12 Hours of Sebring

12 Hours of Sebring

Definition and Historical Status
The 12 Hours of Sebring is a premier sports car endurance race organised by the International Motor Sports Association (IMSA) and held annually every March at Sebring International Raceway in Florida, United States. The event was established in 1950, beginning with an inaugural six-hour race on New Year's Eve, followed by the first official 12-hour endurance race 14 months later. Alongside the 24 Hours of Le Mans and the 24 Hours of Daytona, the 12 Hours of Sebring forms the legendary "Triple Crown" of endurance racing and serves as a cornerstone of the North American endurance motorsport scene. Between 1953 and 1972, the event was also a counting round of the FIA World Sportscar Championship.

Track Characteristics
Sebring International Raceway is situated on the site of the former Hendricks World War II Army Airfield, with the circuit laid out over a combination of historic concrete runways and narrow connecting tarmac sections. The circuit measures 6.019 km in length and features 17 corners. The abrasive concrete runway slabs subject race machinery to immense stress, and the notorious bumps across the surface have earned it the iconic moniker "Battle of the Bumps". With nine heavy braking zones and virtually no cooling intervals for the brakes, it is widely regarded as the most punishing circuit for braking systems on the IMSA calendar. GTP prototypes enter the Turn 7 braking zone at 170 mph before dropping to 50 mph, sending brake disc temperatures soaring up to 1,600 degrees Fahrenheit.

1966 Accident and Safety Reforms
The 1966 running marked a sombre turning point in circuit safety history. Bob McLean crashed on approach to the hairpin, rolling over and hitting a utility pole before his car exploded, claiming his life; meanwhile, the Ferrari 365 P2 driven by Mario Andretti tangled with Don Wester's Porsche 906 near the Webster Turns before ploughing into a trackside warehouse, killing four spectators. A total of five lives were lost during that race, surpassing the aggregate death toll of the event's preceding 15-year history. In the aftermath, comprehensive circuit revisions were undertaken, including the removal of the Webster Turns and the introduction of a chicane to increase the safety buffer between the straight and the airfield warehouses.

Historical Records
Porsche stands as the most successful manufacturer in the history of the event, having secured 20 overall victories as of 2026. Ferrari ranks second with 12 overall wins. Among drivers, Tom Kristensen holds the benchmark with six overall triumphs, taking victory in 1999, 2000, 2005, 2006, 2009, and 2012. The 12 Hours of Sebring is an indispensable leg of endurance racing's prestigious "Triple Crown"—an accolade awarded to drivers who conquer the 24 Hours of Daytona, 12 Hours of Sebring, and 24 Hours of Le Mans—a feat achieved by only 12 drivers to date.

2026 Event Highlights
The 74th running of the 12 Hours of Sebring took place on 21 March 2026. The Porsche Penske Motorsport No. 7 Porsche 963, shared by Felipe Nasr, Julien Andlauer, and Laurin Heinrich, captured overall honours after completing 343 laps, sealing Porsche’s 20th overall victory at the legendary event. The sister No. 6 car finished as runner-up, locking out a dominant 1-2 finish for Porsche Penske Motorsport. Following their triumph at the 24 Hours of Daytona earlier in the season, the No. 7 crew climbed the top step once again, making them the first team in history to win both Daytona and Sebring in back-to-back years. In the GTD Pro class, Manthey's No. 911 Porsche 911 GT3 R took the class win, with AO Racing's No. 77 entry finishing in second place. In the GTD category, the AF Corse USA No. 21 Ferrari 296 GT3 EVO snatched victory with a thrilling last-lap overtake.