In 1953 the first FIA World Championship for sports car racing made its debut at Sebring International Raceway in Florida. History repeats itself on Saturday, March 17th with the inaugural FIA World Endurance Championship race. The motorsports world anxiously awaits the debut of this new championship at the historic Florida circuit that evolved from a former military training base for B-17 crews that was established in 1942.
The car that won the very first FIA World Championship sports car race in 1953 is returning to Sebring to celebrate this historic event. The Cunningham C4R (chassis no. 5217) built and entered by American road racing pioneer Briggs Cunningham will be on display March 14-17 at Sebring. Driven by John Fitch and Phil Walters, the Cunningham finished with a one-lap margin over the Aston Martin DB3 driven by Reg Parnell and George Abecassis.
In addition, several other former Sebring winning cars will be on display at the track’s “Gallery of Legends” building in the paddock.
The 60th Annual Mobil 1 Twelve Hours of Sebring Fueled by Fresh from Florida starts at 10:30 on Saturday, March 17th. For information on tickets visit www.sebringraceway.com.
Dave Davies (Source: Sebring Raceway press information)
Photo SEBRING FLORIDA USA, SEBRING CIRCUIT, 1953, Race winning Cunningham C4R driven by Phil Walters and John Fitch returns to Sebring on 17th March 2012.