Audi’s international sportscar program doesn’t include the American Le Mans Series this year. The German marque is concentrating on the World Endurance Championship but when it was announced that this year would be the final season for P1 machinery at the historic circuit, Audi made sure they were here for the party.

With 10 wins at the historic Florida airfield circuit since 2000, Sebring holds a special place in Sebring history.

In the 13 outings to date in the sports car classic at Sebring, Audi has claimed 22 podium finishes, including ten overall victories. Three Audi drivers, Michele Alboreto/Dindo Capello/Stefan Johansson, mounted the podium at the premiere on March 20, 1999. The Dane Tom Kristensen is the race’s most successful driver with six wins. Marco Werner holds the lap record at Sebring, the trio Dindo Capello/Tom Kristensen/Allan McNish the distance record.

Along with entering a pair of its Audi R18 e-tron quattro machines in this year’s race, the weekend will feature previous winners on display including the Audi R8 (ALMS winner 2002), an Audi R10 TDI (Sebring winner 2007), an Audi R15 TDI (Sebring winner 2009) and an Audi R18 TDI (Sebring winner 2012).

Former Audi drivers and Sebring winners Frank Biela, Dindo Capello, Emanuele Pirro and Marco Werner are also present and will be signing autographs.

For four-time winner Allan McNish, another victory would be a perfect Sebring sign-off.

“It was really great news when I heard that Audi would also race at Sebring in 2013,” McNish said.

“After all, this race is an important part of Audi’s sports car history. That there is also a hint of goodbye hanging over the event gives the whole thing a special touch.

“Even more fans than usual will certainly come to the track to personally experience the end of an era. Just like the entire Audi team, I will also do my utmost to bid Sebring farewell with a win. This would make me very proud.”

AUDI’S SEBRING WINNERS
2000 Frank Biela/Tom Kristensen/Emanuele Pirro (Audi)
2001 Laurent Aiello/Michele Alboreto/Dindo Capello (Audi)
2002 Dindo Capello/Johnny Herbert/Christian Pescatori (Audi)
2003 Frank Biela/Philipp Peter/Marco Werner (Audi)
2004 Frank Biela/Pierre Kaffer/Allan McNish (Audi)
2005 Tom Kristensen/JJ Lehto/Marco Werner (Audi)
2006 Dindo Capello/Tom Kristensen/Allan McNish (Audi)
2007 Frank Biela/Emanuele Pirro/Marco Werner (Audi)
2008 Timo Bernhard/Romain Dumas/Emmanuel Collard (Porsche)
2009 Dindo Capello/Tom Kristensen/Allan McNish (Audi)
2010 Anthony Davidson/Marc Gené/Alexander Wurz (Peugeot)
2011 Loïc Duval/Nicolas Lapierre/Olivier Panis (Peugeot)
2012 Dindo Capello/Tom Kristensen/Allan McNish (Audi)