10
SEBRING HISTORY
Sebring International Raceway is America’s oldest road racing circuit. Originating
from a World War II military base, it hosted the first 12-hour classic in 1952.
Founder Alec Ulmann built Sebring into one of America’s greatest racing traditions,
second only to Le Mans in international sports car racing prestige. Below
are some historical highlights of Sebring International Raceway.
1942 — Hendricks Field opens near Sebring as an Army Air Force training
base.
1946 — Hendricks Field deactivated and becomes Sebring Airport
1950 — Alec Ulmann suggests Sebring Airport site for a sports car road race
… Sam Collier 6 Hour Memorial race held on December 31 is first racing
event ever held at Sebring and the first sports car endurance race
held in the U.S.
1952 — First 12 Hours of Sebring race held on March 15.
1953 — The 12 Hours of Sebring is the first event of the new FIA sports car
world championship. A Chrysler-powered Cunningham wins, giving
America its first international sports car victory.
1954 — Stunning upset as an OSCA co-driven by Stirling Moss wins.
1955 — Jaguar wins controversial race.
1956 — The legendary Fangio gives Ferrari its first Sebring win.
1957 — Fangio wins his second consecutive Sebring race, this time driving for
Maserati.
1959 — Sebring hosts first ever Formula One race in the U.S. in December.
1960 — Porsche wins its first major endurance race at Sebring.
1964 — Ferrari wins fourth consecutive Sebring race; Carroll Shelby’s Cobras
dominate the GT class.
1965 — First American car to win Sebring in over a decade as Chevrolet
Chaparral wins with Hap Sharp and Jim Hall driving.
1966 — Sebring hosts first Trans-Am race … Tragedy strikes as four spectators
are killed in an incident at Webster Turn… Dan Gurney’s Ford, leading
with two minutes left, stops on course. As he tries to push the car across
the finish line, the Miles/Ruby Ford passes him in the final minute.
1967 — Promoter Alec Ulmann announces the race will be moved to a new
circuit in West Palm Beach. Two months later he changes his mind …
First major change made to the circuit as the Webster Turn is replaced
with a chicane.
1968 — Trans-Am race included within the 12-hour race.
1969 — Last “Le Mans start" at Sebring.
1970 — Mario Andretti gives Ferrari a thrilling 22-second victory over actor
Steve McQueen and Peter Revson in a Porsche.
1972 — Ulmann announces this will be last Sebring race.
1973 — Sebring revived by John Bishop and Reggie Smith under IMSA sanction.
1974 — Race canceled due to “energy crisis.” Several thousand fans show up
anyway to party.
1975 — Race revived with John Greenwood as promoter … BMW records its
first Sebring victory.