Sebring 12 hour race in 1968


The 16th 12 Hours of Sebring also 12 Hours of Endurance For The Alitalia Airlines Trophy, Sebring , took place on 23 March 1968 at the Sebring International Raceway place and was the second championship round of the World Sportscar Championship and on trans Series of this year.
The race
What became apparent after the end of the motorsport season in 1967 became reality in the winter of 1967/68. Startled by the record distance of the victorious Ford GT40 Mk.IV , driven by Dan Gurney and AJ Foyt at the 24-hour race of Le Mans in 1967 , and the 24-hour average of 218.038 km / h, the CSI gave for 1968 known a drastic change in the regulations. The most significant component was the reduction of the displacement to three liters, which resulted in the withdrawal of the Ford and Ferrari factory teams from the world championship of sports cars. Ferrari could no longer use the 330P4 and soon had no new racing vehicle available. The GT40 models with the 5 and 7 liter engines also disappeared from the racetracks.
While the first race of the world championship, the 24-hour race in Daytona , has always suffered from a lack of spectator interest, only just under 30,000 people interested in racing came to Sebring this year; it was the lowest audience attendance since the early 1950s. Since the organizers feared too few reports, the race was also announced as a championship run for the Trans-Am series . The Trans-Am vehicles, which made up almost a third of the starters, made it into the overall standings, had their own racing class, but also drove a race in the race.
Porsche had a suitable racing car, the Porsche 907 , which was brought to Sebring as a short-tail version in 1968. The positive experience gained with the 910 Bergspyder in the 1967 European Hill Climb Championship was partially implemented by Porsche in the 907 hatchback. As with the Bergspyder, the tubular space frame was made of aluminum instead of steel in order to save weight. The outer skin was similar to that of the 910. However, like the 907 long tail built in 1967, the cockpit was narrow and, with its flat windshield, more streamlined than the 910. The raised side windows that reached into the roof allowed a good all-round view. In contrast to the long tail, the engine was not covered by a transparent plastic hood. A plastic plate painted in the same color as the car in the rear had air inlet openings for the cooling fan and the air funnel for the fuel injection. As with the 910, the cockpit roof ended with a spoiler lip. The rear-opening rear had a fixed spoiler. It was powered by a 2.2-liter, 8-cylinder boxer engine . Porsche reported the drivers Joseph Siffert , Hans Herrmann , Vic Elford , Jochen Neerpasch , Gerhard Mitter , Rolf Stommelen , Ludovico Scarfiotti and Joe Buzzetta for the four works cars . In a short time, Siffert had risen to become one of the fastest drivers in the sports car scene. The courageous Swiss always pushed the limits and, with his uncompromising driving style, often put an extreme strain on racing technology. In Sebring, he was joined by Hans Herrmann, who was already 40 years old at the time, who made his debut with partner Wolfgang Graf Berghe von Trips in Sebring in 1956 with a class win for Porsche.
The big attraction of the race was the Howmet TX , a racing car that was powered by a gas turbine . The turbines for the two Howmet TX were leased from Continental Aviation & Engineerin . The TS325-1 gas turbines were prototypes from the company's tender application for a military helicopter, for which Continental had no other use at the time.
Hans Herrmann achieved the fastest training time in the factory Porsche 907 2.2 with a time of 2: 49,400 minutes and an average of 177.845 km / h. He was followed by Jacky Ickx in the John Wyer- Ford GT40 and Dick Thompson in the amazingly fast Howmet TX. As expected, the works Porsche shaped the history of the race. Two dropped out in the course of the race, the other two finished safely in the lead. The Porsches came closest to the holding of the actor James Garner located Lola T70 of Scooter Patrick and Dave Jordan , which turned out after 103 laps by a cylinder damage, and the Ford GT40 of David Hobbs and Paul Hawkins , the collision with the AMC Javelin from Janet Guthrie had.
Results
Final ranking
Item | class | No. | team | driver | vehicle | Round | ||
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
1 | P 3.0 | 49 |
![]() |
![]() ![]() |
Porsche 907 2.2 | 227 | ||
2 | P 3.0 | 51 |
![]() |
![]() ![]() |
Porsche 907 2.2 | 226 | ||
3 | TA 5.0 | 15th |
![]() |
![]() ![]() |
Chevrolet Camaro | 221 | ||
4th | TA 5.0 | 16 |
![]() |
![]() ![]() ![]() |
Chevrolet Camaro | 217 | ||
5 | TA 5.0 | 31 |
![]() |
![]() ![]() |
Ford Mustang | 217 | ||
6th | GT + 5.0 | 3 |
![]() |
![]() ![]() |
Chevrolet Corvette | 208 | ||
7th | GT 2.0 | 59 |
![]() |
![]() ![]() |
Porsche 911S | 208 | ||
8th | GT 2.0 | 60 |
![]() |
![]() ![]() ![]() |
Porsche 911S | 204 | ||
9 | GT 2.0 | 61 |
![]() |
![]() ![]() |
Porsche 911S | 203 | ||
10 | P 3.0 | 44 |
![]() |
![]() ![]() |
MGC | 195 | ||
11 | TA 5.0 | 33 |
![]() |
![]() ![]() |
Ford Mustang | 195 | ||
12 | TA 5.0 | 24 |
![]() |
![]() ![]() |
AMC Javelin | 193 | ||
13 | GT 2.0 | 62 |
![]() |
![]() ![]() |
Porsche 911S | 190 | ||
14th | P 2.0 | 72 |
![]() |
![]() ![]() ![]() |
Lancia Fulvia HF | 187 | ||
15th | S 1.6 | 64 |
![]() |
![]() ![]() |
MG Midget | 185 | ||
16 | S 5.0 | 30th |
![]() |
![]() ![]() |
Ford GT40 | 184 | ||
17th | TA 5.0 | 38 |
![]() |
![]() ![]() ![]() |
Ford Mustang | 184 | ||
18th | GT 2.0 | 66 |
![]() |
![]() ![]() ![]() |
MGB GT | 183 | ||
19th | GT + 5.0 | 80 |
![]() |
![]() ![]() |
Chevrolet Corvette | 171 | ||
20th | P 2.0 | 58 |
![]() |
![]() ![]() |
Porsche 910 | 168 | ||
21st | TA 5.0 | 19th |
![]() |
![]() ![]() |
Chevrolet Camaro | 168 | ||
22nd | GT 2.0 | 52 |
![]() |
![]() ![]() |
Triumph GT6 | 168 | ||
Not classified | ||||||||
23 | TA 5.0 | 20th |
![]() |
![]() ![]() |
Chevrolet Camaro | 164 | ||
24 | GT 5.0 | 84 |
![]() |
![]() ![]() |
Jaguar E-Type | 161 | ||
25th | TA 5.0 | 18th |
![]() |
![]() ![]() |
Chevrolet Camaro | 161 | ||
26th | TA 5.0 | 23 |
![]() |
![]() ![]() |
Mercury Cougar | 159 | ||
27 | GT + 5.0 | 7th |
![]() |
![]() ![]() ![]() |
Chevrolet Corvette | 158 | ||
28 | TA 5.0 | 17th |
![]() |
![]() ![]() ![]() |
Chevrolet Camaro | 158 | ||
29 | S 5.0 | 29 |
![]() |
![]() ![]() |
Ford GT40 | 157 | ||
30th | S 2.0 | 64 |
![]() |
![]() ![]() |
Porsche 906 | 157 | ||
31 | GT 2.0 | 67 |
![]() |
![]() ![]() ![]() |
MGB | 148 | ||
32 | TA 5.0 | 26th |
![]() |
![]() ![]() |
AMC Javelin | 144 | ||
33 | P 2.0 | 95 |
![]() |
![]() ![]() ![]() |
Beach prototype | 140 | ||
34 | P 3.0 | 85 |
![]() |
![]() ![]() |
Yenko Stinger | 130 | ||
35 | P 2.0 | 73 |
![]() |
![]() ![]() |
Austin-Healey Sprite | 125 | ||
36 | GT 5.0 | 27 |
![]() |
![]() ![]() ![]() |
Shelby GT350 | 98 | ||
Failed | ||||||||
37 | TA 5.0 | 14th |
![]() |
![]() ![]() |
Chevrolet Camaro | 132 | ||
38 | P 3.0 | 76 |
![]() |
![]() ![]() ![]() |
Howmet TX Continental | 125 | ||
39 | S 5.0 | 9 |
![]() |
![]() ![]() |
Lola T70 Mk.III GT | 103 | ||
40 | TA 5.0 | 25th |
![]() |
![]() ![]() ![]() |
AMC Javelin | 90 | ||
41 | S 1.6 | 68 |
![]() |
![]() ![]() ![]() |
Lotus 47 | 81 | ||
42 | S 1.6 | 68 |
![]() |
![]() ![]() |
Triumph Spitfire | 72 | ||
43 | P 2.0 | 71 |
![]() |
![]() ![]() ![]() |
Lancia Fulvia HF Zagato Proto | 67 | ||
44 | TA 5.0 | 32 |
![]() |
![]() ![]() |
Ford Mustang | 63 | ||
45 | S 5.0 | 11 |
![]() |
![]() ![]() |
Lola T70 Mk.III GT | 61 | ||
46 | GT 3.0 | 86 |
![]() |
![]() ![]() ![]() |
Triumph TR4A | 59 | ||
47 | TA 5.0 | 21st |
![]() |
![]() ![]() |
Chevrolet Camaro | 55 | ||
48 | P 3.0 | 47 |
![]() |
![]() ![]() |
TriumphTR250K | 49 | ||
49 | GT + 5.0 | 4th |
![]() |
![]() ![]() |
Chevrolet Corvette | 48 | ||
50 | P 3.0 | 48 |
![]() |
![]() ![]() |
Porsche 907 2.2 | 46 | ||
51 | GT 2.0 | 63 |
![]() |
![]() ![]() |
Porsche 911S | 46 | ||
52 | TA 5.0 | 81 |
![]() |
![]() ![]() |
Chevrolet Camaro | 43 | ||
53 | GT + 5.0 | 2 |
![]() |
![]() ![]() |
Chevrolet Corvette | 43 | ||
54 | TA 5.0 | 37 |
![]() |
![]() ![]() |
Ford Mustang | 43 | ||
55 | TA 5.0 | 12 |
![]() |
![]() ![]() |
Chevrolet Camaro | 40 | ||
56 | S 5.0 | 10 |
![]() |
![]() ![]() |
Lola T70 Mk.III GT | 40 | ||
57 | P 3.0 | 42 |
![]() |
![]() ![]() |
Alpine A211 | 39 | ||
58 | P 3.0 | 42 |
![]() |
![]() ![]() |
Ford GT40 | 36 | ||
59 | P 2.0 | 55 |
![]() |
![]() ![]() |
Porsche 906E | 35 | ||
60 | P 2.0 | 55 |
![]() |
![]() ![]() ![]() |
Ferrari 250LM | 33 | ||
61 | TA 5.0 | 36 |
![]() |
![]() ![]() |
Ford Mustang | 25th | ||
62 | P 2.0 | 56 |
![]() |
![]() ![]() |
Porsche 910 | 16 | ||
63 | TA 5.0 | 34 |
![]() |
![]() ![]() |
Ford Mustang | 16 | ||
64 | S 5.0 | 8th |
![]() |
![]() ![]() ![]() |
Lola T70 Mk.III GT | 12 | ||
65 | TA 5.0 | 35 |
![]() |
![]() ![]() |
Ford Mustang | 11 | ||
66 | TA 5.0 | 22nd |
![]() |
![]() ![]() ![]() |
Mercury Cougar | 10 | ||
67 | P 3.0 | 50 |
![]() |
![]() ![]() |
Porsche 907 2.2 | 7th | ||
68 | S 2.0 | 93 |
![]() |
![]() ![]() ![]() |
TVR Grantura 1800S | 6th | ||
Not started | ||||||||
69 | P 2.0 | 57 |
![]() |
![]() ![]() |
Porsche 911R | 1 | ||
70 | P 2.0 | 69 |
![]() |
![]() ![]() |
Lotus 47 | 2 | ||
71 | P 2.0 | 70 |
![]() |
![]() ![]() |
Lotus 47 | 3 | ||
72 | GT 2.0 | 90 |
![]() |
![]() ![]() ![]() |
Porsche 911 | 4th | ||
73 | GT 2.0 | 91 |
![]() |
![]() ![]() ![]() |
Porsche 356 Carrera 2 | 5 |
1 not started 2 engine failure in training 3 engine failure in training 4 vehicle disqualified 5 engine failure in training
Only in the entry list
Here you will find teams, drivers and vehicles that were originally registered for the race but did not take part for a variety of reasons.
Item | class | No. | team | driver | chassis |
---|---|---|---|---|---|
74 | GT + 5.0 |
![]() |
![]() ![]() |
Chevrolet Corvette | |
75 | S 5.0 |
![]() |
![]() ![]() |
Ford GT40 | |
76 | S 1.6 |
![]() |
![]() |
Lotus Elan | |
77 | GT 2.0 |
![]() |
![]() |
Porsche 911S | |
78 | P 3.0 |
![]() |
![]() |
Howmet TX Continental | |
79 | P 2.0 |
![]() |
Ferrari Dino 206S | ||
80 | P 3.0 |
![]() |
![]() ![]() |
Ferrari Dino 206S | |
81 | TA 5.0 |
![]() |
![]() |
Ford Mustang | |
82 | P 3.0 |
![]() |
![]() ![]() |
Porsche 910 | |
83 | GT + 5.0 |
![]() |
![]() |
Chevrolet Corvette | |
84 | S 5.0 | 45 |
![]() |
![]() ![]() |
Ferrari 250LM |
85 | P 2.0 | 58 |
![]() |
![]() ![]() |
Porsche 907 |
86 | P 2.0 | 87 |
![]() |
![]() |
Porsche 906 |
87 | P 2.0 | 88 |
![]() |
![]() ![]() |
Porsche 906 |
Class winner
Racing data
- Registered: 87
- Started: 68
- Valued: 22
- Race classes: 8
- Spectator: unknown
- Race day weather: warm and dry
- Route length: 8.369 km
- Driving time of the winning team: 12:01: 19.225 hours
- Total laps of the winning team: 227
- Total distance of the winning team: 1983.356 km
- Winner's average: 164.977 km / h
- Pole position: Hans Herrmann - Porsche 907 2.2 (# 49) - 2: 49.400 = 177.845 km / h
- Fastest race lap: Scooter Patrick - Lola T70 MK.III GT (# 9) - 2: 49,000 - 178.265 km / h
- Racing series: 2nd round of the 1968 World Sports Car Championship
- Racing series: 2nd round of the Trans-Am series in 1968
literature
- Ken Breslauer: Sebring. The official History of America's Great Sports Car Race. David Bull, Cambridge MA 1995, ISBN 0-9649722-0-4 .
- Peter Higham: The Guinness Guide to International Motor Racing. A complete Reference from Formula 1 to Touring Car. Guinness Publishing Ltd., London 1995, ISBN 0-85112-642-1 .
Web links
Individual evidence
Previous race of the 1968 Daytona 24 Hours |
Sports car world championship |
Successor to the 6 Hours of Brands Hatch 1968 |