At least that’s my excuse. Also, the Firestone Grand Prix is an easy eighty minutes from where I’m sitting while Sebring is twice that, and a boring slog to boot. So TV it is for me this year! I didn't finally decide to stay home until 5:00 pm today but I'm comfortable with my choice. At least this way I can actually follow the race!
Since moving to Florida in 2015 I've made at least an appearance at Sebring from 2016 through 2023. Last year I lived out of my late, lamented BMW E46 for five days, but I'll be watching tomorrow's race via Nord VPN, combining IMSA's commercial-free global feed (not available in the US) with the Radio Le Mans announcers until I can't stand them any more – like this afternoon when John Hindhaugh confidently announced that Sebring is in the middle of the Florida Panhandle – then switching to the Peacock announcers until I can't stand THEM any more... you get the idea. It's alway nice to have options.
Sebring as Woodstock on Wheels doesn’t appeal to me either, no longer finding the need to enhance my enjoyment with spirits, although I certainly would have partaken decades ago. But it was a great experience in ’23 observing the shenanigans in person for an extended period rather than just a few hours.
For atmosphere that's the next best thing to being there, here's the inimitable Lanky Turtle's work from yesterday:
In retrospect, I unknowingly chose the right year for my marathon Sebring experience because it turns out the murmured rumors that began circulating at the track before the WEC race were correct: Super Sebring would not return in 2024, the US round of the World Endurance Championship moving instead to Circuit of the Americas. Not wishing anyone ill but I predict the Texas race will be a flop. NASCAR, IndyCar and IMSA/WEC have drawn flies in the past at COTA because NOTHING but F1 has EVER succeeded there. The endurance sports car racing legacy of Sebring is unmatched in the US. As I see it the FIA has once again made a characteristically absurd decision. To quote Mark Twain, “It’s un-American. It’s un-English. It’s French.”
Here are some photos I took in last year’s WEC and IMSA paddocks. I’m glad I got to see the Toyota Gazoo GR010, the Ferrari 499P and the Peugeot 9X8 before its gorgeous but ineffective bodywork was marred by this year’s wings, spoilers and confusing liveries.
I might post more commentary as the 50th Anniversary Mobil 1 Twelve Hours of Sebring unfolds tomorrow, although I’m still writing up St. Pete! We’ll see.
Coincidentally I rewatched Ford vs Ferrari last night and inexplicably enjoyed it the second time through. For some reason that I can’t explain now I wasn’t impressed the first time through, but my current view is that it’s pretty good!
I always liked the E46. I was a detailer at a big dealership that sold BMWs in 2000-01. One glorious summer day I had to (got to?) drive a doctor's 7 Series across town to drop off at his office after a visit to the BMW garage. I drove the loaner E46 wagon back to the dealership. The 7 was nicer but I enjoyed the 3 just as much!