Photos: Patrick Tremblay / Historic Sportscar Racing – Contact Patrick for hi-res copies of the images
The inaugural Sebring Classic 12 hr event delivered on all levels as competitors from around the globe descended onto Sebring International Raceway in Florida for the four day extravaganza event of classic & modern racing alongside a vintage plane flying exhibition.
It was a 1969 Lola T70 who won the 12 hrs of Sebring ‘Classic A’ race for cars built between 1952-72, piloted by Frantz Wallenborn an Gerard Lopez, they beat fellow Lola T70 driver Toni Seiler who finished on the same lap just 2.58 behind after the 4x 42 minute races had all been completed and laps counted.
Competition was fierce and the HSR had attracted some great cars and stars to the event including a Porsche 906, several Ford GT40’s, and Jochen Mass in a 1969 Ferrari GTB/4, even an ex Le Mans, Sunbeam Harrington. Several Brits made the journey across the pond to race in ‘Classic A’ including Robert Rawe racing with Mike Thorne in his Aston Martin DP 214, Mark Ashworth in an MGB, Nigel Greensall and Andrew Beaumont in a 1966 McLaren M1B, and Ron Maydon in a Ginetta G4R. In other classes Jeremy Cooke and Karsten Le Blanc elected to bring a 08 BMW M3 GT4 car to race in Group F they were up against Brits Alec Hammond, Chris & Ben Beighton and Oli and Grahame Bryant all driving Mustangs and we cannot forgot to mention Andy Wallace driving an Audi R8 LMP in Group E.
For competitors looking to make the journey to Sebring for 2017, we can tell you – regardless of results – everyone wants to come back! The locals are friendly, the sun is hot hot hot, with each day 28′ or more and the hospitality at ‘Marions’ is exceptional, all the drivers came away loosening their belts from the endless supply of food.
Points to note; in the briefing it was advised that whilst cross words were acceptable, punching a competitor was a definite no no and would get you kicked out. The US ‘Tech’ is not like our scrutineering you won’t find any FIA requirements, so the more horse power you can cram-in the better! And there is NO NOISE LIMIT, so everything is unsilenced and its DEAFENING! You will thank us for noting the yanks use the flags slightly differently, waving black flags when we would a red, and bringing out a white flag for the last lap, which caught a few Brits out mistaking it for the chequered flag.
The environment is spacious and the 3.7mile Sebring circuit is still essentially an airfield made up of concrete blocks seamed together and it is very bumpy with little reference points and no marker boards or lights. But there is plenty of opportunity to practice with a full day of testing available before the event.
Talking to HSR event director David Hinton after the event his aim is to increase grids and attract more European and West Coast cars and drivers to a maximum of 50 on each grid. “One of the unique parts of this event is being able to bring both modern and classic cars and race them in the same 12 hr event. Next year the event will run just 2 weeks after Daytona to make it easier for visiting Europeans and everything can be catered for, shipping, road transport, mechanical help on site and even race car hire.” It seems like David has it all covered, and good luck to him, if year 1 is anything to go by this event will surely be an ongoing success. We thoroughly recommend it.
Results highlights:
Group A: Early FIA era 52 – 72
Mark Ashworth from Adlington, was rather pleased with himself winning his class in an MGB after falling foul to the early white flag scuppered his chances of a debut win at Daytona, (his wife pictured with the flag, was even more chuffed!) Robert Rawe and Mike Thorne finished a credible 6th overall in the Aston Martin DP214 -(FIA Spec on road tyres) 2nd in class just behind the very American 1969 5.8 l Chevy Corvette Roadster driven by Dave Bacher and Kerry Hitt.
Group B: (Early IMSA GTO/GTU era ’73-82)
John Harrold in a 79 Chevron B23/36 finished 4 laps clear of french drivers Gilles Boyer/Frank Rave in a Porsche 911 2.7 RS.
Groups C/D for Late IMSA/ GTP/WSC era 63-93, and Early GrandAm/Daytona Prototypes/ and GT cars 94-02
Rick Carlino/Derek Jones were the final winners in their 6.5 litre 1996 Riley & Scott Mk III they finished 1 lap ahead of Hunter and Hamilton Harris in a 2000 Lola B2K/40S.
Group E for Modern LMP/GrandAM/GT era 03-13
Group E winner was David Porter and Richard Bradley in a 2007 Pescarolo 01 LMP, finishing a clear 2 laps ahead of the 2010 Oreca FLM09 piloted by Juan Gonzalez and Butch Leitzinger. The Audi R8 LMP of Andy Wallace and Doug Smith despite qualifying 3rd overall and were fastest at night had an early bath as the car expired after just 18 laps in Race 1.
Group F was for everything else.
Top three finishers in Group F were all ’74 Porsche 911 RSR’s with the winner being H Von Seelen, J Ziegelman and K Wheeler, 2nd placed was Mike Bantz and 3rd Brady & Jack Refenning. The first of the finishers behind the Porsche were Jeremy Cooke and Karsten Le Blanc in the BMW M3, third in their class, 5th overall. Alec Hammond and Chris & Ben Beighton running in two cars a Ford Mustang and Chevy Corvette finishing 6th and 7th. Oli & Graham Bryant had finished 1st and 2nd but suffered two DNFs finished down the order in 17th overall but enough to finish 4th in class.
Full results:
To find out more about entering the event for 2017 – click here
