1970 12 Hours of Sebring

Sports car endurance race August 2023 thumb|275px|Sebring International Raceway in 1970 thumb|Ferrari 512 S The 1970 12 Hours of Sebring was an endurance race held at the 5.2 mile (8.3 km) Sebring International Raceway, Sebring, Florida, United States on March 21, 1970. It was the twentieth running of the endurance classic and the second round of the 1970 World Sportscar Championship season.https://www.racingsportscars.com/results/Sebring-1970-03-21.html Sebring 12 Hours 1970 (Race Results) Racing Sports Cars December 17, 2019 Pre-race With the 1969 to 1971 rules allowing sportscars with 5-litre-engines if at least 25 were made, which did Porsche early in 1969 with the Porsche 917 and Ferrari late in the year with the Ferrari 512S, up to 50 V12-powered race cars were available for the 1970 World Sportscar Championship endurance racing season, entered either by factory-backed teams, or by independent customers if they could find funding and pilots that could handle a 500+ hp car competitively for at least six hours, or up to 24h in some events. John Wyer's Gulf-Porsche team had just come fresh off a 1-2 victory at the 1970 24 Hours of Daytona 7 weeks earlier. So far, Porsche was ahead in the championship against their only real rival, Ferrari. When the teams descended upon the isolated and very bumpy 5.2 mile Sebring airfield circuit in central Florida, qualifying was a mix of Ferraris and Porsches: American Mario Andretti qualified the #19 works Ferrari 512S Spyder on pole position at 121 mph at 2:33.5- 5 mph and 6.5 seconds faster than Chris Amon's time the year previous in a works 3-litre Ferrari 312P prototype and almost a second ahead of the #14 Jo Siffert/Brian Redman Gulf-Porsche 917K. Following them were the Porsche/Audi USA sponsored Porsche 917K driven by Vic Elford and Kurt Ahrens Jr., the #20 works Ferrari 512S Spyder of Jacky Ickx/Peter Schetty, the #15 Gulf-Porsche 917K of Pedro Rodríguez/Leo Kinnunen, and a NART-entered Ferrari 512S Spyder of Sam Posey/Ronnie Bucknum and the #21 works Ferrari 512S of Ignazio Giunti/Nino Vaccarella. Race The 1970 running is considered by many to be the best 12 Hours of Sebring ever. This was the first 12 Hours of Sebring where the cars used a rolling start, a procedure similar to the start which is used at the Indianapolis 500, and has been used at every Sebring 12 Hours to this day. Before 1970, the drivers did a traditional Le Mans start, but the events of the 1969 Le Mans race in which English driver John Woolfe was killed driving his Porsche 917 after a crash in which he did not have his seatbelts fastened led the governing body to ban Le Mans starts on grounds of safety. A group of 5-liter entries led away; Andretti led from pole position, followed by Siffert, Elford, Ickx, Rodriguez and the rest of the field, which included works Matra and Alfa Romeo prototypes, running in the 3-liter class. There was an accident between two Lolas- Bob Brown in the #26 car would continue, but Mike De Udy in the other Lola would retire after just one lap. Ickx then moved ahead of Elford into 3rd, behind Siffert and Andretti, the former setting a fastest lap of 2:32.77 in an effort to catch Andretti, and he did for 2 laps- but Andretti regained it then lost it again when he pitted for fuel and a driver change. Other teams stopped for fuel and driver changes, as Andretti switched out with Merzario and Siffert with Redman. The #19's stop dropped it down to 5th, and moments later, Redman brought in the #14 car with electrical trouble. It was a lengthy pitstop, and the car dropped down the order. The order now was the #15 Porsche 917K of Rodriguez/Kinnunen, #16 Porsche 917K of Elford/Ahrens Jr, and the 3 works Ferraris. Near the 3rd hour, Rodriguez brought the leading car into the pits with a puncture. Although they were able to change the punctured tire and send Rodriguez out again, it was 4 laps behind the leading #19 Ferrari. The #16 car crashed and was out of the race with irreparable suspension damage. The Porsche 917K's problems allowed all three works Ferraris to lead the field into the night. And running in 5th place was a Solar Productions/Gulf sponsored #48 Porsche 908/02 of movie star and racer Steve McQueen (whose leg was in a cast) and Peter Revson, who was battling with the #33 works Alfa Romeo T33/3 of Toine Hezemans/Masten Gregory. When night fell, the #20 Ickx/Schetty Ferrari went out after 151 laps with a blown head gasket, and the #21 Giunti/Vaccarella car was in the pits being repaired. Although the #19 Andretti/Merzario was still leading, and the #14 Redman/Kinnunen car, which had suffered newly designed front hub failures previously which caused it to drop out of contention, was out after 211 laps due to accident damage (Kinnunen and Siffert had switched cars; Siffert was now driving with Rodriguez). Then, Andretti brought the leading car in with gearbox problems. Although Merzario took the car back out again in the lead, the second-placed #15 Rodriguez/Siffert Porsche 917K was coming back after being 12 laps down for a while they were able to make up most of this deficit after the #19 Ferrari was in the pits. The Solar Productions Porsche 908/02 was in 3rd and the #21 Giunti/Vaccarella car was in 4th. And at 9:46 p.m. The #19 Ferrari was out of the race, which put the Rodriguez/Siffert Porsche 917K in the lead and the McQueen/Revson car was in 2nd. With 30 minutes remaining, one car still running and desperate for an overall victory, Ferrari team manager Mauro Forghieri decided to replace Giunti with the faster and more experienced Andretti in the #21 car. Although the #21 car was a lap behind; Andretti went out, and pushed very hard; unlapped himself and was making up time quickly on Siffert and Revson. But then all of a sudden, Siffert brought the #15 Gulf-Porsche 917K into the pits with front hub failure, the same problems which had stricken its sister car. This long pitstop allowed the Solar Productions Porsche 908/02 to take 1st- but Andretti had managed to pass Revson and take the lead back. But all of a sudden Andretti brought the car back into the pits for fuel- and the McQueen/Revson Porsche took the lead once again. But Andretti was not about to give up so easily – with only 1 lap to go he stormed out of the pits and chased down Revson, and at the end of the 5.2-mile lap Andretti crossed the line first, with Revson second (who managed to score a 3-liter class win), Masten Gregory in the #33 Alfa was third and the #15 Gulf-Porsche was fourth. Of the 68 cars that started the race, the brutal Sebring circuit managed to whittle the field down to 28 cars. Official results Pos Class No Team Drivers Chassis Engine Laps 1 S5.0 21 Italy SpA Ferrari SEFAC Italy Ignazio GiuntiItaly Nino VaccarellaUSA Mario Andretti Ferrari 512 S Ferrari 5.0L V12 248 2 P3.0 48 United States Solar Productions United States Steve McQueenUnited States Peter Revson Porsche 908/02 Porsche 3.0L Flat-8 248 3 P3.0 33 Italy Autodelta SpA Netherlands Toine HezemansUnited States Masten Gregory Alfa Romeo T33/3 Alfa Romeo 3.0L V8 247 4 S5.0 15 United Kingdom J. W. Automotive Engineering Mexico Pedro RodriguezFinland Leo KinnunenSwitzerland Jo Siffert Porsche 917K Porsche 4.5L Flat-12 244 5 P3.0 34 France Equipe Matra-Simca France Henri PescaroloFrance Johnny Servoz-Gavin Matra-Simca MS650 Matra 3.0L V12 242 6 P3.0 22 United States North American Racing Team (NART) United Kingdom Mike ParkesUnited States Chuck Parsons Ferrari 312 P Coupe Ferrari 3.0L V12 240 7 P3.0 46 Germany Martini International Germany Gerhard KochFrance Gérard LarrousseUnited Kingdom Richard Attwood Porsche 908/02 Porsche 3.0L Flat-8 236 8 P3.0 31 Italy Autodelta SpA United Kingdom Piers CourageItaly Andrea de Adamich Alfa Romeo T33/3 Alfa Romeo 3.0L V8 231 9 P3.0 32 Italy Autodelta SpA Germany Rolf StommelenItaly Nanni Galli Alfa Romeo T33/3 Alfa Romeo 3.0L V8 230 10 GT+5.0 1 United States Troy Promotions, Inc. United States Tony DeLorenzoUnited States Dick Lang Chevrolet Corvette Chevrolet 7.0L V8 219 11 GT+5.0 3 United States Bob Johnson United States Bob JohnsonUnited States Robert R. JohnsonUnited States Jim Greendyke Chevrolet Corvette Chevrolet 7.0L V8 214 12 P3.0 35 France Equipe Matra-Simca United States Dan Gurney France François Cevert Matra-Simca MS650 Matra 3.0L V12 213 13 GT2.0 53 United States Brumos Porsche-Audi United States Peter GreggUnited States Pete Harrison Porsche 911T Porsche 2.0L Flat-6 205 14 T5.0 40 United States Takondo Racing United States Vince GimondoUnited States Chuck Dietrich Chevrolet Camaro Chevrolet 5.0L V8 203 15 GT2.0 52 Canada Jacques Duval Canada Jacques DuvalUnited States Bob BaileyCanada George Nicolas Porsche 911T Porsche 2.0L Flat-6 201 16 T5.0 39 United States Bob Mitchell United States Bob MitchellUnited States Charlie Kemp Chevrolet Camaro Chevrolet 5.0L V8 191 17 GT+5.0 9 United States Mamie Reynolds Gregory United States Bob GrossmanUnited States Don Yenko Chevrolet Camaro Chevrolet 7.0L V8 189 18 T5.0 95 United States Bruce Behrens Racing United States John TremblayUnited States Bill McDill Chevrolet Camaro Chevrolet 5.0L V8 187 19 P2.0 73 United States Ring Free Oil Racing United States Janet GuthrieIreland Rosemary SmithUnited States Judy Kondratiff Austin-Healey Sprite BMC 1.3L I4 187 20 GT+5.0 2 United States Troy-Promotions, Inc. United States Jerry ThompsonUnited States John Mahler Chevrolet Corvette Chevrolet 7.0L V8 187 21 T5.0 91 United States Flem-Car Enterprises United States Jim CorwinUnited States Donna Mae Mims Chevrolet Camaro Chevrolet 5.0L V8 184 22 T5.0 92 United States Preston Hood United States John ElliottUnited States Don Gwynne Jr. Chevrolet Camaro Chevrolet 5.0L V8 182 23 T2.0 50 United States Nationwide Food Brokers United States Mike RahalUnited States Hugh WiseUnited States Werner Frank Porsche 906 Porsche 1.9L Flat-6 181 24 T5.0 37 United States Collins-Wilson Racing United States Vincent P. Collins United States Larry Wilson Ford Mustang Ford 4.7L V8 175 25 GT2.0 57 United States Waldron Motors United States John BelprecheUnited States Jim GammonUnited States Ray Mummery MGB BMC 1.8L I4 175 26 GT2.0 58 United States Waldron Motors United States Ben ScottUnited States Dave HouserUnited States Lowell Lanier MGB BMC 1.8L I4 169 27 T5.0 18 United States Paul Pettey United States Paul PetteyUnited States Roy Hallquist Ford Mustang Ford 4.7L V8 162 28 T2.0 80 United States Texas Speed Museum United States Rod KennedyUnited States Mike TillsonUnited States Robert Samm Lancia Fulvia HF Lancia 1.3L V4 157 29NC P2.0 54 United States Automobiles of Italy United States Anatoly ArtunoffUnited States Bill Pryor Abarth 2000SP Abarth 2.0L I4 166 30NC S3.0 51 United States Porsche-Audi United States Stephen BehrUnited States Merv Rosen Porsche 906 Porsche 1.9L Flat-6 158 31NC S3.0 63 Mexico Carlos Fabre Mexico Carlos FabreMexico Pepe Aguilar Chevron B8 BMW 1.9L I4 32NC S5.0 26 United States Randy's Auto Body Shop United States Bobby BrownUnited States Gregg YoungBahamas Robin Ormes Lola T70 Mk.3B Chevrolet 5.0L V8 114 33NC T2.0 84 United States HCAS United States Walter BrownUnited States Joe MarcusUnited States Jim R. Sandman BMW 2002 BMW 2.0L I4 105 Did Not Finish Class No Team Drivers Chassis Engine Laps Reason P3.0 47 Finland Racing Team AAW Finland Hans LaineNetherlands Gijs van Lennep Porsche 908/02 Porsche 3.0L Flat-8 229 Unknown S5.0 19 Italy SpA Ferrari SEFAC United States Mario AndrettiItaly Arturo Merzario Ferrari 512 S Spyder Ferrari 5.0L V12 227 Gearbox S5.0 14 United Kingdom John Wyer Automotive Engineering Switzerland Jo SiffertUnited Kingdom Brian RedmanFinland Leo Kinnunen Porsche 917K Porsche 4.5L Flat-12 211 Accident damage GT+5.0 8 United States Or Costanzo United States Dave HeinzUnited States Or Costanzo Chevrolet Corvette Chevrolet 7.0L V8 191 Unknown GT+5.0 4 United States John Greenwood United States John GreenwoodUnited States Allan Barker Chevrolet Corvette Chevrolet 7.0L V8 159 Clutch S5.0 20 Italy SpA Ferrari SEFAC Belgium Jacky IckxSwitzerland Peter Schetty Ferrari 512 S Spyder Ferrari 5.0L V12 151 Engine (Head gasket) GT2.0 56 United States British Leyland Motors, Inc. United States Jon Woodner United States Dan O'Connor MG Midget BMC 1.3L I4 122 Oil pressure S5.0 29 United States Auto Enterprises United States Ray HeppenstallUnited States Francis C. Grant Ford GT40 Mk.I Ford 4.9L V8 117 Rear axle S5.0 24 United States North American Racing Team (NART) United States Sam PoseyUnited States Ronnie BucknumUnited States Bert Everett Ferrari 512 S Spyder Ferrari 5.0L V12 92 Fuel pump GT2.0 55 United States British Leyland Motors, Inc. United States Merle Brennan United States Logan Brennan MG Midget BMC 1.3L I4 84 Oil line GT+2.0 82 United States General Plastics United States Robert Clark United States Wayne Marsula Lancia Fulvia HF Lancia 2.0L V4 78 Engine (valve) GT2.0 77 United States Jennings/Keyser United States Bruce JenningsUnited States Bob Tullius Porsche 911T Porsche 2.0L Flat-6 78 Engine GT2.0 69 United States Harry Theodoracopoulos United States Paul SpruellUnited States Wilbur Pickett Alfa Romeo Giulia Spider Alfa Romeo 1.75L I4 75 Electrical P2.0 61 United States Ring Free Oil Racing United States Jim BakerUnited Kingdom Clive Baker Chevron B16 Ford-Cosworth FVC 1.8L I4 70 Engine (crankshaft) S5.0 16 United States Porsche-Audi United States United Kingdom Vic ElfordGermany Kurt Ahrens Jr. Porsche 917K Porsche 4.5L Flat-12 61 Accident damage P3.0 23 United States North American Racing Team (NART) United States Tony AdamowiczUnited States Luigi Chinetti Jr. Ferrari 312 P Coupe Ferrari 3.0L V12 56 Overheating T2.0 88 United States Simone Fleming United States Paul FlemingUnited States Amos JohnsonUnited States Bill Bowers Fiat 124 Fiat 1.4L I4 49 DSQ (Poor driving) P2.0 67 United States Sports Motors United States Jim BandyUnited States Fred Stevenson Lotus Europa Ford 1.6L I4 48 Rear hub carrier T+2.0 38 United States Dave McClain United States Don KearneyUnited States Joie Chitwood Chevrolet Camaro Chevrolet 5.0L V8 47 Engine T+2.0 41 United States Laurel Racing United States Larry BrockUnited States Larry Dent Chevrolet Camaro Chevrolet 5.0L V8 40 Oil leak P2.0 62 United Kingdom Chevron Cars Ltd United Kingdom Brian RobinsonUnited States Hugh Kleinpeter Chevron B16 Ford-Cosworth FVC 1.8L I4 38 Accident GT2.0 74 United States Ralph Meaney United States Ralph MeaneyUnited States Bill Bean Porsche 911S Porsche 2.0L Flat-6 36 Engine GT+5.0 5 United States William A. Schumacher United States Bill SchumacherUnited States Bill Petree Chevrolet Corvette Chevrolet 7.0L V8 34 Engine P3.0 45 Germany Martini International United Kingdom Richard AttwoodFrance Gérard Larrousse Porsche 908/02 Porsche 3.0L Flat-8 31 DSQ (Outside assistance) S5.0 17 United States Porsche-Audi United States Germany Hans HerrmannAustria Rudi Lins Porsche 917K Porsche 4.5L Flat-12 28 Engine T2.0 87 United States Robert Whitaker United States Robert WhitakerUnited States Harvey EckoffUnited States Jack Slottag Volvo 122 S Volvo 1.8L I4 25 Oil pressure S5.0 30 United Kingdom Trevor Graham United Kingdom Piers ForresterUnited Kingdom Andrew Hedges Ford GT40 Mk.I Ford 4.9L V8 22 Engine S3.0 49 Germany Sepp Greger Canada Sepp GregerGermany Andreas Schmalbach Porsche 910 Porsche 1.9L Flat-6 22 Engine T5.0 14 United States Ray Cuomo Racing United States Ray CuomoUnited States Bernard GimbelUnited States George Lissberg Ford Mustang Ford 4.7L V8 16 Transmission T2.0 86 United States Sandy's Spares United States Ronald D. PolimeniUnited States Robert Theall Volvo 122 S Volvo 1.8L I4 8 Engine (piston) GT+5.0 7 United States Bruce Morehead Racing United States Bruce MoreheadUnited States Milo Vega AMC AMX AMC 6.4L V8 8 Engine GT2.0 60 United States Herrington Motors United States Robert KilpatrickUnited States Don Goodrich MGB BMC 1.8L I4 7 Massive accident P2.0 59 United States Waldron Motors United States Reggie Smith Jr.United States Dean DonleyUnited States Omar Buttari MG Midget BMC 1.8L I4 2 Engine T2.0 79 United States Del Russo Taylor United States Del Russo TaylorUnited States Buzz DyerUnited States Hank Sheldon Alfa Romeo GTV 1750 Alfa Romeo 1.75L I4 2 Engine S5.0 27 United Kingdom Grand Bahama Racing Team United Kingdom Mike De UdyUnited Kingdom Mike Hailwood Lola T70 Mk.3B Chevrolet 5.0L V8 1 Brakes Statistics Pole position: #19 SpA Ferrari SEFAC Ferrari 512S Spyder (Mario Andretti/Arturo Merzario)- 2:33.5 (121.970 mph/196.254 km/h) Fastest lap: #14 John Wyer Automotive Engineering Porsche 917K (Jo Siffert)- 2:32.77 (122.497 mph/197.102 km/h) Distance: 2075.410 km (1281.117 miles) Average Speed: 172.667 km/h (106.584 mph) Weather conditions: Sunny References 1970 World Sportscar Championship 24 Hours of Daytona 1000km of Brands Hatch Category:12 Hours of Sebring Sebring 12 Hours Sebring Sebring Sebring