The PCGB Sim Racing Championship makes another transatlantic trip to North America, this time to Sebring International Raceway in Florida.
Sebring is one of the oldest permanent circuits in the United States and occupies the former site of the Hendricks Army Airfield, a World War Two training base for bomber pilots, and is widely regarded as the birthplace of American Endurance Racing.
Host to the world-famous Twelve Hours of Sebring, the circuit is one of the toughest in the world due to its mix of concrete and tarmac surfaces – some of which date back to the original WW2 airfield – and is renowned for being rough and bumpy and will therefore prove a massive challenge for the PCGB drivers.
This week 11Tenths continues to pay tribute to two stalwarts of Sebring’s history, this time, Mark Donhue who raced the number 2 car and A.J. Foyt who was behind the wheel of car number 8 in race one of the IROC championship.
No.2 / White / Mark Donohue
Born in New Jersey in 1937, Mark Donohue was a supremely talented and versatile driver, racing in numerous series & categories throughout his relatively short career.
Following a stint of appearances at the 24 Hours of Le Mans for Ford in 1966 & 1967, Donohue joined Roger Penske Racing in the US Road Racing Championship to win the championships in ‘67 & 68, including back-to-back Trans-Am class wins at the 12 Hours of Sebring.
A few years later Donohue & Penske found further success as they developed the all-conquering Porsche 917-30 “Can-Am Killer” of the early 1970’s, as well as winning Penske’s first Indy 500 in a McLaren in 1972.
In the IROC series Donohue won three of the four races crowning him the championship winner, taking home $54,000 in prize money.
No. 8 / Aubergine / A.J. Foyt
AJ Foyt, born in Houston, Texas in 1936, is quite simply one of America’s greatest ever drivers, and competed in road & dirt series, open-wheelers, NASCAR and endurance racing
Winning 12 major driving championships over his career, Foyt is the only driver to win the Indy 500 (4x), Daytona 500, 24 Hours of Daytona, 24 Hours of Le Mans, and the 12 Hours of Sebring.
Foyt finished in 6th place in the IROC series, taking home $9,900 in prize money.
