racing Cup North America
- June: ChampCar Endurance Series
- December: Historic Sportscar Racing Sebring Pistons and Props, ChampCar Endurance Series
=Former events=
- 24H Series
- 24 Hours of Sebring (2021)
- American Le Mans Series (1999–2013)
- Barber Pro Series (1992–2002)
- Ferrari Challenge North America (2019–2020)
- FIA GT Championship
- Sebring 3 Hours (1997)
- FIA World Endurance Championship
- 12 Hours of Sebring (2012)
- 1000 Miles of Sebring (2019, 2022–2023)
- Florida Winter Series (2014)
- Formula 4 United States Championship (2019–2020)
- Formula One
- United States Grand Prix (1959)
- Formula Regional Americas Championship (2019–2020)
- Global MX-5 Cup (2012–2014, 2021, 2024)
- IMSA GT Championship (1973, 1975–1998)
- IMSA VP Racing SportsCar Challenge (2023)
- IMSA WeatherTech SportsCar Championship
- Grand Prix of Sebring (2020)
- Lamborghini Super Trofeo World Final (2015)
- LATAM Challenge Series (2014)
- SCCA Continental Championship (1969–1970)
- Sprint Race Brasil (2019)
- USF2000 Championship (1999, 2001–2004, 2011–2013, 2023)
- USF Juniors (2023)
- USF Pro 2000 Championship (1999, 2001–2010, 2023)
- World Sportscar Championship (1953–1972, 1981)
Lap records
As of May 2025, the fastest official race lap records at the Sebring International Raceway for different classes are listed as:
Sebring in pop culture
Sebring Raceway is featured in the video games rFactor 2,{{cite web|url=https://www.studio-397.com/2018/07/sebring/|title=Sebring International Raceway Release|date=July 27, 2018 |df=mdy-all}}Pitstop II, iRacing,{{cite web|url=http://www.iracing.com/tracks/sebring-international-raceway/|title=Sebring International Raceway - iRacing.com Motorsport Simulations|work=iracing.com|access-date=January 16, 2017|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20161223034043/http://www.iracing.com/tracks/sebring-international-raceway/|archive-date=December 23, 2016|url-status=live|df=mdy-all}} The Crew, Forza Motorsport 2, Forza Motorsport 3, Forza Motorsport 4,{{cite web |title=Forza Motorsport 4 - Tracks - Sebring International Raceway |url=http://www.forzamotorsport.net/en-us/games/fm4/tracks/sebring_international_raceway |website=Forza |access-date=27 December 2018}} Forza Motorsport 5,{{cite web|url=http://www.forzamotorsport.net/en-us/games/fm5/tracks/sebring_international_raceway|title=Forza Motorsport 5 - Tracks - Sebring International Raceway|work=forzamotorsport.net|access-date=January 16, 2017|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20161021042359/http://www.forzamotorsport.net/en-us/games/fm5/tracks/sebring_international_raceway|archive-date=October 21, 2016|url-status=live|df=mdy-all}} Forza Motorsport 6,{{cite web|url=http://www.forzamotorsport.net/en-us/games/fm6/tracks/sebring_international_raceway|title=Forza Motorsport 6 - Tracks - Sebring International Raceway|work=forzamotorsport.net|access-date=January 16, 2017|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20161020204402/http://www.forzamotorsport.net/en-us/games/fm6/tracks/sebring_international_raceway|archive-date=October 20, 2016|url-status=live|df=mdy-all}} Forza Motorsport 7, Forza Motorsport (2023), Le Mans Ultimate,{{Cite web |title=Sebring |url=https://lemansultimate.com/circuit/sebring/ |access-date=2024-03-16 |website=Le Mans Ultimate |language=en-US}} Total Immersion Racing{{cite web |last1=Strohm |first1=Axel |title=Total Immersion Racing update |url=http://www.gamespot.com/articles/total-immersion-racing-update/1100-2874055/ |website=GameSpot |access-date=27 December 2018 |date=17 May 2006}} and Sports Car GT.{{cite web |url=http://imagespaceinc.com/products/sports-car-gt/ |title=Sports Car GT |access-date=2014-09-19 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140920222202/http://imagespaceinc.com/products/sports-car-gt/ |archive-date=September 20, 2014 |df=mdy-all }} There are also end-user created versions for rFactor,{{Cite web |url=https://www.rfactorcentral.com/detail.cfm?ID=Sebring%2012h |title=Sebring |access-date=March 19, 2018 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180319214247/https://www.rfactorcentral.com/detail.cfm?ID=Sebring%2012h |archive-date=March 19, 2018 |url-status=live |df=mdy-all }} GTR2, GTR Evolution, GT Legends, Grand Prix Legends and NASCAR Racing 2003 Season. In board gaming, Sebring was also featured in the first expansion for the Formula D board game by Asmodee games. People have also recreated this track using the course maker in Gran Turismo 6. It is intended to be in Grand Theft Auto VI as the "Gellhorn International Raceway"
Notes
{{notelist}}
References
{{Reflist}}
External links
{{Commons category}}
- {{Official website|http://www.sebringraceway.com/}}
- [http://www.racingcircuits.info/north-america/usa/sebring/ Map and circuit history at RacingCircuits.info] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210121015728/http://www.racingcircuits.info/north-america/usa/sebring/ |date=January 21, 2021 }}
- [http://www.na-motorsports.com/Tracks/FL/Sebring.html A drivers description of the various track configurations]
- [http://www.trackpedia.com/wiki/Sebring_International_Raceway Trackpedia guide to Sebring] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20131023235002/http://www.trackpedia.com/wiki/Sebring_International_Raceway |date=October 23, 2013 }}
- [https://web.archive.org/web/20090429122157/http://www.audiotrackguides.co.uk/ Audio walk-through of the track, for use with games]
{{Coord|27.455|-81.35|region:US_type:landmark|display=title}}
{{FIA WEC circuits}}
{{Circuits of United SportsCar Racing}}
{{Pirelli World Challenge circuits}}
{{Trans-Am tracks}}
{{IMSA Prototype Challenge racetracks}}
{{Formula One circuits}}
{{24H Series circuits}}
{{F3 Americas Championship circuits}}
{{United States Formula 4 Championship circuits}}
{{Global MX-5 Cup tracks}}
{{Lamborghini Super Trofeo North America circuits}}
{{Lamborghini Super Trofeo Europe circuits}}
{{World Sportscar Championship circuits}}
{{FIA GT circuits}}
{{IMSA GT circuits}}
{{ALMS circuits}}
{{Barber Pro Series tracks}}
{{LATAM Challenge Series racetracks}}
{{NASCAR Brasil racetracks}}
{{Authority control}}
Category:Motorsport venues in Florida
Category:Panoz Auto Development
Category:Buildings and structures in Sebring, Florida
Category:American Le Mans Series circuits
Category:IMSA GT Championship circuits
Category:United States Grand Prix
Category:Tourist attractions in Highlands County, Florida
Category:1950 establishments in Florida