Celebrating the Titans of Endurance: Sebring's Third Wave of Racing Immortals

The Dawn of Greatness: Fangio and Haywood Crowned Among Sebring's Elite

The prestigious "Class of 75" for the Mobil 1 Twelve Hours of Sebring has unveiled its third group of honorees, featuring two titans of motorsport: Juan Manuel Fangio, a legendary figure in Formula 1 with two Sebring victories, and Hurley Haywood, a multiple-time winner at the iconic circuit. This elite recognition celebrates the most accomplished drivers in the history of the 12-hour race. The full list of 75 drivers is being revealed in five segments of fifteen, culminating in the historic 75th-anniversary race on March 20, 2027. A panel of ten sports car racing experts meticulously selected these drivers, distributing them into randomly chosen groups.

Frank Biela: Audi's Dominant Force at Sebring

German racing sensation Frank Biela participated in nine Sebring International Raceway events, exclusively with Audi. His career at Sebring was marked by either triumphant victories or narrow defeats. Biela secured four overall wins (2000, 2003, 2004) between 1999 and 2007, complementing these with second-place finishes in 2001 and 2005. During Biela’s tenure, from 2000 to 2007, Audi consistently claimed victory at the Mobil 1 Twelve Hours of Sebring, with 2007 being his final year of competition at the track.

Vic Elford: "Quick Vic's" Unforgettable Sebring Legacy

Englishman Vic Elford, affectionately known as 'Quick Vic,' despite achieving greater renown at other circuits, carved a significant niche at Sebring. He secured an overall victory in 1971 and an impressive second-place overall finish in his debut appearance in 1968. With only five Sebring starts, the esteemed Porsche factory driver was a formidable contender in every race. His 1970 race was cut short by an accident on lap 61, and engine failure ended his final Sebring appearance in 1972.

Juan Manuel Fangio: A Brief Yet Brilliant Sebring Chapter

Juan Manuel Fangio stood out as one of the most celebrated drivers to grace the 12 Hours of Sebring in the 1950s. Despite participating in only three races (1954, 1956, 1957), the five-time Argentine world champion secured two overall 12-Hour titles: in 1956 with a Scuderia Ferrari 860 Monza and in 1957 with a Maserati 450S. His inaugural entry in 1954 ended prematurely with a DNF after only 51 laps in a Scuderia Lancia D-24.

Ron Fellows: The Corvette Icon of Sebring

Ron Fellows became synonymous with both Corvette and consistent performance at the Mobil 1 Twelve Hours of Sebring, from 1999 until his last race in 2008. The Canadian driver achieved four GT victories in the American powerhouse car, always alongside Johnny O’Connell, and twice secured pole position. His wins occurred in 2002, 2003, 2004, and 2008. He made it to the podium in eight of his eleven races, finishing within the top ten overall eight times, with a career-best fourth overall in 2004. His only non-Corvette race, his first, was in 1998 in a Porsche 911.

Oliver Gavin: A British Star's American Dominance

British driver Oliver Gavin left an indelible mark on American racing, particularly with the iconic Corvette, by clinching six class titles at the Mobil 1 Twelve Hours of Sebring. While five of his victories were in Corvettes, his sixth win also came in an American-badged car, a Saleen S7R. His first triumph was in his debut in 2001, driving the new Saleen to its maiden victory. In 2002, he transitioned to Corvette, securing another win and eventually making 20 consecutive starts in the 12 Hours, adding four more victories in 2006, 2007, 2013, and 2016 before retiring from full-time competition after the 2020 season.

Olivier Gendebien: A Belgian Master of Endurance

Olivier Gendebien, one of the preeminent sports car drivers of his era, competed in the 12 Hours of Sebring only six times between 1957 and 1962. In these limited appearances, he achieved three overall victories and an additional class win. The Brussels-born Belgian failed to finish his first Sebring attempt due to an engine failure in his Ferrari. However, he followed this with a second-place finish in 1958, consecutive wins in 1959, 1960, and 1961, and another second-place finish, which also secured a class victory, in 1962.

Hurley Haywood: Sebring's Enduring Record Holder

Chicago native Hurley Haywood secured two overall victories at Sebring—in 1973 and 1981—and claimed class wins at the challenging Central Florida circuit in 1972 and 1993. His most remarkable statistic at the Mobil 1 Twelve Hours of Sebring is his 28 starts, a record surpassed only by Bill Auberlen’s 30 starts in 2023. Haywood is one of the few drivers to achieve the career triple crown, winning the Rolex 24 At Daytona (five times), the 24 Hours of Le Mans (three times), and the Mobil 1 Twelve Hours of Sebring (twice).

Bob Holbert: Porsche's Early American Champion

Bob Holbert achieved five class victories in just seven starts at the Mobil 1 Twelve Hours of Sebring. As one of the pioneering Porsche dealers in the United States, it was no surprise that Holbert drove German cars in all but one of his Sebring races—his last. His final Sebring appearance was in a Shelby Cobra Daytona Coupe, which he co-drove with Dave MacDonald to a class victory and fourth place overall.

Charles Mendez: Driver, Promoter, and Sebring Savior

Charles Mendez displayed a natural talent for racing, starting his career in 1975 and securing a second-place class finish in his 1976 debut at the 12 Hours of Sebring. Just two years later, he won the race overall with Brian Redman and Bob Garretson, following this success with another podium finish in 1979. Mendez competed from 1976 to 1982, and again from 1994 to 1996, taking a class victory in 1994 as a long-time Porsche campaigner. From October 1977 to March 1982, Mendez served as president of Sebring Motor Sports International and promoted the 12 Hours, a role for which he is credited with restoring the race's international prestige.

Dirk Müller: A GT Master Across Manufacturers

With 15 starts in the Mobil 1 Twelve Hours of Sebring, all in GT cars, Dirk Müller claimed three class victories with two different manufacturers. His debut in 1999 saw him finish fourth overall in a Porsche 911 Evo for Champion Porsche (his highest overall Sebring finish), followed by a class victory and tenth overall in a Porsche the next year. After a significant break and a switch to BMW, he secured back-to-back class wins in 2011 and 2012. Müller, currently a Ford factory driver, last raced at Sebring in 2024.

Scott Pruett: A Late Bloomer's Sebring Triumph

As Scott Pruett's career began to flourish in 1986, he earned his first class title at Sebring, driving a Roush Mustang with Bruce Jenner to a fourth-place overall finish. Due primarily to commitments in other series, it wasn't until 2014 that the immensely talented Pruett achieved an overall victory at Sebring. He teamed with Memo Rojas and Marino Franchitti in the Ford EcoBoost Riley DP for Chip Ganassi Racing. The California native made 10 career starts at Sebring, securing three podium finishes.

Chip Robinson: Consistency and Victory at Sebring

Chip Robinson, a consistently strong performer across nine starts, won the Mobil 1 Twelve Hours of Sebring overall in 1989 alongside Geoff Brabham and Arie Luyendyk in a Nissan GTP-ZXT. The following year, again with Brabham and Derek Daly in a Nissan, Robinson finished second overall and set the fastest pole qualifying time. He also secured second overall twice more: in 1987 with Al Holbert in the celebrated Lowenbrau Porsche 962, and for the final time in 1992 with Bob Earl and Julian Bailey in a Nissan NPT-90.

Ricky Taylor: A Modern Prototype Ace at Sebring

Current IMSA WeatherTech SportsCar Championship driver Ricky Taylor is set to make his 14th Sebring start in the 75th Mobil 1 Twelve Hours of Sebring. The Florida native has exclusively competed in prototypes at Sebring. In his second Sebring outing in 2015, partnered with his brother Jordan Taylor and Max Angellelli, the team finished second overall in a Corvette DP. Two years later, in 2017, Taylor again teamed with Jordan and Alexander Lynn to claim top honors in a Cadillac DPi with long-time sponsor Konica Minolta. After stints with Team Penske from 2018-2020, he returned to familiar ground with Wayne Taylor Racing in 2021.

James Weaver: A Podiums Master at Sebring

James Weaver's illustrious 18-year career at Sebring was highlighted by eight podium finishes, including a class victory in 1994 where the British driver was joined by Derek Bell and Andy Wallace in a Chevy Spice SC89, winning their class and finishing second overall. In 1997, he secured second overall in a Riley & Scott Mk Ford III with Wallace and Butch Leitzinger, and repeated this feat in 1999 with Elliott Forbes-Robinson and Leitzinger. He also achieved third overall three times (1988, 1989, 2005) and a second-place class finish in 2006.

Don Yenko: Corvette's Enduring GT Champion

Long-standing GT competitor Don Yenko started his Sebring career with a third-place class finish in 1961, followed by a second-place effort the next year. The Pennsylvania native secured another second in class in 1966, won his class in 1967 driving a Corvette with Dave Morgan, and again claimed class honors in 1969 in a Camaro with co-driver Bob Grossman. Although Yenko's final podium finish in the 12-Hour Classic was a third-place in a Camaro in 1970, he made his last start in 1986.

The Road Ahead: Anticipating Future Sebring Legends

The unveiling of this third cohort of 15 racing icons further propels the countdown to the monumental 75th-anniversary celebration. Enthusiasts can look forward to the fourth group of 15 drivers being announced on December 15, 2026, with the final 15 set to be revealed on January 12, 2027, thereby completing the full "Class of 75" roster.