Sebring
In the third instalment of our Le Mans Ultimate track guide series, we tackle the brutally bumpy Sebring in Florida, USA.
If you haven’t seen our other track guides, check out Portimão, Fuji International Speedway and Monza. Bahrain, Le Mans and Spa are in the pipeline!
Hairpin Turn, Sebring. Image Credit: Studio 397
Sebring International Raceway is America’s oldest remaining racetrack. With the legendary 12-hour race coupled with the 1000km feature the day after, the track was a real Mecca for sportscar fans in 2023.
Sebring is a track that does not appear a lot within simulators. iRacing is the most likely place you would have seen Sebring, but do not worry: This guide will get you up to speed around the Ex-US air base in no time at all.
#311 Action Express Racing, Cadillac V-Series.R. Image Credit: Studio 397
The 3.7-mile circuit demands precision and consistency. The bumps, especially through the first sector and last corner, are ruthless and will catch you out when you start to push the limit.
The journey to the first corner requires you to drift from left to right down the IMSA pit straight. Brake two car lengths before the pit wall on the left-hand side ends. Hit the middle apex of the corner and flow out to the right-hand side. Use all the available kerb to set up for turn two.
Stay to the right-hand side and brake just after the 300 board. Make sure you are patient with your turn-in, too early and you will hop the kerb, potentially damaging your car. Aim for a later apex and brush the kerb with your left front tyre to aid your turn-in.
Moving through to turn three, use the spot where the track begins to peel off to the left for your braking point. Make sure not to accelerate before you are past the apex, the bumps can cause unexpected oversteer, equalling a huge accident.
Gurney Bend requires you to stick as far to the right as you can. Begin to float out to the left once the corner straightens out. When you reach the hairpin, the slowest corner on the track, Brake hard at the 400 board.
The Fangio chicane is fairly straightforward. Stick to the right and then hit the second apex on the left, sticking to the left-hand side to set up for Cunningham Corner.
Brake just before the 300 board, allowing yourself plenty of time to get off the anchors and start trailing your way into the apex. Staying in second gear throughout the corner seems to be the most consistent way through this difficult right-hander.
Hitting your marks consistently is notoriously difficult at Sebring. Keep your concentration and do not get complacent.
Once you are back over to the left, you will be setting up for my least favourite corner on the track, Tower Bend. This corner is a lot tighter than it seems, so be careful with the speed you bring into it.
Brake as the kerb ends on the right-hand side. Hit the apex in second gear and carry your speed to the left-hand side kerb. Be careful of the inevitable bumps that can throw your car off in any direction they deem fit.
Once you have negotiated the flat-out double left-hander, brake just before the 300 board for Gendebien Bend. Make sure to drop your right-side front wheel over the inside kerb if you struggle to get the car to rotate appropriately.
Once you are through the Le Mans Curve, you are onto the Ulmann straight. Stick to the left and be aware of cars rejoining from the pitlane. Always assume the worst and give extra caution to cars rejoining.
Finally, you are at the most famous corner on the track, Sunset Bend. Unbelievably bumpy and unstable, this corner requires perfect momentum and patience to get the most out of it.
Brake just after the 200 board and keep as close to the inside wall as you dare. Do not get sucked out wide by the bumps. You will lose all your time and make your run onto the back straight slower.
Author: Connor Minniss
If you haven’t seen our other track guides, check out Portimão, Fuji International Speedway and Monza. Bahrain, Le Mans and Spa are in the pipeline!
Hairpin Turn, Sebring. Image Credit: Studio 397
Sebring International Raceway is America’s oldest remaining racetrack. With the legendary 12-hour race coupled with the 1000km feature the day after, the track was a real Mecca for sportscar fans in 2023.
Sebring is a track that does not appear a lot within simulators. iRacing is the most likely place you would have seen Sebring, but do not worry: This guide will get you up to speed around the Ex-US air base in no time at all.
Le Mans Ultimate Track Guide: Sebring
This guide is based on the Cadillac V-Series. R Hypercar. Other classes will vary greatly. I advise using this guide and adjusting it to the car and class you are using.#311 Action Express Racing, Cadillac V-Series.R. Image Credit: Studio 397
The 3.7-mile circuit demands precision and consistency. The bumps, especially through the first sector and last corner, are ruthless and will catch you out when you start to push the limit.
The journey to the first corner requires you to drift from left to right down the IMSA pit straight. Brake two car lengths before the pit wall on the left-hand side ends. Hit the middle apex of the corner and flow out to the right-hand side. Use all the available kerb to set up for turn two.
Stay to the right-hand side and brake just after the 300 board. Make sure you are patient with your turn-in, too early and you will hop the kerb, potentially damaging your car. Aim for a later apex and brush the kerb with your left front tyre to aid your turn-in.
Moving through to turn three, use the spot where the track begins to peel off to the left for your braking point. Make sure not to accelerate before you are past the apex, the bumps can cause unexpected oversteer, equalling a huge accident.
Gurney Bend requires you to stick as far to the right as you can. Begin to float out to the left once the corner straightens out. When you reach the hairpin, the slowest corner on the track, Brake hard at the 400 board.
Concentration Is Key
Moving into the second sector, Be careful of locking up over the bumps. Trail braking in the second part of the braking phase is essential for consistent corner speed. You can cut across the kerb of the small chicane directly after the hairpin. Do not touch the grass or the lap will be invalidated.The Fangio chicane is fairly straightforward. Stick to the right and then hit the second apex on the left, sticking to the left-hand side to set up for Cunningham Corner.
Brake just before the 300 board, allowing yourself plenty of time to get off the anchors and start trailing your way into the apex. Staying in second gear throughout the corner seems to be the most consistent way through this difficult right-hander.
Hitting your marks consistently is notoriously difficult at Sebring. Keep your concentration and do not get complacent.
Don’t Get Lost
Avoid the inside kerbs at Collier Corner and wait to swing out to the right once you’re through BOTH left-hand bends.Once you are back over to the left, you will be setting up for my least favourite corner on the track, Tower Bend. This corner is a lot tighter than it seems, so be careful with the speed you bring into it.
Brake as the kerb ends on the right-hand side. Hit the apex in second gear and carry your speed to the left-hand side kerb. Be careful of the inevitable bumps that can throw your car off in any direction they deem fit.
Once you have negotiated the flat-out double left-hander, brake just before the 300 board for Gendebien Bend. Make sure to drop your right-side front wheel over the inside kerb if you struggle to get the car to rotate appropriately.
Driving Into The Sunset
Braking for the Le Mans kerb is the most difficult to spot on the track. There are no obvious boards or markings so test it out and see what you can find as a consistent marker. For me, I used where the tyre stack on the very far right ends. Make sure you do not bring all of your wheels over the white line on the left side. You will invalidate your lap instantly.Once you are through the Le Mans Curve, you are onto the Ulmann straight. Stick to the left and be aware of cars rejoining from the pitlane. Always assume the worst and give extra caution to cars rejoining.
Finally, you are at the most famous corner on the track, Sunset Bend. Unbelievably bumpy and unstable, this corner requires perfect momentum and patience to get the most out of it.
Brake just after the 200 board and keep as close to the inside wall as you dare. Do not get sucked out wide by the bumps. You will lose all your time and make your run onto the back straight slower.
Author: Connor Minniss
