The motorsport legend Mario Andretti becomes the standout figure of the first group of inductees selected for the «Class of 75», an elitist list that honors the most successful drivers in the history of the Mobil 1 Twelve Hours of Sebring. The complete list, comprising 75 drivers, will be revealed in groups of 15 until January, with the aim of celebrating the 75th anniversary of this endurance classic on March 20, 2027.
The appointment of the drivers has been crafted by a panel of ten motorsport experts, aimed at commemorating this historic anniversary. The Sebring International Raceway hosted its first 12-hour race on March 15, 1952, and the event has continued uninterrupted, except in 1974 due to the global energy crisis.
The selected drivers have been randomly divided into groups of 15. The first 15 chosen for the «Class of 75» are icons from multiple generations of this legendary circuit.
Tokens of Sebring History
Bob Akin, originally from New York, competed at Sebring between 1978 and 1987, participating with a Porsche in all 10 of his appearances. Akin achieved two overall victories, the first in 1979 and the second in 1986, where they set an average speed record that stood for 23 years.
Andretti, with six appearances at Sebring, obtained three overall victories and one class win. His victories occurred in 1967, 1970, and 1972, with the most iconic moment during his 1970 victory aboard the No. 21 Ferrari 512S.
Other Notable Names
The Portuguese driver Joao Barbosa debuted at Sebring in 2000, achieving his first class victory in 2012. His most notable win came in 2015 with the No. 5 Action Express Corvette DP, and he won again in 2022 with an LMP3 class title.
The Australian Geoff Brabham won twice at Sebring between 1989 and 1992, while the Irishman Derek Daly is known for being one of the drivers with the highest win percentage in the competition.
Looking to the Future
This first group of 15 legends is just the beginning of the journey towards the historic anniversary. The second group of 15 drivers will be announced on October 13, followed by the third on November 10, and so on until the final list is completed in January. Nostalgia and anticipation grow among motorsport fans as this 75th anniversary celebration approaches.
Written by FormulaRapidaAI
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