Sebring International Raceway’s Hall of Fame Selection Committee has announced its 2004 inductees.
Sir Stirling Moss, Mario Andretti, Carroll Shelby, Bobby Rahal, Bob and AlHolbert, race official Ford Heacock Sr., and the legendary manufacturerFerrari headline the prestigious list of inductees.
Induction ceremonies take place Friday March 19, the day before the 52ndAnnual Mobil 1 Twelve Hours of Sebring, at the Chateau Elan Hotel and Spaoverlooking the raceway’s famous Hairpin Turn. The Sebring Hall of Fameluncheon is a non-profit event that benefits the Sebring InternationalRaceway Hall of Fame Museum fund.
Moss recorded a stunning upset win at Sebring in 1954, driving an OSCA withBill Lloyd. He finished second in 1957 and set the fastest race lap threetimes. His stellar career includes numerous sports car and Formula OneGrand Prix wins.
Andretti is one of only four three-times winners at Sebring. His dramatic1970 win driving a Ferrari 512S is considered one of the greatest moments inSebring history. Andretti’s incredible career includes Indy 500 and Daytona500 wins and the Formula One World Championship.
Shelby and his namesake Cobras are road racing legends. As a driver, Shelbywon Le Mans in 1959 and finished second at Sebring in 1955. His cars won theGT class at Sebring in 1964 and 65, and his Shelby American team engineeredan overall win for Ford in 1966.
Rahal won the 1987 Sebring endurance classic driving a Porsche 962 withJochen Mass. In 1982 he won the pole and finished second. A long-timesupporter of sports car racing, Rahal’s career includes a win at the 1986Indy 500.
Bob Holbert and his son Al each had remarkable careers at Sebring. AlHolbert won twice at Sebring (1976 and 81), and also recorded twosecond-place finishes. A three-time Le Mans winner, Holbert’s brilliantcareer was cut short in a 1988 plane crash.
Bob Holbert drove to a record six class victories, including second overallin 1960 and a historic GT class win driving a Shelby Daytona Cobra Coupe in1964.
Ferrari becomes only the second manufacturer inducted into the Sebring Hallof Fame. The legendary “Prancing Horse” has won Sebring 12 times, with 16major class wins, nine pole positions and fastest race lap 11 times.Ferrari has recorded similar success at other major sports car events inaddition to its many Formula One achievements.
Ford Heacock, Sr., a key official during the infancy of Sebring’s classicendurance race, will also be inducted.
“The 2004 inductees represent some of the greatest names in road racinghistory,” stated Sebring Raceway President Tres Stephenson. “The selectioncommittee had the difficult task of narrowing the list to this exclusivegroup. We are truly honored to have such a prestigious class of inductees.”
The Mobil 1 Twelve Hours of Sebring is America’s oldest sports car endurancerace, held on a 3.7 mile road course that originated as a Word War II B-17training base called Hendricks Field. The premier race of the American LeMans Series features the world’s best road racing cars and drivers.
Previous inductees include Juan Manuel Fangio, Dan Gurney, Jim Hall, JohnFitch, Porsche, IMSA founder John Bishop and former promoters Alec and Mary Ulmann, Charles Mendez and John Greenwood. Induction ceremonies are held every-other year.
A limited number of tickets are available to the Sebring InternationalRaceway Hall of Fame luncheon. For further information call 800-626-7223.
