SEBRING, Fla. — Sebring International Raceway will host the 75th running of the Mobil 1 Twelve Hours of Sebring on March 20, 2027.
To begin the special year-long celebration, the raceway released today a commemorative logo inspired by the rich history of the great race and the raceway itself, as well as other community and race-specific events and activities.
The logo prominently features two parallel blue racing stripes behind the Sebring Raceway and IMSA logos, the logo of title sponsor Mobil 1, and a large “75” commemorating the number of 12-hour sports car endurance races held at Sebring since the first on March 15, 1952.
The parallel blue racing stripes on a white background are symbolic of iconic American race cars from the early 1950s that were painted white with prominent stripes running up the hood and often extending over the car. While the FIA stipulated other colors to signify racing cars from different countries, it was American car owner and driver Briggs Cunninham that brought the popularity of the blue and white stripes to the masses in the early 1950s, including cars he owned that won the event from 1953-1955.
Racing at Sebring got its start from Russian-born engineer Alec Ulmann following his attendance of the famous 24 Hours of Le Mans in 1950. From that race, Ulmann was inspired to organize endurance racing on an airport property in Florida formerly known as Hendricks Field, a defunct WWII Army Air Corp training base for B-17 and B-24 bombers. Wide concrete runways designed for heavy aircraft, and existing roadways throughout the base, were perfect for the layout for a motorsports facility that would eventually attract the top drivers and teams from around the world.
That first Sebring 12-Hour race was considered an overwhelming success, with 32 cars entered, primarily from the eastern United States. As the event continued, more and more top European teams came to America to race in the now-famous Sebring Grand Prix of Endurance, as it was known.
Italy’s Scuderia Ferrari became the first non-American-owned team to win the race in 1956, which was also the team’s first Sebring appearance. The team swept the top-two spots in the finishing order.
By 1959 Sebring had gained such an international reputation that on Dec. 12, 1959, the first Formula One Grand Prix ever held in the United States was held at Sebring International Raceway. Although Bruce McLaren won the only Formula One race at Sebring, the event further propelled Sebring International Raceway and the 12 Hours of Sebring into one of the most significant races, and most prominent facilities, in the entire world.
The race has been staged annually on the third weekend of March since its humble beginnings, except for the 1974 race due to the global energy crisis.
To this day, Sebring is prominently known as the Birthplace of American Endurance Racing and remains widely regarded as one of the world’s most prestigious motorsport events and one of three unofficial triple crown sports car endurance races, alongside the Rolex 24 At Daytona and the 24 Hours of Le Mans.
Since its humble beginnings, champions at Sebring have included most of the great names to ever drive a in a sports car endurance race, including Juan Manuel Fangio, Stirling Moss, Phil Hill, Dan Gurney, Ken Miles, Mario Andretti, Bruce McLaren, Jacky Ickx, Hurley Haywood, A.J. Foyt and Sebring’s all-time winningest driver, Tom Kristensen, among many others.
In celebration of the great drivers who have enjoyed success at Sebring, a list of 75 of the most outstanding drivers in the history of the race has been compiled. The prestigious list, known simply as “The Class of 75,” will be announced in small groups throughout the year leading up to the 75th race. A respected list of journalists, racing officials, sports car experts, historians, former competitors and others, researched and deliberated over the most-deserving drivers to be honored on the list.
In addition to having a position among “The Class of 75,” every member attending the 75th running of the Mobil 1 Twelve Hours of Sebring will collectively serve as grand marshals of the much-anticipated race.
Among other notable experiences planned for fans, and many modern drivers too, will be the return of some of the most famous cars to have competed at Sebring, most prominently the first car to win the 12-Hour Classic, the recently restored No. 9 Frazer Nash LMR.
The car will be on loan from its permanent location at the Simeone Foundation Automotive Museum in Philadelphia, home to one of the world’s greatest collections of racing sports cars. Planning is underway to display at least one winning race car from every decade of the race.
