Fifty Years Ago at Sebring

The 1965 Twelve Hours is considered by many to be the greatest race ever at Sebring, featuring a star-studded field of cars and drivers.

At the front of the field, Ford GT40 and Ferrari entries appeared to be the favorites. The two manufacturers were engaged in a heated rivalry that saw the Detroit carbuilder win its first major international sports car race earlier in the year at Daytona.

Also entered was a pair of Chaparrals entered by Jim Hall. Fast but unproven in endurance racing, many were skeptical the Chevrolet-powered beasts with automatic transmissions from Midland, Texas could survive Sebring’s tough circuit.

Hall won the pole with a blistering speed that easily broke the track record. At the start Hall and co-driver Hap Sharp battled the Lotus Ford driven by Dan Gurney, but the Chaparral was soon in control and building a big lead.

And then the rains came. A torrential rainstorm hit Sebring and flooded the circuit within minutes. Tires floated down pit lane and drivers became disoriented and wandered aimlessly on the long runways of the circuit.

Through it all the Chaparral prevailed, with Jim Hall and Hap Sharp winning by a margin of four laps over a Ford GT40 driven by Ken Miles and Bruce McLaren, with a Ferrari 275LM of David Piper and Tony Maggs taking third, another two laps back. The winning Chaparral is returning to Sebring this year to celebrate the 50th anniversary of its victory.

The hotly contested GT battle went to the Shelby Daytona Coupes led by Bob Bondurant and Jo Schlesser.