1500 Miles of Sebring Confirmed

Photo: John Dagys

The FIA World Endurance Championship’s return race to Sebring International Raceway in 2019 will be known as the “1500 Miles of Sebring”, with the FIA having confirmed the 2018/19 ‘Super Season’ schedule, along with other changes to the globe-trotting series for next season.

Confirmation came during Thursday’s FIA World Motor Sport Council meeting in Paris.

The Florida airfield circuit will play host to the sixth round of the season on March 17, with a planned midnight start, two hours after the conclusion of the Mobil 1 Twelve Hours of Sebring IMSA WeatherTech SportsCar Championship event.

In an effort to differentiate it from the 12-hour classic, the WEC race will be contested over miles, although likely remaining around the same length.

Tom Kristensen, Dindo Capello and Allan McNish hold the all-time distance record for the 12-hour, having completed 1,416 miles in their winning Audi R15 TDI in 2009.

Recent years have seen the races slowed by numerous safety car periods.

Single LMP1 Class Confirmed

The FIA, meanwhile, bas also ratified the ACO’s previously announced plans to combine LMP1 hybrid and non-hybrid prototypes into a single category.

It will be achieved by adjusting fuel flow and consumption for LMP1 non-hybrids, with a fuel advantage of one lap at Le Mans set to be given to hybrid-powered cars.

Additionally, an Equivalence of Technology, will be established between turbocharged and normally aspirated non-hybrids, with a ban on aero-related developments pertaining to fluidic switches and energy set to go into effect from 2019.

2018/19 WEC Schedule:
May 5 — Spa-Francorchamps
June 16-17 — 24 Hours of Le Mans
Aug. 19 — Silverstone
Oct. 21 — Fuji Speedway
Nov. 18 — Shanghai
March 17 – 1500 Miles of Sebring
May 4 – Spa-Francorchamps
June 15-16 – 24 Hours of Le Mans

John Dagys

John Dagys is the founder and Editor-in-Chief of Sportscar365. Dagys spent eight years as a motorsports correspondent for FOXSports.com and SPEED Channel and has contributed to numerous other motorsports publications worldwide. Contact John