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World-Class Field Assembled For 60th Anniversary 12 Hours Of Sebring

Sebring, Fla. – The 60th anniversary edition of the 12 Hours of Sebring fueled by Fresh from Florida event has drawn a world-class field of cars and drivers. The teams arrived in Sebring a few days ago to begin preparations for Saturday’s grueling run around the bumpy 3.74-mile road course. Official practice started Thursday and considerable on-track action will take place between then and Saturday’s green flag at 10:30 a.m. ET.

Sixty-three entries are on hand, and although a bit confusing to onlookers, the 12 Hours race is a race within a race with two premier organizations sharing the spotlight: the FIA’s World Endurance Championship and the well-known American LeMans Series presented by Tequila Patron. The WEC has evolved from the Intercontinental LeMans Cup and Sebring will mark the debut of the WEC. Incidentally, Sebring is the only stop in North America for the WEC competitors.

An overall champion will be crowned and the WEC and the ALMS will both honor its race and class winners. The WEC has 30 entries in four classes, including Audi which has been the dominant brand at Sebring since 2000. For the ALMS, the brand has 33 entries in its four classes.

In recent years, the Sebring race has been a dual between Peugeot and Audi but the former withdrew from racing not long ago, leaving the stage to Audi. Three Audi R18 diesels have been entered by Audi Sport Team Joest and Audi is determined to offset its losses to Peugeot in 2010 and 2011.

Since the race’s inception in 1952, the converted airport course has had eight configurations, ranging from a 5.2-mile circuit to the present day 3.74-mile course. The course is flat and bumpy and drivers have to negotiate 17 turns along with three straightaways that run from 1,400 ft. to 3,082 ft. Even though drivers and cars receive intense jarring during the race, they love the history and mystique of succeeding at the historic course. Just finishing is an accomplishment.

While Audi has dominated since 2001, Porsche reigns as the overall champion with 18 overall wins and 67 class victories.

In its rich history, the best drivers in the world have driven to victory starting with Stirling Moss, Phil Hill and Juan Manuel Fangio in the early years to Mario Andretti, A. J. Foyt and Hurley Haywood in the middle decades to Allan McNish, Tom Kristensen and Emanuele Pirro in recent times. Many other drivers, too numerous to name, have also gone to victory lane over the years.

Being that the race takes place during spring break for college students and other merry- makers, the event draws more than 100,000 spectators to the 440 acre facility a few miles outside the sleepy town of Sebring.

The race will be covered live by ESPN3 and ABC will do a tape delay presentation on Sunday, March 18.

In addition to the 12-hour race, a number of support races will spice the weekend.

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