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<\/figure><\/div>\n\n\n\n“Sebring is known as the birthplace of American endurance racing, the first race being held in 1952,\u201d said Elizabeth Worley, Marketing Coordinator for Sebring International Raceway.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
The Sebring International Raceway is the longest operating racing facility.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
“So sports car racing, as we know it today was founded here in Sebring, Florida,\u201d said Worley.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
It\u2019s celebrating 70 years in 2022, a place full of history.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
\u201cSebring International Raceway, originally was an Air Force training base for B17 pilots from about 1941 to 1947,\u201d said Worley.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Parts of the track still use that original concrete. That\u2019s what makes racing in Sebring so unique.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
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<\/figure><\/div>\n\n\n\n“Sebring has a lot of character, to say the least. So we are very known for being super bumpy, for being very difficult on not only cars but also drivers. So when you see drivers, most of them will tell you that 24 hours at Daytona is a lot easier for them than just the Twelve Hours of Sebring,\u201d said Worley.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Twelve Hours of Sebring is their biggest event of the year and a huge economic driver.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
\u201cThis event really helps put Sebring on the map. You can go overseas, go to France, go to the Netherlands, different parts of the world and mention Sebring, and they know what Sebring is, because of this facility and this race,\u201d said Worley.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
However, the raceway is more than just that event. People use the track for things like private car clubs to manufacturer testing.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
\u201cBasically one of the biggest purposes of racing, specifically sports car racing, is to obtain technology,\u201d said Worley.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
The raceway has a big impact on the cars we drive every day and how they’ve developed. Certain car companies come to the track and push their cars to the limit to see what will break.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
\u201cAnd they take that back to the manufacturer, and they help make the cars that we would purchase at a dealership better,\u201d said Worley.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
The raceway has had a huge impact on the community.<\/p>\n\n\n\n