The Tenth Annual Sebring International Grand Prix of Endurance for the Amoco Trophy took place on 26 March 1960, on the Sebring International Raceway, (Florida, United States). It was the second round of the F.I.A. World Sports Car Championship. This was also the second round of the F.I.A. GT Cup.

Report

Entry

A massive total of 89 racing cars were registered for this event, of which 72 arrived for practice. Only these, 65 qualified for, and started the race. There was controversy surrounding the entry. The event promoter, Alec Ulmann had signed a deal with Amoco whereby they would be the fuel suppliers for the race. This prohibited any entrant from using any other brand of fuel.

This resulted in the works Ferrari and Porsche teams boycotting the event, as they had their own exclusive fuel arrangements with Shell Oil and British Petroleum (BP) respectively. However, these teams would still be represented in Florida. For Ferrari, their sent cars to Luigi Chinetti, who entered the cars under the North American Racing Team (NART) banner and thereby as a private entry and not bound by any agreement between Scuderia Ferrari and Shell. As for Porsche, they ‘leased’ two of their new RS 60 Spyders to the works driver, Jo Bonnier. Together with a number of Porsche drivers and mechanics who just happened to be holidaying in Florida at that time, volunteered they services to Bonnier for the event.

There was also controversy when the F.I.A. made last minute rules changes concerning the luggage compartments and windscreens on the Grand Touring (GT) cars. The FIA ruled that these cars should be racing closer the factory specifications than some actually where. This caused some problems for the smaller cars like the Oscas.

Qualifying

As was the normal for Sebring and because there was no qualifying sessions to set the grid, the starting positions were decided according to engine size with the 5.0 litre Chevrolet Corvette C1 of Briggs Cunningham and John Fitch being given first place.

Race

Most of the 50,000 spectators expected Stirling Moss to win the race in his ”Birdcage” Maserati Tipo 61, provided the car lasted the distance. Of the 65 cars that qualified, many looked strange due to the hasty modifications placed on them with the new F.I.A. regulations.

Moss had a bad start due to his Maserati having problems starting and pulled away in 23rd place, but by the second lap, the Englishman was up the second behind the early leader, the Ferrari of Pete Lovely. He would pass Lovely on the next lap.

On lap five, a tragic accident occurred at the hairpin. The Lotus Elite being driven by Jim Hughes suffered a brake failure and headed for the escape road, only to found a photographer standing here, complete with tripod. Hughes tried to avoid him, but rolled his little Lotus, striking the photographer and killing them both.

At the end of the first hour, Moss, partnered by Dan Gurney were leading from another Birdcage T61 of Walt Hansgen and Ed Crawford. The first of the NART Ferraris was in third, driven by Richie Ginther and Chuck Daigh. By the start of the ‘lunch’ hour, the Ferrari had moved into second.

On lap 84, the Porsche of Graham Hill parked up with a rod through the engine block, while around the same time, the Ginther/Daigh Ferrari pitted with steam pouring from under the bonnet. Shortly after, the T61 of Crawford ran wide at the hairpin and got struck in the sandbank. Crawford proceeded to dig his car free using his hands, taking almost two hours to do so. Despite their problems, the Ginther/Daigh Ferarri was still in second at the halfway point, albeit lapping 3 mph slower than Moss/Gurney. Now in third was the little Porsche of Hans Herrmann and Olivier Gendebien.

After completing 123 laps, the Ginther/Daigh Ferrari was withdrawn as it was leaking water and oil. Just 13 laps later, and the leaders were also out, retiring with transmission failure. With 3½ hours to run, the Herrmann/Gendebien Porsche found itself firmly in the lead with another Porsche in second, being piloted by Bob Holbert and Roy Schechter.

After 12 hours of racing, the Bonnier entered Porsche of Herrmann and Gendebien, won ahead of the similar Brumos Porsche of Holbert and Schechter. Car number 42, took an impressive victory, completing 196 laps, covering 1,019.2 miles after 12 hours of racing, averaging a speed of 84.927 mph. Second place went to the second Porsche, albeit nine lap adrift. The podium was complete by the Ferrari of Lovely and Jack Nethercutt who were a further lap behind.

Official Classification

Class Winners are in Bold text.

Pos No ClassDriver Entrant Chassis Laps Reason Out 1st 42 S1.6 Hans Herrmann Olivier Gendebien Joakim Bonnier Porsche 718 RS60 12hr 00:03.030, 196 2nd 44 S1.6 Bob Holbert Roy Schechter Brumos Porsche Car Corp. Porsche 718 RS60 187 3rd 8 S3.0 Pete Lovely Jack NethercuttJack Nethercutt Ferrari 250 TR 59/60 186 4th 10 S3.0 Ed Hugus Augie Pabst North American Racing Team Ferrari 250 GT SWB 185 5th 17 S3.0 George Reed Alan Connell, Jnr. RRR Motors Ferrari 250 GT California 185 6th 12 S3.0 Bill Sturgis Fritz D'Orey William Sturgis Ferrari 250 GT SWB 183 7th 11 S3.0 George Arents William Kimberly North American Racing Team Ferrari 250 GT SWB 183 8th 16 GT3.0 Carlo Maria Abate Fabrizio Serena Giorgio Scarlatti Scuderia Serenissima Ferrari 250 GT California LWB 179 9th 72 GT1.6 Dick Dungan Joe Sheppard Camoradi USA Porsche 356A Carrera 177 10th 14 S3.0 Robert Publicker Dean McCarthy George Constantine Robert Publicker Ferrari 250 GT California LWB 174 11th 80 GT1.6 Jan Bootz Carel Godin de Beaufort Count Karel de Beaufort Porsche 356A Carrera 172 12th 63 S850 John Bentley John Gordon Automobili Osca USA Osca S750 170 DNF 24 S3.0 Luke Stear Dave Causey Dave Casuey Maserati Tipo 61 169 Gearbox 13th 47 S1.6 George Koehne Rees Makins Automobili Osca USA Osca MT4 1500 169 14th 31 GT2.0 Max Goldman Ralph Burbin S.H. Arnolt Inc. Arnolt Bolide 169 15th 20 GT3.0 Gilbert Geitner Lew Spencer British Motor Corp. Austin-Healey 3000 167 16th 6 GT5.0 Bill Fritts Chuck Hall RRR Motors Chevrolet Corvette C1 167 17th 58 S1.15 Charles Vögele Peter Ashdown Charles Vögele Lola-Climax Mk.1 167 18th 54 GT1.3 Fred van Beuren Adolfo Velásquez Javier Velásquez Frederico van Beuren Alfa Romeo Giuletta Veloce 166 19th 50 GT1.3 Tom O'Brien Don Horn Louis Comito Alfa Romeo Giuletta Veloce 166 20th 36 GT2.0 Bud Hulsey Harry Washburn A.C. Cars Ltd. AC Ace 166 21st 34 GT2.0 Mike Rothschild Bob Grossman A.C. Cars Ltd. AC Ace 166 22nd 33 GT2.0 James Johnston William Bradley Bud Seaverns S. H. Arnolt Inc Arnolt Bolide 165 23rd 65 S850 David Cunnigham John Fulp Luigi Chinetti Motors Osca S750 152 24th 39 GT1.6 Fred Hayes Ed Leavens British Motor Corp. MG A Twin Cam 160 25th 55 GT1.3 Charles Evans Jay Chamberlain Sam Weiss Lotus Cars USA Lotus Elite 158 26th 3 GT5.0 Fred Gamble Bill Wuestfhoff Jim Jeffords Camoradi USA Chevrolet Corvette C1 157 27th 48 GT1.3 William Milliken, Jr. Cameron Argetsinger Cameron Argetsinger Alfa Romeo Giuletta Veloce 156 28th 77 GT2.0 Tony O'Sullivan Jef Stevens Peter Procter Tony O'Sullivan AC Ace 151 DNF 25 S3.0 Walt Hansgen Ed Crawford Jaguar Distributors of New York Maserati Tipo 61 149 Differential 29th 40 GT1.6 Jack Flaherty Jim Parkinson British Motor Corp. MG A Twin Cam 148 30th 51 GT1.3 Louis Comito Bob Richardson Ross Durant, Jr. Ross Durant, Jr. Alfa Romeo Giuletta Veloce 143 31st 52 GT1.3 Chuck Kessinger Ken Gardner Stephen A. McClellan, Jr. Dr. Ray Martinez Alfa Romeo Giuletta Veloce 143 32nd 4 GT5.0 Jim Jeffords Fred Gamble Camoradi USA Chevrolet Corvette C1 143 33rd 18 GT3.0 Peter Riley Jack Sears British Motor Corp. Austin-Healey 3000 141 34th 26 S3.0 Duncan Black Charlemagne Tower Charlemagne Tower Daimler SP250 137 DNF 23 S3.0 Stirling Moss Dan Gurney Camoradi USA Maserati Tipo 61 136 Transmission failure NC 5 GT5.0 Delmo Johnson Dave Morgan Johnson Chevrolet Co. Chevrolet Corvette C1 134 DNF 46 S1.6 Pedro von Döry Anton von Döry Roberto Miéres Anton von Döry Porsche 718 RSK 133 Broken cam follower NC 37 S1.6 John Masterson Norman Babcock Dean Patterson Elva Distributors USA Elva-Climax Courier 131 NC 60 S1.15 Ed Costley Pete Harrison Edgar M. Costley Elva-Climax Mk IV 131 DNF 28 S2.0 Ricardo Rodríguez Pedro Rodríguez North American Racing Team Dino 196 S 126 Clutch failure DNF 7 S3.0 Chuck Daigh Richie Ginther North American Racing Team Ferrari 250 TR 59/60 123 Water & oil leak NC 66 S850 Ray Cuomo Paul Richards Roosevelt Automobiles Fiat-Abarth 750S 115 NC 32 GT2.0 Tom Payne Robert Gary S. H. Arnolt Inc Arnolt Bolide 99 NC 68 S1.6 Charles Wallace Charlie Kolb William Horton Elva Distributors USA Elva-Climax Courier 92 DNF 43 S1.6 Graham Hill Jo Bonnier Joakim Bonnier Porsche 718 RS 60 87 Engine DNF 53 GT1.3 Ralph Troiano George Waltman Art Swanson Racing Associates of New England Alfa Romeo Giuletta Veloce 70 Axle NC 61 S1.0 John Sprinzel John Lumkin Donald Healey, Ltd. Austin-Healey Sebring Sprite 62 DNF 35 GT2.0 Bob Mazzi Frank Schroeder Fred Moore A. C. Car Ltd AC Ace 61 Left rear wheel DNF 30 GT2.0 Ike Williamson James Forno Morgan Motors Ltd. Morgan Plus 4 60 Broken front hub DNF 57 GT1.3 Frank Bott Phil Forno Lotus Cars USA Lotus Elite 57 Accident DNF 19 GT3.0 John Colgate Fred Spross British Motor Corp. Austin-Healey 300 54 Accident DNF 2 GT5.0 Dick Thompson Fred Windridge Jaguar Distributors of New York Chevrolet Corvette C1 41 Engine DNF 64 S850 Denise McCluggage Pinkie Windridge Camoradi USA Osca S187 34 Oil loss => bearing jammed DNF 41 GT1.6 John Cuevas Ulf Norinder Quiver Enterprises Porsche 356A Carrera GT GS Speedster 33 Broken crankshaft DNF 15 GT3.0 Gianni Balzarini Carlo Maria Abate Scuderia Serenissima Ferrari 250 GT 28 DNF 1 GT5.0 Briggs Cunningham John Fitch Jaguar Distributors of New York Chevrolet Corvette C1 27 Rear hub => accident DNF 67 S850 Victor Lukens Fred Haynes Racemasters Bandini GT 27 Radiator damaged DNF 27 S2.0 Hap Sharp Jim Hall Hap Sharp Cooper-Maserati Monaco T49 26 Broken piston DNF 49 GT1.3 Charlie Rainville Jake Kaplan Jake Kaplan Alfa Romeo Giuletta Veloce 16 Broken connection rod DNF 56 GT1.3 Jim Hughes Sam Weiss Lotus Cars USA Lotus Elite 5 Fatal accident(Hughes) DNF 38 GT1.6 Colin Escott Ted Lund British Motor Corp. MG A Twin Cam 3 Broken valve DNF 22 S3.0 Carroll Shelby Masten Gregory Camoradi USA Maserati Tipo 61 3 Engine DNF 46 S1.6 Ernie Erickson Don Sesslar Carl Erickson Co. Porsche 718 RSK 1 Timing gear jammed DNS 21 S3.0 Stirling Moss Dan Gurney Camoradi USA Maserati Tipo 61 Engine DNQ 73 S1.15 Bob Grimes Paul Hill Elva Distributors USA Elva-Climax Mk. IV Reserve DNQ 75 S850 Otto Linton Francis Ginther John Miles Osca S750 Reserve DNQ 79 GT3.0 Mel Siegel Harry Fry London Motors Inc. Austin-Healey 3000 Reserve DNS 81 GT3.0 Laurence Gandolfi Paul O'Shea Nim York Lewis Engineering Co. Mercedes-Benz 300 SL No spare brakes DNS T2 GT3.0 Peter RIley John Colgate Jack Sears Fred Spross British Motor Corp. Austin-Healey 3000 practised only DNS T GT1.6 British Motor Corp. MG A Twin Cam practised only

Fastest Lap: Chuck Daigh, 3:18.14secs (94.479 mph)

Class Winners

Class Winners Sports 3000 – Class 12S 8 Ferrari 250 TR 59/60 Lovely / Nethercutt Sports 2500 – Class 11S No starters Sports 2000 – Class 10S No classified finishers Sports 1600 – Class 9S 42 Porsche 718 RS 60 Herrmann / Gendebien Sports 1150 – Class 7S 58 Lola-Climax Mk.1 Vögele / Ashdown Sports 1100 – Class 6S No classified finishers Sports 850 – Class 5S 63 Osca S750 Bentley / Gordon Grand Touring 5000 – Class 14G 6 Chevrolet Corvette C1 Fritts / Hall Grand Touring 3000 – Class 12G 16 Ferrari 250 GT California Abate / Scarlatti / Serena Grand Touring 2000 – Class 10G 31 Arnolt Bolide Goldman / Durbin Grand Touring 1600 – Class 9G 72 Porsche 356A Carrera Dungan / Sheppard Grand Touring 1300 – Class 8G 54 Alfa Romeo Giuletta Spider Veloce van Beuren / Velásquez / Velásquez

Standings after the race

FIA World Sportscar Championship