A brief history lesson in Sebring!
Ahead of the FIA WEC’s return to the Sebring International Raceway for SuperSebring, we decided to explore some of the circuit’s most iconic moments over the past 78 years…
1942: Hendricks Field opens near Sebring as an Army Air Force training base
1946: Hendricks Field deactivated and becomes Sebring Airport
1950: Alex Ulmann suggests Sebring Airport site for a sports car road race… on 31 December of that year, the first ever sports car endurance race is held in the USA at Sebring
1956: The legendary Fangio gives Ferrari its first Sebring win
1967: First major change made to the circuit as the Webster Turn is replaced with a chicane
1969: Last “Le Mans start” at Sebring
1974: Race cancelled due to “energy crisis”. Several thousand fans show up regardless to party!
1983: First major circuit change in 20 years as a new section bypasses airport runway
1984: Paddock expanded, increasing course length to 4.86 miles
1987: Revised track configuration results in new 4.11-mile course making Sebring a year-round circuit
1992: Sebring celebrates its 40th anniversary
1999: American Le Mans Series debuts at Sebring and new pit tower constructed
2002: Sebring Hall of Fame established
2009: The fastest Sebring 12 Hours ever as Audi wins in debut of the R15
2010: Peugeot breaks Audi’s eight-year Sebring win streak
2012: FIA WEC debuts at Sebring
2016: First rainfall during race in 19 years
2019: The first-ever SuperSebring: an FIA WEC/IMSA double-header
2020: TBC…
*With thanks to Sebring International Raceway and IMSA for the facts provided.