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Sebring International Raceway

Sebring is the home of America’s oldest and most famous road racing track. Founded over a half century ago, Sebring International Raceway is the mecca of sports car racing, hosting the famous 12 Hours of Endurance Race every March. This race is attended by over 110,000 people each year — including race teams, drivers, major vendors and race fans from all over the world. Thousands of local residents support this major community event by volunteering their time and expertise, which for many has become a deep local tradition involving second and third generations. It is not uncommon to see lawyers, stockbrokers, bankers, physicians and others from the community volunteering their services at this annual world-class event.

A Historic Sports Car Race is held two weeks prior to this major event each year. It draws sports car racing enthusiasts from far and wide, as a range of the oldest to those race cars most recently retired take to the track in the Annual Rolex Challenge. For sheer racing history and excitement, this race provides a memorable experience.

Each fall, Sebring International Raceway hosts the second of its annual races with featured drivers, race cars of all types and road racing enthusiasts from all over the world. It is without a doubt, the highlight of the fall racing season for participants and fans alike. This race also is supported by the volunteer services of community leaders and citizens from all walks of life.

In addition to the major races, Sebring International Raceway is busy over 300 days of the year with testing being conducted by some of the “biggest” names in racing, corporate events, sports car club races, driving schools and other special events.

Sebring International Raceway entered the new millennium with a brand new look. Under the ownership of Don Panoz of Panoz Motor Sports, who also owns and operates Road Atlanta and Mosport Park in Ontario, Canada, over 12 million dollars has been invested in facilities and improvements at the Sebring Raceway. This has transformed the raceway into a state-of-the-art racing complex, complete with a uniquely designed and constructed quarter-mile-long Pit Row and garage area with a four-story tower, elevated viewing and hospitality suites. To complete this dramatic expansion, the Chateau Elan Hotel and Spa at Sebring International Raceway, a four-story hotel overlooking the famous “Hairpin Turn,” was completed in early 2000.

The 12 Hours of Endurance Race in March 2002 marked the 50th anniversary of this world famous facility with over 125,000 in attendance. An important part of the Sebring community for over 50 years, the raceway pumps millions of dollars into the local economy and helps make the name “Sebring” known throughout the world as the location of one of the greatest motor sport racing facilities worldwide.

Sebring International Raceway is located on the southern portion of Sebring Regional Airport. Originally a World War II military base for training B-17 pilots and crews, the airport was known as Hendricks Field, and is replete with its own significant history. Today, the airport is a modern general aviation facility, having undergone a transformation of its own in recent years.

The first auto race was held in 1950, and since that time, some of the greatest cars and drivers in motor racing history have tested, trained and competed at this location. Mario Andretti, A.J. Foyt, Phil Hill, Juan Manuel Fangio and Dan Gurney have all won at Sebring International Raceway, driving legendary cars built by such names as Ferrari, Porsche, Jaguar, Maserati, Ford, Nissan, Toyota and others. Deceased racing legend Dale Earnhart and his son Dale Jr. tested a new Corvette at Sebring International Raceway just weeks prior to Dale’s final race at Daytona in 2000.

The first 12-Hour Race at Sebring was held in 1952, promoted by Alec Ulmann, and grew in stature, becoming a part of the sports car world championship in 1953. Sebring became an important venue for automobile manufacturers to test their cars and promote their products. In 1959, Sebring International Raceway hosted America’s first Formula One Race, further adding to its international stature and mystique.

The 1960s produced legendary battles between Ferrari, Porsche, the Ford Cobra and GT 40 and the Chevrolet Chaparral. Huge crowds made this one of racing’s truly great events, while the 1970s were a decade of change, with the focus primarily on production cars. The 1980s brought a resurgence of exotic international machinery, with factory involvement returning in full force. A new generation of drivers such as Bobby Rahal and Geoff Brabham rose to prominence with victories at Sebring.

Through it all, Sebring has been “the place” for sports car racing. Such notables as Paul Newman, James Garner, Gene Hackman, James Brolin, Dick Smothers and even Walter Cronkite have driven at Sebring. So have NASCAR legends Fireball Roberts, Bobby Allison, Terry Labonte, Bill Elliott, Ken Schrader and Ricky Rudd. Of late, Sebring has become the winter home of Indy Car racing, boasting the most active test facility in North America.

In 1999, Sebring International Raceway was acquired by Don Panoz, owner of the Panoz Motor Sports Organization. Under Panoz leadership, the Raceway has completed an ambitious expansion program that is unrivaled by any road racing facility in North America. The entire Panoz organization is committed to continuing the Sebring tradition and to playing an important role in the future development of Sebring and Highlands County. Any trip to Sebring must include a visit to this world-class motor sports complex.