Sebring 12 hour race 1983
The 31st Sebring 12 Hours of Sebring , also 2 Hours of Sebring, The Coca-Cola Classic, Sebring International Raceway , took place on March 19, 1983 at the Sebring International Raceway and was the third race of the IMSA GTP series this year.
The race
The 1983 IMSA GTP series began on February 6 with the Daytona 24-hour race , which ended with the overall victory of Bob Wollek , Claude Ballot-Léna , Preston Henn and AJ Foyt in a Porsche 935L . The second race, the Miami Grand Prix , was won by Al Holbert on a March 83G .
While the event had an international starting field last year , this year the race for the teams and drivers was again an All-American race. In 1982, Charles Mendez's time as organizer of the race, who was replaced by officials from Sebring Regional Airport from 1983 , also ended. A major innovation was the first route reconstruction since 1967 . One of the two runway passages was replaced by a completely new section of the track, which shortened the total length of the racetrack by approx. 700 meters to 7.644 km. Alec Ulmann , the founder and longtime promoter of the race, returned to the event in 1983 as race director.
84 vehicles entered the race on race day; the largest field in Sebring so far. Even for a long-distance race with a driving time of over 12 hours , this number of starters was enormous. The field was led by the GTP prototypes approved since 1981 , such as the Jaguar XJR-5 , the Lola T600 , the March 82G and 83G and the Nimrod NRA / C2 . There was also an abundance of GTU and GTO sports cars, including different models from the Porsche brand .
The fastest lap time in qualifying was not achieved by a driver in a GTP prototype, but by last year's winner John Paul junior in a Porsche 935L. Paul drove a time of 2: 23.965 minutes (average 191.156 km / h) and was 1.5 seconds faster than Bob Tullius in the Jaguar XJR-5. Tullius and his team partner Bill Adam led in the early stages of the race. The leadership changed several times in the first three hours. Among others, Hurley Haywood , Al Holbert , Bob Akin and Dale Whittington were in the lead with their vehicles. Due to the large number of starters, there were considerable problems with refueling. Sometimes teams had to share a box, and after the first refueling stops, some tank systems ran out of fuel. After three hours of racing, the race had to be neutralized by yellow flags across the entire course in order to enable tank trucks to transport fuel over the racetrack to the pit facilities. After the failure of the Jaguar and John Paul’s Porsche, which is now in the lead, one of the most spectacular and varied Sebring races in history began. A wide variety of vehicles and teams were at the top. Skeeter McKitterick and Milt Minter were leading in Grid Plaza S1 , as was Pete Halmser and Rick Knoop in the Mazda RX-7 , which failed after a suspension failure.
Three quarters of an hour before the end of the race, Hurley Haywood and Al Holbert were in the lead and looked like the sure winners when the power went out in the Bayside Porsche 935. The electrics no longer worked properly, which meant that the light on the Porsche went out. Since it was not possible to drive at night without lights, the Porsche had to pit and lost half an hour in the subsequent repair. A few minutes before the end, the Porsche 934 with starting number 9 was suddenly in front. The car was driven by Wayne Baker , who shared the cockpit with Jim Mullen and Kees Nierop . Baker had handling problems and almost ran out of gas. Also, he had no idea he was in the lead as the pit crew didn't tell him. There they were of the opinion that the car only drove in the GTO class. As a result, Baker, who was only driving slowly around the course, was almost overtaken by Bob Akin in the end. After the checkered flag fell, the uninformed Baker did not drive into Victory Lane, but directly into the paddock, where minutes later he learned that he had won the overall standings as well as the class.
Results
Final ranking
Item | class | No. | team | driver | vehicle | Round | ||
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
1 | GTO | 9 | Personalized car dealership |
Wayne Baker Jim Mullen Kees Nierop |
Porsche 934 | 231 | ||
2 | GTP | 5 | Bob Akin Motor Racing |
Bob Akin Dale Whittington John O'Steen |
Porsche 935K3 / 80 | 231 | ||
3 | GTP | 86 | Bayside Disposal Racing |
Hurley Haywood Al Holbert |
Porsche 935/80 | 229 | ||
4th | GTO | 61 | Vista Racing |
Don Courtney Luis Sereix Brent O'Neill
|
Chevrolet Monza | 227 | ||
5 | GTP | 22nd | Nimrod Racing |
Reggie Smith Lyn St. James Drake Olson |
Nimrod NRA / C2 | 224 | ||
6th | GTU | 66 | Mike Meyer Racing |
Jack Dunham Jeff Kline Jon Compton
|
Mazda RX-7 | 224 | ||
7th | GTO | 65 | Manuel Villa |
Luis Gordillo Manuel Villa Chiqui Soldevilla
|
Porsche Carrera RSR | 224 | ||
8th | GTU | 82 | Trinity Racing |
Joe Varde Jack Baldwin John Casey
|
Mazda RX-7 | 223 | ||
9 | GTO | 01 | Marketing Corporation of America |
John Morton Tom Klausler
|
Ford Mustang | 222 | ||
10 | GTO | 35 | Pegasus Racing |
Al Leon Paul Gilgan Wayne Pickering |
Porsche Carrera RSR | 222 | ||
11 | GTP | 12 | Henn's Swap Shop Racing |
Don Whittington Bill Whittington |
Porsche 935K3 | 218 | ||
12 | GTP | 3 | Grid Motor Racing |
Skeeter McKitterick Milt Minter |
Grid Plaza S1 | 216 | ||
13 | GTU | 37 | Burdsall Welter |
Peter Welter Tom Burdsall Nort Northam
|
Mazda RX-7 | 216 | ||
14th | GTU | 23 | Roe Selby |
Tim Selby Earl Roe
|
Porsche 911 | 210 | ||
15th | GTO | 83 | R & H Racing |
Rainer Brezinka Rudy Bartling Roger Schramm
|
Porsche Carrera RSR | 204 | ||
16 | GTU | 92 | Kent Racing |
Lee Mueller Terry Visger
|
Mazda RX-7 | 204 | ||
17th | GTU | 63 | RGP 500 Racing |
Jim Downing John Maffucci Chuck Ulinski
|
Mazda RX-7 | 204 | ||
18th | GTU | 11 | Paul Goral |
Paul Goral Larry Figaro Peter Uria
|
Porsche 911 | 202 | ||
19th | GTO | 69 | Hiram Cruz Racing |
Mandy Gonzalez Hiram Cruz |
Porsche 934 | 201 | ||
20th | GTU | 90 | 901 shop |
Mike Schaefer Doug Zitza Jack Refenning
|
Porsche 911 | 198 | ||
21st | GTO | 06 | Juan Lopez |
Juan Lopez Luis Mendez
|
Porsche Carrera | 192 | ||
22nd | GTO | 89 | Taca El Salvador |
Enrique Molins Eduardo Barrientos Eduardo Galdamez
|
Porsche Carrera RSR | 188 | ||
23 | GTU | 27 | Scuderia Rosso |
Jim Fowell's Ray Mummery Steve Potter
|
Mazda RX-7 | 187 | ||
24 | GTO | 14th | Oftedahl Racing |
Carl Shafer Carlos Ramirez Mike Meldeau
|
Pontiac Firebird | 185 | ||
25th | GTU | 68 | Jack Rynerson |
Jack Rynerson Van McDonald Chris Wilder
|
Porsche 911 | 183 | ||
26th | GTO | 57 | Dave Heinz Racing |
Dave Heinz Jerry Thompson Paul Gentilozzi |
Chevrolet Camaro | 181 | ||
27 | GTO | 03 | Bob's Speed Products |
Bob Lee Timothy Lee Gary Myers
|
Ford Maverick | 180 | ||
28 | GTU | 91 | Bryant & Graham Racing |
Charles Bryant Alex Priest Mike Guido
|
BMW 2002 | 178 | ||
29 | GTU | 30th | Case Racing |
Ron Case Craig Case Dave Pannacione
|
Porsche 911 | 173 | ||
30th | GTU | 51 | Red Roof Inns |
Doug Carmean Don Herman
|
Mazda RX-7 | 167 | ||
31 | GTO | 58 | Brumos Racing |
Deborah Gregg Kathy Rude Bonnie Henn |
Porsche 924 Carrera | 165 | ||
32 | GTO | 96 | Weld fixturing |
Phil Byrd Freddy Baker Robert Kirby |
Porsche Carrera RSR | 162 | ||
33 | GTU | 42 | Gary Wonzer |
Gary Wonzer Bill Bean Buzz Cason
|
Porsche 911 | 162 | ||
34 | GTO | 4th | Stratagraph |
Billy Hagan Gene Felton Sam Moses Lloyd Frink
|
Chevrolet Camaro | 153 | ||
35 | GTU | 04 | Di Lella Racing |
Vince DiLella Manuel Cueto
|
Porsche 911 | 152 | ||
36 | GTO | 79 | Whitehall PhD |
Tom Winters Bob Bergstrom Peter Dawe
|
Porsche 924 Carrera GTR | 148 | ||
37 | GTO | 18th | Diehl Hi-Pro |
Carmen Lista David Marks Roy Newsome Bobby Diehl
|
Chevrolet Camaro | 140 | ||
38 | GTU | 76 | Hi Fi Hospital |
Timothy Lee Al White Irwin Ayes
|
Ford Capri | 140 | ||
39 | GTO | 15th | DL performance engineering |
Doug Lutz Mike Brummer Larry Connor
|
Porsche Carrera RSR | 139 | ||
40 | GTU | 87 | Donald Flores |
Robert Gottfried Tom Turner Donald Flores
|
Porsche 911 | 131 | ||
41 | GTO | 33 | Karl Keck |
Karl Keck Bill McDill Robert Whitaker
|
Chevrolet Corvette | 128 | ||
42 | GTU | 75 | Bryant & Graham Racing |
Cameron Worth Alan Crouch Janis Taylor |
Ford Pinto | 127 | ||
43 | GTU | 52 | TFC Racing |
Dick Gauthier Tom Cripe Ron Collins Bill McVey
|
Porsche 911 | 67 | ||
Failed | ||||||||
44 | GTP | 10 | Cooke Racing |
Ralph Kent-Cooke Jim Adams Josele Garza
|
Lola T600 | 221 | ||
45 | GTO | 7th | Racing beat |
Pete Halsmer Rick Knoop |
Mazda RX-7 | 199 | ||
46 | GTU | 93 | Foreign Exchange |
John Higgins James King Chip Mead
|
Porsche 911 | 175 | ||
47 | GTU | 60 | Team Morrison |
Jim Cook Steve Dietrich Al Bacon
|
Mazda RX-7 | 168 | ||
48 | GTU | 95 | Ned Skiff |
Ned Skiff Jim Leo
|
Renault R12 | 159 | ||
49 | GTO | 19th | Van Every Racing |
Lance Van Every Ash Tisdelle
|
Porsche Carrera RSR | 153 | ||
50 | GTO | 02 | Marketing Corporation of America |
Ronnie Bucknum John Bright
|
Ford Mustang | 153 | ||
51 | GTP | 24 | Pegasus III Racing |
Marion Speer Ken Madren Ray Ratcliff
|
Porsche 935 JLP-2 | 145 | ||
52 | GTO | 49 | OMR engines |
Hoyt Overbagh Peter Kirill Paul Romano
|
Chevrolet Monza | 145 | ||
53 | GTO | 13 | Oftedahl Racing |
Paul Fassler Steve Pope Carl Shafer
|
Pontiac Firebird | 142 | ||
54 | GTO | 36 | Herman + Miller P + A |
Paul Miller Jim Busby Ron Grable |
Porsche 924 Carrera | 132 | ||
55 | GTP | 16 | Hinze fencing |
Marty Hinze Randy Lanier Terry Wolters |
March 82G | 128 | ||
56 | GTO | 28 | Overby's |
Robert Overby Don Bell Chris Doyle
|
Chevrolet Camaro | 127 | ||
57 | GTP | 09 | Henn's Swap Shop Racing |
Derek Bell Michael Andretti John Paul Junior |
Porsche 935L | 125 | ||
58 | GTP | 8th | Shelton Ferrari |
Steve Shelton Tom Shelton
|
Ferrari 512BB | 120 | ||
59 | GTP | 44 | Group 44 |
Bob Tullius Bill Adam |
Jaguar XJR-5 | 95 | ||
60 | GTO | 34 | Drolsom Racing |
George Drolsom Steve Cohen William Gelles
|
Porsche 924 Carrera | 94 | ||
61 | GTO | 26th | Centurion Leasing |
Tom Nehl Nelson Silcox Patty Moise
|
Chevrolet Camaro | 92 | ||
62 | GTP | 21st | Nimrod Racing |
Victor Gonzalez Drake Olson |
Nimrod NRA / C2 | 85 | ||
63 | GTP | 05 | T&R Racing |
Tico Almeida Ernesto Soto |
Porsche 935M16 | 82 | ||
64 | GTO | 99 | Londoño Bridge Racing |
Gustavo Londoño Carlos Munoz Hugo Gralia
|
Porsche Carrera RSR | 81 | ||
65 | GTO | 20th | Paul Canary Racing |
Paul Canary Jim Sanborn
|
Pontiac Firebird | 78 | ||
66 | GTP | 77 | Z & W Enterprises |
Pierre Honegger Walt Drilling |
Mazda GTP | 61 | ||
67 | GTO | 64 | Marcus Opie |
Marcus Opie Tim Morgan Grant Bradley
|
Chevrolet Corvette | 59 | ||
68 | GTU | 78 | The Klaus house |
Klaus Bitterauf Vicki Smith Scott Flanders
|
Porsche 911 | 59 | ||
69 | GTO | 28 | Air Florida |
Francisco Miguel Arnoldo Kreysa Albert Naon
|
BMW M1 | 58 | ||
70 | GTU | 38 | Mandeville Auto Tech |
Roger Mandeville Amos Johnson Danny Smith
|
Mazda RX-7 | 56 | ||
71 | GTO | 54 | Daniel Vilarchao |
Reynaldo Fernandez Daniel Vilarchao
|
Chevrolet Camaro | 56 | ||
72 | GTO | 6th | Shafer Motor Racing |
Craig Shafer George Shafer Joe Maloy
|
Chevrolet Camaro | 55 | ||
73 | GTP | 74 | Mark Wagoner |
Del Russo Taylor Larry Figaro
|
Chevron GTP | 53 | ||
74 | GTP | 12 | The Cummings Marque |
Don Cummings Craig Rubright Charles Gano
|
Chevrolet Monza | 50 | ||
75 | GTP | 25th | Red Lobster Racing |
Dave Cowart Kenper Miller Mauricio de Narváez |
March 82G | 46 | ||
76 | GTU | 31 | Pegasus Racing |
Jack Griffin John Zouzelka
|
Porsche 914/4 | 38 | ||
77 | GTO | 50 | Latino Racing |
Kikos Fonseca Tato Ferrer Diego Febles |
Porsche Carrera RSR | 36 | ||
78 | GTU | 08 | Diehl Hi Pro Enterprises |
Bobby Diehl Roy Newsome
|
Mazda RX-7 | 29 | ||
79 | GTP | 39 | Holly Racing |
John Gunn Ricardo Londoño |
Phoenix JG1 | 26th | ||
80 | GTO | 40 | Bieri Racing |
Uli Bieri Matt Gysler Duff Hubbard
|
BMW M1 | 21st | ||
81 | GTO | 07 | Londoño Bridge Racing |
Fred Flaquer Gustavo Londoño Ricardo Londoño Rene Rodriguez
|
Porsche Carrera RSR | 21st | ||
82 | GTP | 17th | Dingman Bros. Racing |
Billy Dingman Roger Bighouse
|
Chevrolet Corvette | 11 | ||
83 | GTP | 47 | Dingman Bros. Racing |
Bill Whittington Pepe Romero Doc Bundy |
March 83G | 8th | ||
84 | GTO | 62 | Bill Nelson |
Bill Nelson Dale Kreider Lojza Vosta
|
Pontiac Firebird | 1 | ||
Not started | ||||||||
85 | GTP | 2 | Hinze fencing |
Marty Hinze Randy Lanier Terry Wolters
|
Porsche 935 | 1 | ||
86 | GTO | 63 | Superior Racing Team |
Raul Garcia Eugenio Matienzo
|
Chevrolet Camaro | 2 | ||
87 | GTU | 80 | Hallet Motor Racing Circuit |
Anatoly Arutunoff José Marina
|
Lancia Stratos | 3 |
1 Replacement car 2 not started 3 not started
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 |
---|---|---|---|---|---|
88 | GTP | 0 | Interscope Racing |
Danny Ongais Ted Field |
Lola T600 |
89 | GTP | 00 | Interscope Racing |
Danny Ongais Ted Field
|
Lola T600 |
90 | GTU | 32 | Alderman Datsun |
George Alderman Carson Baird |
Datsun 280ZX |
91 | GTO | 41 | Capricorn Motor Racing |
William Wessel Charles Gano Mike Williamson
|
Chevrolet Corvette |
92 | GTO | 43 | AVO Racing Cars |
Vincent Collins Lojza Vosta
|
Chevrolet Corvette |
93 | GTO | 55 | B. de T. Racing |
Diego Montoya Albert Naon Tony Garcia
|
BMW M1 |
94 | GTU | 71 | Morgan Performance Group |
Charles Morgan Bill Johnson
|
Datsun 280ZX |
95 | GTU | 73 | GO Racing |
Ken Grostic Keith Lawhorn
|
Porsche 914 |
96 | GTO | 84 | Motorsport Marketing |
Ken Murray Emory Donaldson
|
Chevrolet Camaro |
97 | GTO | 97 | Vince Gimondo |
Vince Gimondo John Hood
|
Chevrolet Camaro |
98 | GTO | 98 | Sesana Racing |
Alfredo Sesana Jorge Cortes
|
Chevrolet Monza |
Class winner
Racing data
- Registered: 98
- Started: 84
- Rated: 43
- Race classes: 3
- Spectator: unknown
- Race day weather: warm and dry
- Route length: 7.644 km
- Driving time of the winning team: 12:01: 17.745 hours
- Total laps of the winning team: 231
- Total distance of the winning team: 1765.853 km
- Winner's average: 146.890 km / h
- Pole position: John Paul junior - Porsche 935L (# 09) - 2: 23.965 - 191.156 km / h
- Fastest race lap: Dale Whittington - March 83G (# 47) - 2: 22.750 - 192.783 km / h
- Racing series: 3rd round of the IMSA GTP series 1983
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
Previous race of the 1983 Miami Grand Prix |
IMSA-GTP series |
Follow -up race 500 km from Road Atlanta 1983 |