The small town of Sebring in central Florida was founded in 1911 by George Eugene Sebring, a self-made millionaire from Ohio who made his fortune in the manufacture of pottery and porcelain. A quiet town throughout most of the year comes alive on the week of the 12 Hours of Sebring, held in March each year on the oldest road course in the United States. In 2012, the 60th 12 Hours of Sebring will kick off the new FIA World Endurance Championship.

Sebring has the nickname City on the circle because of the circular plan devised by its founder: the historic downtown area is positioned in the centre and the immediately surrounding streets form circles, like the ancient Egyptian city of Heliopolis. A century after its founding, unlike the rest of Florida, Sebring is relatively undeveloped.

Florida brings to mind white sandy beaches fringed with palm trees; things you will not find at Sebring. Located in the heart of the Sunshine State, the sea is more than two hours away, but fortunately, many lakes, including Lake Jackson, allow people to relax by the water with beaches made from scratch. Temperatures are certainly high in March compared with Europe, but it can get very chilly in the early morning, because of the central location.

The city of Sebring, which is part of Highlands County, being distant from tourist haunts, has a local industry based around the citrus groves and cattle ranches that border the national highway US 27 as you drive down from Orlando.

A sleepy city of 10,000 people, Like the small town of Augusta Georgia that hosts one of the biggest golf tournaments in the world, Sebring comes alive one week each year, in early spring, when a boisterous and festive crowd come to town, which sees its population increase tenfold! The crowd gives the 12 Hours of Sebring an special atmosphere, but that's another story ...

Cecile Bonardel

Photo: SEBRING (FLORIDA, USA), Sebring, 12 HOURS OF SEBRING, March 19, 2011. The population of Sebring increases tenfold during the week of the 12 Hours.