12 Hours of Sebring: the programme of events.

 

The 12 Hours of Sebring will mark the opening of the 2012 season of endurance racing, but also the beginning of the new FIA World Endurance Championship (WEC). The  Floridian classic traditionally opens the endurance season, but this year, fans and competitors are even more excited to be entering a new era for the sport.

Competitors will set-up from the Friday before, with the optional practice sessions to be held Monday and Tuesday, March 12 and 13. The first day will be devoted entirely to the WEC participants from 08:00 to 17:00 and the second day will be shared with the support races, the WEC competitors will have two hours of running at their disposal, from 11:50 to 12:50 and 16:50 to 17:50.

Wednesday, 14th March will be for photos and television opportunities, the track being devolved to the competitors of support races. Track activities for the main race competitors will begin again on Thursday, March 15th with no less than three free practice sessions. The cars will start at 10:00 for a one hour session, and again 14:50 until 15:50. The night practice session that is mandatory for all drivers will take place, from 19:35 to 21:20.

The festivities will resume on Friday morning March 16th, with a final free practice session of one hour of 9:55 to 10:55 before the qualifying sessions in the afternoon of fifteen minutes each. The LM GTE Am and GTC are first up at 15:20 before giving way to LM GTE Pro at 15:35. After a five-minute break, the LM P2 and LM PC will take the track at 15:55 and LM P1 will close the day at 16:10.

Saturday the 17th March 17 will be a long one. The big day will begin with a warmup of 25 minutes at 08:00 followed by pre-grid activity. The famous phrase "gentlemen start your engines" will be delivered a few minutes before the start of the race scheduled at 10:30 for a period of 12 hours.

Motorsport fans can meet their favorite drivers during the autograph session on Friday from 12:00 to 13:00 at the back of service trucks, a friendly event enjoyed by everyone.

The thirty WEC competitors will be joined by those of the American Le Mans Series, which promises to form an exceptional line-up for a race which will celebrate its 60th anniversary this year.

Cecile Bonardel

Photo: SEBRING (FLORIDA, USA), Sebring, 12 Hours of Sebring, Saturday, March 19, 2011, RACE. The sunset at Sebring is a delight for professional and amateur photographers, after a busy week for all, especially for Oreca, who were winners in 2011.