Sebring International Raceway
A historic American road-racing facility in Sebring, Florida, best known for the 12 Hours of Sebring endurance race.
Last updated August 21, 2026
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Overview
Sebring International Raceway is a road-racing facility located near Sebring, Florida, on land that forms part of Sebring Regional Airport. It is one of the oldest continuously operating motor-racing venues in the United States and is particularly associated with endurance sports-car competition. Its signature event is the 12 Hours of Sebring, a major North American endurance race that has been contested by leading sports-car series and manufacturers for decades. The circuit occupies the former Hendricks Army Airfield, a World War II training base used by the United States Army Air Forces for B-17 bomber operations. After the war, Russian-American aeronautical engineer Alec Ulmann sought a suitable location for an American endurance race inspired in part by the 24 Hours of Le Mans. The airfield's runways, service roads and surrounding aviation infrastructure provided a distinctive foundation for a temporary-style road course. Sebring's inaugural race took place on New Year's Eve in 1950, with 30 cars entering the Sam Collier 6 Hour Memorial race. The first 12 Hours of Sebring followed in March 1952 and established the venue as an important international sports-car destination. Sebring's identity is strongly shaped by its unusually rough surface. Sections of the course retain concrete associated with the former military airfield, while other sections are asphalt. Uneven joints, limited elevation change, changing weather and the combination of very fast and technical corners make the track demanding for both drivers and machinery. The Full Circuit is approximately 3.741 miles long and includes 17 turns. Turn 17, a broad and fast right-hander leading onto the front straight, is one of the venue's most recognizable features. Sebring's conditions are commonly regarded as an effective preparation for the 24 Hours of Le Mans because the race places severe demands on reliability, suspension components, tires and driver endurance. The facility has hosted a wide range of professional, amateur and historic competitions. In addition to the 12 Hours of Sebring, its history includes the 1959 United States Grand Prix, rounds of the World Sportscar Championship, the American Le Mans Series, the Intercontinental Le Mans Cup and the modern IMSA WeatherTech SportsCar Championship. The World Endurance Championship also staged the 1000 Miles of Sebring in 2019, 2022 and 2023, with the 2020 and 2021 editions absent because of the COVID-19 pandemic. The WEC event was removed from the championship calendar for 2024 and 2025. Sebring also supports club racing, driver education, testing and historic events. Sports Car Club of America and National Auto Sport Association activities are held at the venue, and professional teams use the Florida facility for winter testing. The site contains Full, Short and Club circuit configurations and continues to operate alongside the active airport. Its combination of sporting heritage, technical difficulty and aviation-era infrastructure makes it a distinctive brand within American motorsport.
History
Sebring International Raceway developed from Hendricks Army Airfield, a World War II installation constructed for bomber-pilot training. The airfield operated from 1941 to 1946 and later became part of the aviation infrastructure in the Sebring area. Following the war, Alec Ulmann looked for a location where an American sports-car endurance race could be staged. He was influenced by the international importance of the 24 Hours of Le Mans and saw potential in the airfield's runways and service roads. The first Sebring race was held on December 31, 1950. Thirty cars from across North America entered the Sam Collier 6 Hour Memorial race, which was won by Frits Koster and Ralph Deshon in a Crosley Hot Shot. The event demonstrated that the former airfield could support a demanding road-racing course and led to the creation of the 12 Hours of Sebring. The first 12-hour race took place on March 15, 1952, and gradually became one of the most important endurance events in North American motorsport. Sebring gained international visibility through sports-car championships and manufacturer competition. In 1959 it hosted the United States Grand Prix, the first United States Formula One race staged away from Indianapolis as part of the contemporary Grand Prix calendar. Low attendance and high costs meant that the United States Grand Prix moved to Riverside International Raceway the following year. Sebring nevertheless remained a major venue for endurance racing, hosting championship events linked to the World Sportscar Championship, IMSA competition, the American Le Mans Series and later the WeatherTech SportsCar Championship. The circuit's safety and operational design changed repeatedly. The 1966 12 Hours of Sebring was marked by a fatal accident in which a privately entered Porsche left the racing area near the Warehouse Straight and entered a warehouse and spectator area, killing four spectators; the race also involved another fatality. In response, the course was modified for 1967. The Webster Turn was removed, the Green Park Chicane was introduced and the course was lengthened slightly. These changes moved racing away from the hazardous Warehouse Straight and nearby buildings, hangars and aircraft. Further changes followed as the airport continued to operate. The course was shortened in 1983 to permit simultaneous use of the track and a runway. Major alterations in 1987 enabled another runway to remain available, while the 1991 configuration accommodated airport expansion and allowed the circuit to operate with less interference with normal aviation activity. In 1997, the hairpin was removed because of limited runoff and replaced by the section known as the Safety Pin. Gendebien Bend was also re-profiled to reduce entry speed onto Ullman Straight. For much of its history the track used a layout of about 5.2 miles. The modern Full Circuit is approximately 3.741 miles long with 17 turns, while Short and Club configurations are also available. Much of the surface remains distinctive because it combines asphalt with concrete inherited from the airfield. The seams, bumps and uneven transitions are central to Sebring's reputation and influence vehicle setup, tire management and driver technique. The venue has continued to host professional and grassroots activity. The 12 Hours of Sebring became a fixture of the IMSA endurance calendar and is part of the Michelin Endurance Cup. Historic Sportscar Racing, the Sports Car Club of America, the National Auto Sport Association and other organizations use the facility for races and events. Driver-training programs, including activities associated with the Skip Barber Racing School, have also been held there. Teams from open-wheel, prototype and GT categories regularly use the track for testing in Florida's winter climate. The World Endurance Championship added the 1000 Miles of Sebring in 2019. Toyota Gazoo Racing won the first edition. The event was not held in 2020 or 2021 because of the COVID-19 pandemic, returned in 2022 with Alpine Elf Team winning and was won by Toyota again in 2023. The WEC subsequently removed the event from its 2024 and 2025 calendars, replacing its position with the Lone Star Le Mans event at Circuit of the Americas. Sebring remains active as a multi-configuration racing, testing and event facility.
- 2023
Toyota wins the WEC race again
[1]Toyota Gazoo Racing secured its second victory in the 1000 Miles of Sebring.
- 2022
WEC event returns after pandemic interruption
[1]The 1000 Miles of Sebring returned after the 2020 and 2021 cancellations, with Alpine Elf Team taking the win.
- 2021
First 24-hour race at Sebring
[1]The World Racing League held the first 24-hour race at the facility; W2W Racing won overall.
- 2019
First 1000 Miles of Sebring
[1]The World Endurance Championship staged the first 1000 Miles of Sebring, won by Toyota Gazoo Racing.
- 2012
Facility acquired by IMSA Holdings
[1]IMSA Holdings acquired the Panoz Motor Sports Group, bringing Sebring International Raceway into its ownership structure through a subsidiary.
- 1997
Safety Pin replaces the hairpin
[1]The hairpin was removed because of insufficient runoff and replaced with the section subsequently known as the Safety Pin.
- 1967
Safety-related circuit revisions
[1]Following the fatal 1966 race, the circuit was lengthened slightly, the Webster Turn was removed and the Green Park Chicane was added to move racing away from the Warehouse Straight.
- 1959
United States Grand Prix held at Sebring
[1]Sebring hosted the United States Grand Prix, the first United States Formula One race held at the venue.
- 1952
First 12 Hours of Sebring
[1]The first 12-hour endurance race established the event that would become the venue's defining competition.
- 1950
First race at Sebring
[1]The inaugural race was held on New Year's Eve. The Sam Collier 6 Hour Memorial attracted 30 cars and was won by Frits Koster and Ralph Deshon.
Products and positioning
A historic, technically demanding American endurance-racing venue distinguished by its former military-airfield setting, rough mixed asphalt-and-concrete surface and international 12-hour race.
Endurance racing event · 1952
12 Hours of Sebring
Sebring's signature endurance event is a 12-hour sports-car race held on the historic airfield circuit. It has featured major prototype and GT categories and has been associated with successive international and North American championships, including IMSA's WeatherTech SportsCar Championship. The race is valued for its demanding surface, Florida weather and strong connection to the wider endurance-racing tradition.
Racing circuit configuration
Full Circuit
The Full Circuit is the venue's principal road-course configuration. It is approximately 3.741 miles long and has 17 turns. Its mixture of asphalt and retained concrete, long straights, fast corners and technical low-speed sections produces a severe test of braking, traction, suspension durability and traffic management.
Racing circuit configuration
Short Circuit
The Short Circuit is one of Sebring's alternative layouts for testing, training and selected events. It uses a reduced portion of the wider facility, allowing organizers and teams to select a configuration appropriate to vehicle development, driver instruction or event format.
Racing circuit configuration
Club Circuit
The Club Circuit is a compact configuration used for selected club, instructional and testing activities. Together with the Full and Short layouts, it enables the facility to serve professional teams, amateur competitors and driving programs without relying on a single event format.
Motorsport services
Track testing and driver education
Sebring provides track access for professional testing, amateur racing, driver education and organized track activities. Its warm winter climate makes it useful to prototype, GT and open-wheel teams preparing for the season, while organizations such as SCCA and NASA use the site for recurring competition and participant events.
Controversies
1966
Fatal 1966 12 Hours of Sebring accident
A privately entered Porsche left the racing area near the Warehouse Straight and entered a warehouse and spectator area, killing four spectators. The race also involved another fatality. The incident prompted significant safety changes before the 1967 event, including moving the course away from the hazardous section.
Brand decisions
2019
Launch the 1000 Miles of SebringProduct launchBackground
The World Endurance Championship sought to stage a major international endurance event at the Sebring venue alongside the established 12 Hours of Sebring weekend.
Action taken
The inaugural 1000 Miles of Sebring was added to the WEC calendar.
Aftermath
The race returned in 2022 and 2023 after the pandemic interruption, but was absent from the WEC calendars for 2024 and 2025.
1997
Replace the hairpin with the Safety PinStrategyBackground
The hairpin was considered to have inadequate runoff.
Action taken
The hairpin was removed and replaced by a new section that became known as the Safety Pin.
Aftermath
The change became part of the modern circuit configuration while preserving Sebring's technical character.
1967
Relocate racing away from the Warehouse StraightStrategyBackground
The 1966 event exposed serious risks created by the proximity of the racing line to warehouses, hangars, aircraft and spectators.
Action taken
The Webster Turn was removed, the Green Park Chicane was added and the course was lengthened slightly to move the racing route away from the dangerous area.
Aftermath
The revisions formed part of a broader evolution of Sebring's safety and circuit design.
Recent events
- 2023
Toyota wins its second 1000 Miles of Sebring[1]
Other
Toyota Gazoo Racing won the 2023 edition of the 1000 Miles of Sebring, the second running of the event after its pandemic-related interruption.
- 2022
World Endurance Championship returns to Sebring[1]
Other
The WEC returned to Sebring with the 1000 Miles of Sebring after the pandemic interruption. Alpine Elf Team won the event.
- 2020
COVID-19 pandemic interrupts the Sebring WEC event[1]
Other
The 1000 Miles of Sebring did not run in 2020 or 2021 because of the COVID-19 pandemic and associated disruptions to international motorsport scheduling.
- 2019
World Endurance Championship introduces the 1000 Miles of Sebring[1]
Other · Product launch
The FIA World Endurance Championship held the first 1000 Miles of Sebring as an endurance event associated with the venue's established 12 Hours of Sebring weekend. Toyota Gazoo Racing won the inaugural race.
Sources2 sources
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