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Sebring International Raceway may be one of the more unique racing circuits in the world.
Known colloquially as Sebring, the track is built from runways connecting roads Hendrick Army Airfield, which housed a B-17 pilot school for the US Army during World War II. The airfield was active from 1942-45.
The GT World Challenge America is rolling into Sebring for a full weekend of racing, running May 16-18.
Shop GT World Challenge Sebring tickets
The track itself is narrow. Keep in mind, it was designed as an airfield with vehicles driving at slower speeds to transport goods to planes. The turns, for the most part, are sharp and require precision from the driver. There are five "heavy" braking zones on the Sebring full circuit, which features 17 turns across 3.741 miles.
On top of that, passing is somewhat limited because the track is so narrow — but that means there could be quite a bit of contact among drivers.
There are two long straightaways, one toward the end of the lap and the other as the start/finish straight. The straightaway at the end of the lap is called the Ulmann Straight and was at one point a runway for the airfield. The Ulmann Straight follows a series of high-speed corners and one sharp corner that feeds into the straightaway itself, called the Le Mans Curve.
The Ulmann Straight leads into the Sunset Curve, which is more of a moderate speed corner as it is a long corner and leading into the start/finish straightaway.
Sebring is almost all concrete and makes for some rough surfaces to race on, but potentially fun for the driver and the fan watching.
Here's what to know about the GT World Challenge America Sebring race weekend.
Shop GT World Challenge Sebring tickets
The full circuit at Sebring International Raceway is 3.741 miles long.
Sebring International Raceway has 17 turns on the full circuit.
There are five different series running at a given weekend, Sebring International Raceway included. Here's a look at each of the series, with some comparisons to NASCAR.
GT World Challenge America: The GT World Challenge America is the premier series of the North American GT series, contributing to the GT World Challenge championship. These cars the most powerful of the weekend. Think of this series similar to the NASCAR Cup Series.
GT America: The GT America series runs some of the more well-known sports cars, including the Mercedes-AMG GT3, the Ferrari 296 GT3, BMW M4 GT3 EVO, Porsche 992 GT3 R and the Chevrolet Corvette Z06 GT3.R. These cars will have some power and speed, this series is most similar to the NASCAR Xfinity Series.
Toyota GR Cup North America: The Toyota GR Cup North America will feature the Toyota GR86. This series is most similar to the NASCAR Craftsman Truck Series with drivers trying to work their way up.
Pirelli GT4 America: The Pirelli GT4 America series has two drivers per team with multiple classes of racing and cars, including the Aston Martin Vantage AMR GT4, Nissan Z NISMO GT4, Porsche 718 Cayman GT4 RS Clubsport. These cars are considered "club cars" or cars that are closer to "production cars," meaning what people usually drive. This is the series that will run an "enduro" race, a timed endurance race.
TC America: This is the entry series into the GT World Challenge, it's the first rung of the ladder. It's similar to the ARCA Menards Series drivers working to the NASCAR Cup Series. This series features some smaller cars, including the Toyota GR Corolla TC, Acura Integra Type S and the Mazda 3 TC.
Spencer Pumpelly and Trent Hindman won both races of the 2024 GT World America Sebring race weekend for RS1, driving a Porsche 992 GT3 R. Hindman was in the car to take the checkered flag in the first race, Pumpelly was in the car for the second.
The GT World Challenge America Sebring race is May 16-18.
The address for Sebring International Raceway is 113 Midway Drive, Sebring, Florida 33870.
The Sebring International Raceway is in Sebring, Florida, which is about 67 miles from Lakeland, Florida and around 100 miles from Tampa, Florida.
Shop GT World Challenge Sebring tickets
Follow sports writer Austin Chastain on X, formerly known as Twitter, at @ChastainAJ or reach him via email at [email protected].
We occasionally recommend interesting products and services. If you make a purchase by clicking one of the links, we may earn an affiliate fee. USA TODAY Network newsrooms operate independently, and this doesn’t influence our coverage.
This article originally appeared on Nashville Tennessean: GT World Challenge America brings exciting racing to Sebring
Continue reading...
Known colloquially as Sebring, the track is built from runways connecting roads Hendrick Army Airfield, which housed a B-17 pilot school for the US Army during World War II. The airfield was active from 1942-45.
The GT World Challenge America is rolling into Sebring for a full weekend of racing, running May 16-18.
Shop GT World Challenge Sebring tickets
The track itself is narrow. Keep in mind, it was designed as an airfield with vehicles driving at slower speeds to transport goods to planes. The turns, for the most part, are sharp and require precision from the driver. There are five "heavy" braking zones on the Sebring full circuit, which features 17 turns across 3.741 miles.
On top of that, passing is somewhat limited because the track is so narrow — but that means there could be quite a bit of contact among drivers.
There are two long straightaways, one toward the end of the lap and the other as the start/finish straight. The straightaway at the end of the lap is called the Ulmann Straight and was at one point a runway for the airfield. The Ulmann Straight follows a series of high-speed corners and one sharp corner that feeds into the straightaway itself, called the Le Mans Curve.
The Ulmann Straight leads into the Sunset Curve, which is more of a moderate speed corner as it is a long corner and leading into the start/finish straightaway.
Sebring is almost all concrete and makes for some rough surfaces to race on, but potentially fun for the driver and the fan watching.
Here's what to know about the GT World Challenge America Sebring race weekend.
Shop GT World Challenge Sebring tickets
How long is Sebring International Raceway?
The full circuit at Sebring International Raceway is 3.741 miles long.
How many turns does Sebring full circuit have?
Sebring International Raceway has 17 turns on the full circuit.
Know the classes for the GT World Challenge Sebring race weekend
There are five different series running at a given weekend, Sebring International Raceway included. Here's a look at each of the series, with some comparisons to NASCAR.
GT World Challenge America: The GT World Challenge America is the premier series of the North American GT series, contributing to the GT World Challenge championship. These cars the most powerful of the weekend. Think of this series similar to the NASCAR Cup Series.
GT America: The GT America series runs some of the more well-known sports cars, including the Mercedes-AMG GT3, the Ferrari 296 GT3, BMW M4 GT3 EVO, Porsche 992 GT3 R and the Chevrolet Corvette Z06 GT3.R. These cars will have some power and speed, this series is most similar to the NASCAR Xfinity Series.
Toyota GR Cup North America: The Toyota GR Cup North America will feature the Toyota GR86. This series is most similar to the NASCAR Craftsman Truck Series with drivers trying to work their way up.
Pirelli GT4 America: The Pirelli GT4 America series has two drivers per team with multiple classes of racing and cars, including the Aston Martin Vantage AMR GT4, Nissan Z NISMO GT4, Porsche 718 Cayman GT4 RS Clubsport. These cars are considered "club cars" or cars that are closer to "production cars," meaning what people usually drive. This is the series that will run an "enduro" race, a timed endurance race.
TC America: This is the entry series into the GT World Challenge, it's the first rung of the ladder. It's similar to the ARCA Menards Series drivers working to the NASCAR Cup Series. This series features some smaller cars, including the Toyota GR Corolla TC, Acura Integra Type S and the Mazda 3 TC.
Who won the 2024 GT World America Sebring race?
Spencer Pumpelly and Trent Hindman won both races of the 2024 GT World America Sebring race weekend for RS1, driving a Porsche 992 GT3 R. Hindman was in the car to take the checkered flag in the first race, Pumpelly was in the car for the second.
When is GT World Challenge America Sebring race?
The GT World Challenge America Sebring race is May 16-18.
Where is Sebring International Raceway?
The address for Sebring International Raceway is 113 Midway Drive, Sebring, Florida 33870.
The Sebring International Raceway is in Sebring, Florida, which is about 67 miles from Lakeland, Florida and around 100 miles from Tampa, Florida.
Shop GT World Challenge Sebring tickets
Follow sports writer Austin Chastain on X, formerly known as Twitter, at @ChastainAJ or reach him via email at [email protected].
We occasionally recommend interesting products and services. If you make a purchase by clicking one of the links, we may earn an affiliate fee. USA TODAY Network newsrooms operate independently, and this doesn’t influence our coverage.
This article originally appeared on Nashville Tennessean: GT World Challenge America brings exciting racing to Sebring
Continue reading...
