Sebring International Raceway facts for kids
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| Location | Highlands County, east of Sebring, Florida, U.S. |
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| Time zone | UTC-5 (UTC-4 DST) |
| Capacity | open seating without capacity limitation |
| Owner | NASCAR via IMSA Holdings, LLC |
| Operator | Sebring International Raceway, LLC |
| Opened | 1950 |
| Major events | IMSA WeatherTech SportsCar Championship 12 Hours of Sebring FIA World Endurance Championship 1000 Miles of Sebring |
| GP Road Course (6th variation) (1999–present) | |
| Surface | Asphalt/Concrete |
| Length | 3.74 mi (6.02 km) |
| Turns | 17 |
| Race lap record | 1:41.800 (#7, Toyota Gazoo Racing, 2019, LMP1) |
| Club Road Course | |
| Length | 1.703 mi (2.74 km) |
| 5th variation (1991–1998) | |
| Length | 3.722 mi (5.99 km) |
| Turns | 18 |
| Race lap record | 1:49.425 (Stefan Johansson, Yannick Dalmas, Ferrari, 1997, LMP1) |
| 4th variation (1987–1990) | |
| Length | 4.109 mi (6.612 km) |
| Turns | 17 |
| Race lap record | 1:55.767 (Derek Daly, Nissan, 1990, IMSA) |
| 3rd variation (1983–1986) | |
| Length | 4.86 mi (7.821 km) |
| Turns | 17 |
| Race lap record | 2:11.416 (Derek Bell, Porsche 962, 1986, IMSA) |
| 2nd variation (1967–1982) | |
| Length | 5.195 mi (8.36 km) |
| Turns | 17 |
| Race lap record | 2:27.067 (Bobby Rahal, March, 1982, IMSA) |
| 1st variation (1952–1966) | |
| Length | 5.192 mi (8.356 km) |
| Turns | 17 |
| Race lap record | 2:54.6 (Dan Gurney, Ford, 1966, WSC) |
| Original circuit (1950–1951) | |
| Length | 3.3 mi (5.31 km) |
| Turns | 12 |
Sebring International Raceway is a famous auto racing track in Florida, United States. It is known for its long history and challenging course. The track is located near the town of Sebring, Florida.
Sebring Raceway is one of the oldest race tracks in the U.S. that is still used today. Its first race happened in 1950. It is a classic track for sports car racing in North America. Sebring is also home to the exciting 12 Hours of Sebring race.
The raceway is part of the Sebring Regional Airport. This airport is still active for private and commercial planes. It was originally built as a training base for pilots during World War II.
Contents
Sebring's Racing History
Sebring Raceway was once a military airfield called Hendricks Army Airfield. It was used to train B-17 pilots from 1941 to 1946. After the war, an engineer named Alec Ulmann saw a chance to use the runways for car races. He wanted to create an endurance race like the famous 24 Hours of Le Mans in France.
The first race at Sebring was held on New Year's Eve in 1950. Thirty race cars from all over North America competed. The first 12 Hours of Sebring race took place on March 15, 1952. This race quickly became a major international event.
In 1959, Sebring hosted the first Formula One race in the U.S. This was part of the historic United States Grand Prix. However, not many people came, and the costs were high. So, the next U.S. Grand Prix moved to Riverside International Raceway in California.
How the Track Changed Over Time
For many years, the Sebring track was about 5.2 miles (8.4 km) long. After a difficult 12 Hours race in 1966, the track was made wider in some areas. It was also made slightly longer in 1967. Changes were made to move the track away from dangerous areas like warehouses.
The circuit was changed again in 1983. This allowed the track and one of the airport runways to be used at the same time. More big changes happened in 1987, letting another runway be used. Further updates in 1991 helped the airport expand. These changes made it possible for the entire track to be used without stopping airport operations. This brought the track close to its current design.
A sharp turn called the "hairpin" was removed in 1997. This was done to make the track safer. It was replaced with a new section known as the "safety pin." Another turn, Gendebien Bend, was also changed to slow down the cars.
Today, the track is owned by IMSA Holdings, LLC. This company bought the track's previous owner in 2012. Sebring is famous for its fast "Turn 17." This long, bumpy, right-hand turn can greatly affect a car's speed. It is wide enough for up to three cars to race side-by-side.
The FIA World Endurance Championship also holds a race here called the 1,000 Miles of Sebring. This race happens at the same time as the 12 Hours. The first 1,000 Miles race was in 2019.
Track Layout and Features
Sebring International Raceway has three main layouts: the Full Circuit, the Short Circuit, and the Club Circuit. The main course is about 3.74 miles (6.02 km) long. It has 17 turns, including long straight sections, fast corners, and tricky slow turns. Many parts of the track are named after early racing teams and drivers.
Florida is a very flat state, so there are not many hills or changes in height on the track. This makes it a tough track for drivers, especially when it rains.
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Sebring is well-known for its rough and bumpy surface. Parts of the track are still made from the old concrete runways of the World War II airfield. The places where these concrete sections meet are very rough. You can often see sparks flying from under the cars as they drive over them.
The 12 Hours of Sebring race is considered even tougher on cars and drivers than the Le Mans race. It is seen as a great test before the famous French race. The track surface is made of about 3.04 miles (4.9 km) of asphalt and 0.7 miles (1.1 km) of concrete.
Major Events at Sebring
Sebring is most famous for hosting the 12 Hours of Sebring. This race is part of major endurance racing series. These include 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.
The track also hosts other racing series like the Legends of Motorsport. Many IndyCar, sports prototype, and Grand Touring teams use Sebring for winter practice. They come here because of Florida's warm weather.
The Sports Car Club of America (SCCA) and the National Auto Sport Association (NASA) also use the track. They hold amateur events that bring participants from all over the country.
Every February, the racetrack hosts the Bike Sebring 12/24 Hours. This is a long-distance bicycle race. IndyCar teams often test here to practice for races on city streets.
Sebring in Pop Culture
Sebring Raceway has been featured in many video games. These include rFactor 2, iRacing, The Crew, and several Forza Motorsport games. It also appears in Total Immersion Racing and Sports Car GT.
Fans have also created versions of the track for other games. These include rFactor, GTR2, and Grand Prix Legends. Sebring was also part of the first expansion for the Formula D board game.
Images for kids
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Aerial map of Sebring International Raceway
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The track layout from 1967 to 1982 (2nd variation). Length: 5.200 mi (8.368 km) Lap record: John Paul Jr., Porsche 935 JLP-3, 2:28.360, 1981
See also
In Spanish: Sebring International Raceway para niños
