The IMSA-sanctioned Twelve Hours of Sebring is a test of endurance, a crucible where the entire Mustang sports car racing lineup will push the limits into the Florida sunset. The 3.74-mile (5.95-kilometer), 17-turn road course known for its demanding tarmac will host the Mustang Challenge season-opener, as well as endurance racing in both Michelin Pilot Challenge and the WeatherTech SportsCar Championship, March 18 - 21.
As the spirit of America, the Ford Mustang is the world’s best selling sports car and one of the planet’s most popular race cars. With Mustang-based race cars competing in international sports car competition (GT3 and GT4), NASCAR, NHRA, Formula Drift, in Supercars, at the Pikes Peak International Hill Climb and in its own bespoke regional one-make series – Mustang Cup and Mustang Challenge – the platform has an unprecedented global reach. This weekend, 48 Mustang race cars are scheduled to race across all disciplines.
FAST FACTS
- Sebring International Raceway will host more than 30 Mustangs competing across multiple divisions – the Dark Horse R in Mustang Challenge North America, Mustang GT4 in Michelin Pilot Challenge and the Mustang GT3 in the WeatherTech SportsCar Championship.
- Led by Ken Miles and Lloyd Ruby, Ford achieved a 1-2-3 finish at the 1966 Sebring 12 Hours. This victory followed their earlier triumph at the 24 Hours of Daytona in February of that year, ultimately setting the stage for the historic first victory at the 24 Hours of Le Mans.
- Ford Mustang won its class in both the 1985 and 1986 editions of the race. Wally Dallenbach Jr. and John Jones secured the 1985 IMSA GTO class victory, while Scott Pruett and Bruce Jenner earned the 1986 race win.
- Ford Racing is hosting fans all weekend at its display, located inside Turn 17. An Off-Road course, located parallel to the back straightaway, also invites fans to experience the off-road capability of Ford Racing’s Raptor.
DRIVER QUOTES
BEN BARKER, No. 64 Ford Racing Mustang GT3 – “I’m super excited and feeling confident about Sebring, which is one of my favourite U.S. tracks. We’ve worked hard since Daytona to get the Mustang GT3 ready for this race and, along with Dennis and Rocky, we’re up for the fight.”
DENNIS OLSEN, No. 64 Ford Racing Mustang GT3 – “It will be good to get back on track after the disappointment of Daytona where we had the pace but it just wasn’t to be. We have prepared well and we are ready to deliver.”
MIKE ROCKENFELLER, No. 64 Ford Racing Mustang GT3 – “I can’t wait to go racing at Sebring. We had a pretty rough start to the season at Daytona so I want to get back with the boys in the No. 64 Mustang and get a good result this time around.”
CHRISTOPHER MIES, No. 65 Ford Racing Mustang GT3 – “Hopefully, after Daytona, we can have a bit of a swing around. We had a decent result there but after winning the previous year, we had hoped for more. We haven’t shown the full potential of the updates to the Mustang GT3, so I’m hoping for more this time out. We had a really good test at VIR recently, so let’s have a good weekend at Sebring and reward everyone’s hard work with a podium.”
FRÉDÉRIC VERVISCH, No. 65 Ford Racing Mustang GT3 – “I’m looking forward to the second race of the IMSA season. Sebring is a very different track to Daytona but I think we have some good potential. I think the whole team did a great job at Daytona so let’s keep that going.”
SEBASTIAN PRIAULX, No. 65 Ford Racing Mustang GT3 – “I love this race. Sebring is such an iconic event and I’m looking forward to being back with Chris and Fred. Our result wasn’t too bad last year but we’re hoping to do better this time around. Sebring is a real driver’s circuit and I can’t wait to get out there and attack those bumps in the Mustang GT3.”
JOEY HAND, No. 66 Gradient Racing Mustang GT3 – “We’ve had some really good pace with the Gradient Mustang GT3. We didn’t get to finish it up at Daytona, but I was excited during the race that I was able to drive from the back of the pack in the first couple of hours and up to the top three, just to show off what we can do. I keep saying it, but I just have a good feeling. I love being part of this Gradient program, and I think that our day is coming.”
JAKE WALKER, No. 66 Gradient Racing Mustang GT3 – “We have made great progress and have done everything needed to prepare, thanks to the hardworking teams at Ford and Gradient Racing. I’m grateful to be partnered with Till and Joey for this race. Joey’s factory experience has been incredibly insightful, and both Corey [Lewis] and Till have played an important role in our preparation. Everyone has put in a huge amount of effort behind the scenes, and that preparation gives us confidence heading into one of the toughest events on the calendar.”
TILL BECHTOLSHEIMER, No. 66 Gradient Racing Mustang GT3 – “Sebring is a race that we all collectively really look forward to every year. It's such a unique track, and although it is arguably the most challenging and demanding event of the season, it also comes with a lot of opportunities since it can be so unpredictable. We tested at Sebring recently and we're feeling good coming into the 12-hour.”
SHEENA MONK, No. 16 Myers Riley Motorsports Mustang GT3 – “I’m eager to put the chemistry and hard work from Myers Riley back on track at the 12 Hours of Sebring. We have made great efforts across the entire team to continue improving our proficiency with the Mustang GT3 Evo, and it’s time for us to start building momentum.”
FELIPE FRAGA, No. 16 Myers Riley Motorsports Mustang GT3 – “I'm genuinely thrilled to head to Sebring in the Mustang GT3. The test went extremely well, and it gave us a lot of confidence in what the Mustang can do. Sebring is one of those places that demands everything from you, from the bumps to the speed and the non-stop intensity, so I’m excited to see how the Mustang responds when it’s time to push for real.”
JENSON ALTZMAN, No. 16 Myers Riley Motorsports Mustang GT3 – “After a solid couple of days of testing, the Myers Riley team is confident that our Mustang GT3 is in a great position for race week at Sebring. It’s been a massive team effort at the sim to get us up to speed so quickly, and I’m looking forward to finishing what we started in Daytona.”
