1957 12 Hours of Sebring

Sports car endurance race August 2023 thumb|275px|Sebring International Raceway in 1952-1966 thumb|A Maserati 450S, similar to the race-winning car of Fangio & Behra, at the 2010 Annual Desert Classic Concours d’Elegance The 1957 12-Hour Florida International Grand Prix of Endurance for The Amoco Trophy took place on 23 March, on the Sebring International Raceway, (Florida, United States). It was the second round of the F.I.A. World Sports Car Championship. This was sixth running of the 12-hour race, and with the growing popularity of sports car racing in post World War II America, the event was finally coming into its own since its creation in 1952. Besides the governor of Florida, LeRoy Collins, who proclaimed March 18–23, 1957 as International Sports Car Race Week, thus gaining additional media attention for the event, the people of New York and Detroit were well aware of the significance of this race. For weeks leading up to the event, national newspapers and magazines who fed the public's interest by reporting on the international celebrities who would drive in it, like Marquis de Portago of Spain and Count Wolfgang von Trips of Germany.June 2021 Just days before the race, the Fédération Internationale de l'Automobile issued an appendix to its rules concerning the race, mandating that during the first tyre change, the team had to use the spare tyre that all the cars were required to carry. While this did not affect the Corvette and some other cars, but for the Ferrari and Maserati, it was a major problem, as on their cars, the wheel on the front and rear of the cars were of different sizes. Ferrari's Peter Collins, a representative from Maserati and the organiser, Alec Ulmann then met with the FIA to discuss this problem. Collins told the press that these changes were in violation of FIA's own rules concerning how such changes were adopted. Supposedly any rule changes had to be unanimously approved by all the competitors or it is rejected. It is assumed that this argument carried the day with the FIA, and the race saved. The even-vocal Collins also had a few words to say about the use of 55-gallon oil drums outlining the track. Despite the Englishman protested that their use was "very, very dangerous..." and that they should be "banned", Sebring continued to use them for several more years.June 2021 Report Entry A massive total of 86 racing cars were registered for this event, of which 76 arrived for practice. Only these, 66 qualified for, and started the race. Of the several media stories circulating about this race was that Chevrolet Division of General Motors Company would challenge the European dominance by entering four Corvette sport cars. One of these would be a radically new car, the magnesium-alloy bodied Corvette SS, with its 4,638 c.c. engine complete with lightweight aluminum cylinder heads. In addition to this elegant metallic-blue SS, there was an SS development mule, equipped with a standard Corvette engine and a plastic body. Despite looking shabby, it was very fast and in the days prior to the event, other race drivers were constantly asking Chevy competition director, Zora Arkus-Duntov for a chance to drive one of the SS's. He would only a selected few to drive one of these. After finishing practice in their Maseratis, both Juan Manuel Fangio and Stirling Moss were allowed by Duntov to take a courtesy run in the practice car. Within two laps, Fangio broke the course lap record.June 2021 The other story ahead of Sebring, was the defection of Fangio to Officine Alfieri Maserati from the Scuderia Ferrari. Fangio had won this event for Ferrari in 1956. In their attempt to lure Fangio from Ferrari, Maserati offered to supply him with no less than six brand new race cars for testing. He picked a 450S for the race, which he eventually drove to victory at Sebring. Meanwhile, back at Maranello, the burden for winning for Ferrari at Sebring fell on the shoulders of Eugenio Castellotti, who partnered Fangio in 1956. However, on 14 March, Castellotti was testing a Formula One Ferrari at the Aerautodromo di Modena when he was crashed heavily, dying instantly from his injuries.June 2021 Prior to the race, a small crowd of photographers was snapping away at the Renault Company pits. It seemed that Gilberte Thirion and Nadège Ferrier, who were scheduled to drive an 845cc Renault Dauphine, were posing for the press, while only few photographers were seen elsewhere down the pit lane. Perhaps, the likes of Fangio and Collins, were not as pretty as these female drivers.June 2021 Meanwhile, Lotus Cars had brought four Lotus Elevens over from Norfolk. Their designer and founder, Colin Chapman had an innovative way of financing the works team effort at Sebring. All four entries were pre-sold to American customers. If you purchased an Eleven, you got to drive it in the race, but you couldn't take possession of the car until after the race. Therefore, during the race it was a Factory Lotus, however afterwards, the car was yours, or what's left of it was yours.June 2021 Qualifying Because there were no qualifying sessions to set the grid, the starting positions were decided according to engine size with the 4.6 litre Corvette of John Fitch and Piero Taruffi in first place. Next was another Lindsay Hopkins entered Corvette of Paul O'Shea and Pete Lovely. In fact Corvettes held the first four places. Next in line were the two 450S Maseratis, followed by a half dozen Jaguar D-types. http://www.racingsportscars.com/entry/data/Sebring-1957-03-23.html Sebring 12 Hours 1957 - Car Data & Information - Racing Sports Cars Race Collins, in a Ferrari 315 S was the first away with Moss not far behind, but the engine in Moss's Maserati 300S sputtered for a brief moment, handing Collins a commanding lead. The rest of the field followed with the small Dauphines bringing up the rear. By the end of lap one, Collins was already ten seconds clear of Moss, with the Maserati 450S of Behra not far behind.http://www.teamdan.com/archive/wsc/1957/57seb.html 1957 Sebring 12 Hours 2015-08-18 https://web.archive.org/web/20150924121208/http://www.teamdan.com/archive/wsc/1957/57seb.html 2015-09-24 dead Within the first 60 minutes, the new Corvette SS began to experience brake troubles and pitted to have these checked, while there also changed their tyres. The Briggs Cunningham Jaguar D-Type, driven by Bill Lloyd was the first to retire with engine problems, as Collins continued to lead with Behra now in second, just a few seconds down on Collins. Moss was now running in third, with Portago fourth in his Ferrari 315 S. Masten Gregory and Phil Hill rounded out the top six in their Ferraris. As the cars moved into the second hour, the heat started to take its toll on both the cars and the drivers alike. The Maserati 150S of Lloyd Ruby blew its engine and retired. Behra moved into the lead, now ahead of Collins by over a minute at the two-hour mark, with Portago, Moss, and Gregory completing the top five.http://www.teamdan.com/archive/wsc/1957/57seb.html 1957 Sebring 12 Hours 2015-08-18 https://web.archive.org/web/20150924121208/http://www.teamdan.com/archive/wsc/1957/57seb.html 2015-09-24 dead During the third hour tragedy struck, when Bob Goldich, driving an Arnolt Bolide, crashed at the Esses and flipped his car several times. He died instantly of a fractured skull and broken neck. When news of Goldich's death reached Stanley Arnolt, he withdrew the rest of his team. This marked the first death of a driver in the history of the Sebring race.June 2021 At 13:15 Behra pitted and handed his 450S over to Fangio. During his spell, Behra had broken the lap record several times, and at this point, had a fairly large lead over teammate Moss. The Ferraris of Collins and Portago were third and fourth with Carroll Shelby now in fifth in a Maserati.June 2021 By 15:00, the Corvette SS was listed amongst the retirements. Word from the pit lane, was that persistent overheating problems led to the withdrawal, although the official classifications show the cause to be failed rear suspension. Fangio was still leading and Moss finally decided to hand his car over to his co-driver, Harry Schell. At 15:19, Portago brought his Ferrari with serious brake trouble. The mechanics couldn't seem to remedy the problem and let the car back onto the track with Luigi Musso behind the wheel. Portago reported that the car had "no brakes". By the end of the hour, Mike Hawthorn brought his Jaguar D-Type in for a brake change.June 2021 At the half-way point, the Maserati Factory team had Fangio leading the race, but a major mistake by the team led to a disqualification. It seemed that Fangio and Shelby were running low on fuel. Shelby brought his 250S in and had begun refuelling when he was told to get back on the track because Fangio was due in. After Fangio was serviced and cleared the pits, Shelby returned to the pits for the remainder of his fuel, but was immediately disqualified. There was a FIA rule that stated you had to drive at least 20 laps before you could come in for more fuel, and the Maserati team had forgotten this rule.June 2021 After 10 hours of racing, Fangio was still leading with Hawthorn, Portago and Schell following. That order hadn't changed in over an hour. The Ferrari of Portago had to pit because of a problem with his fuel pump, which cost him 30 minutes. Moss continued to gain on the leaders. By 21:00, Fangio was still at the wheel of his car and was now four laps ahead. Because of pit stops and driver changes Moss was now in second with Hawthorn dropping to third, Gregory fourth and Walt Hansgen now in fifth. In the factory Ferrari, Collins was way off the pace due to failing brakes. The small but reliable Porsche 550s were now in 8th, 9th and 10th position.http://www.sportscardigest.com/1957-sebring-12-hour-grand-prix-race-profile/5/ 1957 Sebring 12-Hour Grand Prix - Race History, Profile and Photos 4 March 2011 With just 30 minutes to go, there was some commotion in the Maserati pits. It seemed that during the scheduled final pit stop a mechanic had spilled a large quantity of fuel on Fangio's seat. In typical Italian fashion there was a lot of yelling and hand gestures, meanwhile, the team manager went off to find a replacement seat. They found one and Fangio returned to the race with his lead reduced. With less than half-hour to go and everyone in the Maserati pits was holding his breath.http://www.sportscardigest.com/1957-sebring-12-hour-grand-prix-race-profile/5/ 1957 Sebring 12-Hour Grand Prix - Race History, Profile and Photos 4 March 2011 At 10 p.m. fireworks appeared over the track. This signalled the end of the race and a tremendous victory for Maserati. Coming home in first were Fangio and Behra at the wheel of their Maserati 450S with the Moss/Schell Maserati 300S in second, having reduced the lead down to just two laps. The podium was completed by the Jaguar D-Type of Hawthorn, co-driven by Ivor Bueb, the English pairing salvaging some honour for the Coventry marque. In fourth, Gregory and Lou Brero, who had earlier collapsed due to heat exhaustion, were the first Ferrari to finish. Hansgen and Russ Boss were fifth in a Cunningham Jaguar D-Type, Collins and Maurice Trintignant were sixth in the first of the factory Ferrari 315 S, Portago and Luigi Musso were seventh in the other factory Ferrari 315 S, Art Bunker and Charles Wallace were eighth in a Porsche 550 RS, Jean Pierre Kunstle and Ken Miles were ninth in another Porsche 550 RS. Howard Hively and Richie Ginther rounded out the top ten in their Ferrari 500 TRC. Bunker and Wallace also came away with a first in the Index of Performance which rated cars according to performance.http://www.teamdan.com/archive/wsc/1957/57seb.html 1957 Sebring 12 Hours 2015-08-18 https://web.archive.org/web/20150924121208/http://www.teamdan.com/archive/wsc/1957/57seb.html 2015-09-24 dead http://www.sportscardigest.com/1956-sebring-12-hours-grand-prix-race-profile/5 1956 Sebring 12 Hours Grand Prix - Race Photos, History, Profile 7 December 2012 It was later revealed that Fangio had to get medical attention for painful burn blisters, from his waist down to his knees on his right side. It seems that the insulation that surrounded the exhaust pipes, which ran along the driver's side of the car, had worn away, leaving Fangio's lower body exposed to very, hot temperatures. Official Classification Class Winners are in Bold text. Pos No ClassDriver Entrant Chassis Laps Reason Out 1st 19 S5.0 Argentina Juan Manuel Fangio France Jean Behra Maserati Factory Maserati 450S 12hr 00:03.374, 197 2nd 20 S3.0 GBR Stirling Moss USA Harry Schell Maserati Factory Maserati 300S 195 3rd 5 S5.0 GBR Mike Hawthorn GBR Ivor Bueb Jaguar Cars North America Jaguar D-Type 193 4th 15 S5.0 USA Masten Gregory USA Lou Brero George Tilp Ferrari 290 SNoteS a 193 5th 7 S5.0 USA Walt Hansgen USA Russ Boss B. S. Cunningham Jaguar D-Type 188 6th 11 S5.0 GBR Peter Collins France Maurice Trintignant Ferrari Factory Ferrari 315 S 187 7th 12 S5.0 Spain 1945 Alfonso de Portago Italy Luigi Musso Ferrari Factory Ferrari 315 S 186 8th 44 S1.5 USA Art Bunker USA Charles Wallace Bunker & Pry Porsche 550 RS 185 9th 45 S1.5 USA Jean-Pierre Kunstle GBR Ken Miles J. Kunstle Porsche 550 RS 184 10th 28 S2.0 USA Howard Hively USA Richie Ginther Temple Buell Ferrari 500 TRC 179 11th 59 S1.1 GBR Colin ChapmanUSA Dick Dungan USA Joe Sheppard Lotus Company Lotus Eleven 174 12th 4 GT5.0 USA Dick Thompson Switzerland Gaston Andrey John Fitch Chevrolet Corvette C1 173 13th 47 S1.5 USA Harry BeckUSA Otto Linton USA Hal Stetson OSCA of Italy Osca MT4 1500 170 14th 31 S2.0 Belgium Jan de VroomUSA David Cunningham USA George Arents J. de Vroom Ferrari 500 TRC 169 DNF 42 S1.5 USA Norman Scott USA Frank Bott Norman Scott Porsche 550 RS 168 Gearbox 15th 3 GT5.0 USA John KilbornUSA Dale Duncan USA Jim Jeffords Lindsay Hopkins Chevrolet Corvette C1 168 16th 2 S5.0 USA Paul O'Shea USA Pete Lovely Lindsay Hopkins Chevrolet Corvette SR-2 166 DNF 41 S1.5 West Germany Hans Herrmann USA Jack McAfee Porsche Company Porsche 550 RS 165 Gearbox 17th 36 S2.0 Venezuela Juan FernándezVenezuela Lino Fayen Venezuela J. L. Droullers A. C. Car Company AC Ace 161 18th 58 S1.1 USA Tom Hallock USA Max Goldman Cooper Company Cooper-Climax T39 159 19th34 GT2.0 USA Mike Rothschild USA Robert Johns Standard-Triumph Triumph TR3 159 20th55 GT1.3 USA Jack Kaplan USA Charlie Rainville Jack Kaplan Alfa Romeo Giuletta Spider Veloce 158 21st 33 GT2.0 USA Bob Oker USA Ed Pennybacker Standard-Triumph Triumph TR3 156 22nd 35 S2.0 USA Joseph Hap DresselUSA William F. Woodbury USA Don Cullen A. C. Car Company AC Ace 154 23rd 49 GT1.6 Canada 1921 Alan R. N. MillerUSA Rowland Keith Canada 1921 Ed Leavens Hambro Automotive MG A 154 24th 52 GT1.3 USA Sherman Crise USA Alan Markelson Sir S. Oakes Alfa Romeo Giuletta Spider Veloce 153 25th 18 GT3.5 USA Fred WindridgeUSA Rundle Gilbert USA George Reed C. Kreisler Mercedes-Benz 300 SL 153 26th 25 GT3.5 USA Gilbert Gietner USA Ray Cuomo Hambro Automotive Austin-Healey 100 Special 151 27th 51 GT1.6 USA David AshUSA John van Driel USA Gus Ehrman Hambro Automotive MG A 150 28th 56 S750 USA Herman BehmUSA Sandy MacArthur USA Carl Haas Behm Motors Stanguellini S750 Bialbero 149 29th 32 GT2.0 USA Robert Grier USA Bob Kennedy Robert Grier Morgan Plus 4 147 DNF 72 S2.0 USA John B. Mull USA Evelyn Mull A. C. Car Company AC Ace 146 Rear axle 30th 71 S2.0 USA James CookUSA Leonard Karber USA Ralph Durbin J. Cook Arnolt -Bristol Bolide 146 31st 40 GT1.6 West Germany Huschke von Hanstein West Germany Herbert Linge Porsche Company Porsche 356A Carrera 144 DNF 29 S2.0 USA Ed Lunken USA Charles Hassan E. Lunken Ferrari 500 TRC 143 Fuel leak 32nd 61 S1.1 Puerto Rico Victor MerinoPuerto Rico Rafael Rosales Puerto Rico Luis Pedrerra Puerto Rico Club Lotus-Climax Eleven 141 33rd 17 GT3.5 Venezuela Chester Flynn USA Ed Hugus C. Flynn Mercedes-Benz 300 SL 138 34th 64 T1.0 France Maurice Michy France Maurice Foulgoc Renault Company Renault Dauphine 138 35th 65 T1.0 Belgium Gilberte ThirionFrance G. Spydel Switzerland Nadège Ferrier Renault Company Renault Dauphine 138 36th 50 GT1.6 USA Stephen Spitler USA William Kinchloe Hambro Automotive MG A 137 NC 66 T1.0 Belgium Paul Frère France Jean Lucas Renault Company Renault Dauphine 134 DNF 16 GT3.5 Belgium Olivier Gendebien USA Gene Greenspun Harry Kullen Ferrari 250 Europa GT Coupé 111 Engine DNF 14 S5.0 USA Phil Hill West Germany Wolfgang von Trips Ferrari Factory Ferrari 290 MM 106 Electrics DNF 24 GT3.5 USA Ray Jackson-Miller USA Elliot Forbes-Robinson Hambro Automotive Austin-Healey 100 Special 105 Engine DNF 23 GT3.5 USA Phil Stiles USA John Bentley Hambro Automotive Austin-Healey 100 Special 98 Fuel line DISQ 74 S1.5 USA M. R. J. WyllieUSA Charles Moran USA Margaret Wyllie C. Moran Lotus Eleven Le Mans 89 Assistance DNF 27 S2.0 USA Lance Reventlow USA Bill Pollack Lance Reventlow Maserati 200S 88 Engine DNF 60 S1.1 USA Jay Chamberlain USA Ignacio Lozano Lotus Company Lotus Eleven 77 Fuel leak DNF 67 S750 Argentina Alejandro de Tomaso USA Isabelle Haskell Argentine Auto Club Osca MT4 750 70 DISQ 21 S3.0 GBR Roy Salvadori USA Carroll Shelby Maserati Company Maserati 250S 68 Illegal refuel DNF 63 S1.1 USA G. Storr USA Hal Ullrich B. Stevens D.B. HBR5 67 Engine DNF 26 S2.0 USA Jim Kimberly USA Ted Boynton James Kimberly Maserati 200S I 58 Gearbox DNF 22 S3.0 Sweden Jo Bonnier Italy Giorgio Scarlatti A. V. Dayton Maserati 150S 55 Engine DNF 38 S2.0 USA John Weltz USA Robert Gary S. H. Arnolt Arnolt-Bristol Bolide 51 Withdrawn DNF 8 S5.0 USA Pat O'Connor USA Jack Ensley Jack Ensley Jaguar D-Type 50 Rear axle DNF 37 S2.0 USA Bob Ballenger USA Jim Peterson S. H. Arnolt Arnolt-Bristol Bolide 49 Withdrawn NC 54 GT1.3 USA Louis ComitoUSA Bob Rubin USA Bruce Kessler L. Comito Alfa Romeo Giuletta Spider Veloce 42 DNF 39 S2.0 USA Bob Goldich USA S. H. Arnolt S. H. Arnolt Arnolt-Bristol Bolide 40 Fatal accident(Goldich) DNF 30 S2.0 USA William Helburn USA Jim Pauley W. Helburn Ferrari 500 TRC 38 Cooling system DNF 9 S5.0 Cuba Alfonso Gomez-MenaCuba Santiago González USA Ernie Ericksson Alfonso Gomez-Mena Jaguar D-Type 37 Engine DNF 43 S1.5 USA Ed Crawford USA Phil Stewart E. Crawford Porsche 550 RS 35 Gearbox DNF 10 S5.0 USA Pete Woods USA Bobby Unser R. V. Milosevich Jaguar D-Type 35 Rear axle DNF 1 S5.0 USA John Fitch Italy Piero Taruffi Lindsay Hopkins Chevrolet Corvette SS 23 Suspension DNF 46 S1.5 USA Lloyd Ruby USA Bobby Burns R. Burns Maserati 150S 20 Valve DNF 70 GT2.0 GBR Jim Roberts USA Ed Pennybacker Triumph Company Triumph TR3 10 Suspension DNF 6 S5.0 USA Bill Lloyd USA Briggs Cunningham B. S. Cunningham Jaguar D-Type 2 Engine DNS 53 GT1.3 USA Frank AldhousUSA Daniel Watters USA Jack Brumby A. Martinez Alfa Romeo Giulietta did not start a.NoteSFerrari 290 S #15 raced with 290 MM's SOHC engine.http://www.teamdan.com/archive/wsc/1957/57seb.html 1957 Sebring 12 Hours 2015-08-18 https://web.archive.org/web/20150924121208/http://www.teamdan.com/archive/wsc/1957/57seb.html 2015-09-24 dead http://wsrp.ic.cz/wsc1957.html World Sports Racing Prototypes - World Championship 1957 2015-08-18 https://web.archive.org/web/20150222005158/http://wsrp.ic.cz/wsc1957.html#2 2015-02-22 dead http://www.racingsportscars.com/results/Sebring-1957-03-23.html Sebring 12 Hours 1957 - Race Results - Racing Sports Cars Fastest Lap: Jean Behra, 3:24.5secs (91.540 mph) http://www.teamdan.com/archive/wsc/1957/57seb.html 1957 Sebring 12 Hours 2015-08-18 https://web.archive.org/web/20150924121208/http://www.teamdan.com/archive/wsc/1957/57seb.html 2015-09-24 dead http://wsrp.ic.cz/wsc1957.html World Sports Racing Prototypes - World Championship 1957 2015-08-18 https://web.archive.org/web/20150222005158/http://wsrp.ic.cz/wsc1957.html#2 2015-02-22 dead Class Winners Class Winners Sports 5000 – Class C 19 Maserati 450S Behra / Fangio Sports 3000 – Class D 20 Maserati 300S Moss / Schell Sports 2000 – Class E 28 Ferrari 500 TRC Hively / Ginther Sports 1500 – Class F 44 Porsche 550 RS Bunker / Wallace Sports 1100 – Class G 59 Lotus-Climax Eleven Chapman / Sheppard / Dungan Sports 750 – Class H 56 Stanguellini Sport Bialbero 750 Behm / Haas / MacArthur Grand Touring 5000 – Class 10 II 4 Chevrolet Corvette Thompson / Andrey Grand Touring 3500 – Class 9 II 18 Mercedes-Benz 300 SL Windridge / Reed / Gilbert Grand Touring 2000 – Class 7 II 34 Triumph TR3 Oker / Pennybacker Grand Touring 1600 – Class 6 II 49 MGA Miller / Leavens / Keith Grand Touring 1300 – Class 5 II 55 Alfa Romeo Giulietta Spider Veloce Kaplan / Rainville Touring 1000 – Class 4 I 64 Renault Dauphine Michy / Foulgoc http://www.racingsportscars.com/race/Sebring-1957-03-23.html Sebring 12 Hours 1957 - Racing Sports Cars Standings after the race Pos Championship Points 1 Italy Maserati 14 2 Italy Ferrari 11 3 GBR Jaguar 7 4 West Germany Porsche 1 Note: Only the top five positions are included in this set of standings. Championship points were awarded for the first six places in each race in the order of 8-6-4-3-2-1. Manufacturers were only awarded points for their highest finishing car with no points awarded for positions filled by additional cars. Only the best 4 results out of the 7 races could be retained by each manufacturer. Points earned but not counted towards the championship totals are listed within brackets in the above table. References 30em Further reading Alec Ulmann. The Sebring Story. Chilton Book Company. ASIN B0006CUAP2. 1957 World Sportscar Championship 1000 km Buenos Aires Mille Miglia Category:12 Hours of Sebring Sebring Sebring Sebring Sebring