Porsche Celebrates 50th Anniversary of First Sebring Victory

Posted Mar 16, 2010 by Earl Fannin

Updated Mar 16, 2010 at 06:06 PM

With a heritage at Sebring International Raceway unmatched by any other auto manufacturer, Porsche’s entries in the 58th running of the Mobil 1 Twelve Hours of Sebring presented by Fresh From Florida take on additional significance in 2010 as this year marks the 50th anniversary of Porsche’s first overall win at Sebring in 1960.

Eighteen overall victories, 65 class wins, 205 overall top ten finishes, and 13 consecutive wins (1976 - 1988) at Sebring make Porsche the most successful manufacturer by far in the history of the race. Their first victory on the airfield circuit 50 years ago, and Porsche’s first major overall international endurance victory, went to Hans Herrmann (Germany) and Olivier Gendebien (Belgium) in the factory Porsche RS 60.

Herrmann, now 82 years old, will visit the scene of his historic 1960 win, and receive a special recognition award from Sebring International Raceway.  One of Porsche’s greatest factory drivers, Herrmann also won Sebring in 1968 in a Porsche 907, right after taking the same car to victory weeks earlier with Vic Elford scoring Porsche’s first overall win at the 24 Hours of Daytona.  He wrapped up his illustrious career in 1970 by driving a Porsche 917 to victory for Porsche’s first overall win at the 24 Hours of Le Mans.

Only weeks after announcing his retirement from sports car racing, Hurley Haywood, one of the world’s most accomplished endurance race drivers, will be inducted into the prestigious Sebring Hall of Fame Friday.  Winning the 24 Hours of Daytona five times, the 24 Hours of Le Mans three times, and the 12 Hours of Sebring twice, Haywood’s careers has spanned almost four decades.  He has won in Porsche 911, Porsche 962, and Porsche 935 race cars.

Both Haywood and Hermann will be available for autographs at 2:30 pm Friday at the Gallery of Legends.  They will be joined by fellow 2010 Sebring Hall of Fame inductees John Morton and Derek Daley.