Drivers and fans all have their favorite parts of Sebring International Raceway, and for different reasons. But there are spots that regularly come up in any conversation – Turn 1, the Hairpin and Turn 17.

The Hairpin is a favorite of both drivers and fans, and largely for the same reason — it’s a great spot for passing. “The Hairpin, Turn 7, is the best place to watch — it’s always exciting over there,” declared Russell Ward, driver of the No. 57 Winward Racing Mercedes AMG with Philip Ellis and Indy Dontje.

Pipo Derani, going for his fifth Sebring victory driving the No. 31 Whelen Cadillac Racing V-Series.R with Jack Aitken and Tom Blomqvist, concurs, but he also has an affinity for Turn 1: “It’s quite amazing how quick it is and how bumpy it is, and still how quick you’re going through those bumps. So I would say I would say Turn 1 and Turn 7 would be the best two spots at the racetrack.”

Paul Miller Racing driver and last year’s GTD winner, Bryan Sellers, has a different take on his favorite turn: “I think [Turn 17] is just so unique to any other corner that we have in the country. I think that there’s a lot of history in one single spot, which is kind of crazy to say about a corner. But I just think it is like the definition of what Sebring truly is.”

Special Mobil 1 liveries

Several cars are running special gold liveries to celebrate the 50th anniversary of Sebring race title sponsor Mobil 1. The No. 01 Cadillac Racing V-Series.R in GTP (pictured above), the two GTD PRO Corvette Racing by Pratt Miller Motorsports Z06 GT3.Rs and the No. 14 Vasser Sullivan Racing Lexus RC F GT3 in GTD PRO.

Porsche aims for 600

A win in any of the three IMSA WeatherTech SportsCar Championship classes in which Porsches are entered would earn the marque a 600th IMSA win. Porsche has four 963s in the GTP category (Porsche Penske Motorsports, JDC-Miller MotorSports and Proton Competition), AO Racing’s 911 GT3 R in GTD PRO, and three 911 GT3 Rs in GTD (Andretti Motorsports, MDK Motorsports and Wright Motorsports).

Porsche has the most Twelve Hours of Sebring victories of any manufacturer, 18 overall wins and 101 class titles.

Dickinson named Porsche Selected Driver

Porsche Carrera Cup North America champion and Michelin Pilot Challenge GS winner at Daytona, Riley Dickinson, is joining Kay van Berlo as a Porsche Motorsports North America Selected Driver. Selected Driver status recognizes a driver as a an up-and-coming star in the Porsche world, and drivers receive special mentoring from former Porsche factory driver Patrick Long.

Double-dippers

Several WeatherTech Championship drivers are taking place in support series races as well. Wayne Taylor Racing with Andretti GTD drivers Danny Formal and Graham Doyle are racing in Lamborghini Super Trofeo, where Formal is a two-time champion, in addition to piloting the No. 45 Lamborghini Huracán GT3 Evo2 with Kyle Marcelli in the Twelve Hours. Turner Motorsports endurance addition Jake Walker is also competing in Super Trofeo, adding to his duties in the No. 96 BMW M4 GT3.

Connor Zilisch, part of the Rolex 24 At Daytona LMP2-winning Era Motorsport squad, will compete in Whelen Mazda MX-5 Cup before trying to get two in a row with Era, joining Ryan Dalziel and Dwight Merriman in the No. 18 ORECA.

There’s the typical back-and-forth between the WeatherTech Championship and the Michelin Pilot Challenge paddocks as well. Robby Foley is doing double duty for Turner as usual. Magnus Racing drivers Spencer Pumpelly and Andy Lally are racing in MPC, as are Vasser Sullivan Racing’s Aaron Telitz and Korthoff Preston Motorsports’ Kenton Koch.