TC America - Round 5 & 6

TC America returns to Sebring International Raceway in Florida for Round 5 & 6 of the championship. This weekend features sprint racing on one of America's most historic road courses. The series brings production-based touring cars to the legendary 3.74-mile circuit that has tested drivers and machines for over seven decades.

Event Overview

The TC America series visits Sebring for a triple-header weekend that includes Round 5 and Round 6. Each race runs for 25 minutes, offering fast-paced sprint action. The weekend features over 100 entries across five different series, creating a packed schedule of racing. The Hyundai N Trophy Cup makes its second appearance of the season at this event.

Class Structure for the Season

TC America has simplified its class structure. The TCX and TC classes have merged into a single TC class. The TCA class has been removed from the series. This change creates closer competition among the touring cars.

The Circuit

Sebring International Raceway sits in central Florida, about 94 miles south of Orlando and 108 miles northwest of Tampa. The full circuit measures 3.74 miles and contains 17 turns. The track layout combines long straights with high-speed corners and technical slow-speed sections.

Surface Characteristics

The track surface mixes asphalt and concrete. The front straight uses the original concrete poured in 1941 when the facility served as Hendricks Army Airfield during World War II. This combination creates a bumpy, demanding surface that challenges both cars and drivers. The rough concrete sections can produce sparks from the underside of race cars.

Florida's flat terrain means minimal elevation changes around the circuit. Many corners carry names honoring early teams and drivers who competed here. The facility offers three different layouts: the Full Circuit, the Short Circuit, and the Club Circuit.

Cars and Competitors

TC America features touring cars that share many components with their road-going versions. The grid includes models from Acura, Honda, Hyundai, and Toyota. Popular choices include the Acura Integra Type S, Honda Civic Type-R, and Toyota GR Corolla TC. Teams like Skip Barber Racing field entries in the series.

Technical Demands

The rough surface at Sebring tests every aspect of car preparation. Tire management becomes critical over the course of each 25-minute race. Teams must balance speed with durability on the unforgiving concrete and asphalt surface. The bumps and surface changes require careful suspension setup.

Track History

Sebring International Raceway began as a World War II training base for B-17 pilots. The first race took place on December 31, 1950—the Sam Collier 6-Hour Memorial Race. The inaugural 12 Hours of Sebring ran on March 15, 1952. The track hosted the first Formula One race in the United States in December 1959.

Sebring stands as one of the oldest continuously operating race tracks in America. The facility serves as the birthplace of American endurance racing. The track operates more than 300 days per year, hosting various racing series and track days.

Fan Experience

Sebring offers open access to the paddock area. Fans can walk through the garage area and see teams working on their cars. The spring racing season often carries the scent of orange blossoms from nearby groves. USA Today has recognized Sebring as one of the world's ten best auto races.

The track includes its own Hall of Fame, honoring drivers and teams who have competed here. Mario Andretti once joked that one of the hardest things about the original Sebring track was "finding the track to begin with."

What to Watch

The combined TC class creates close battles among different manufacturers. The short sprint format means every lap counts. Drivers must push hard from the green flag while managing their tires over the rough surface. The variety of corner types—from fast sweepers to tight technical sections—rewards well-rounded drivers.

The triple-header format means teams and drivers face multiple races over the weekend. Consistency across all rounds becomes just as important as outright speed. Small mistakes on the bumpy surface can prove costly in the tight sprint races.