Come join your fellow BMW owners at the 100-Car BMW Corral on Turn Six: This is the first year of the Tudor United SportsCar Championship 12-hour race. The sponsors for the 2014, 12 Hours are BMW North America, the BMW Performance Driving School, Everglades and Sunshine Bimmers chapters of BMW CCA, and the host, the Florida Suncoast Chapter of BMW CCA.

The First Step: Get your Tickets

Order your tickets from Sebring International Raceway by phoning 800.626.7223, or from the track website: http://sebringraceway.com/. On the right side of that page you will find the “BMW Car Corral.” (Children under 12 are admitted free with a paying adult. Be sure to bring earplugs.) Select the BMW Car Corral for 1, 2, or 4 Days. The BMW Corral will be manned on the 14th, 15th, and 16th (race day).  The ONLY way to get a BMW Corral Pass for Sebring is to purchase your ticket(s) with Corral Pass through Sebring. There are only100 parking spaces allocated for BMW, MINI, Rolls Royce, and handicap parking in the corral, so order yours soon.

About the BMW Corral

We allow overnight camping in your BMW/MINI/RR or in a personal tent on Thursday and Friday nights. Just be aware that you WILL have to take your tent down by 8:00AM Saturday morning to make room for BMW parking. Sebring’s strict rule is ONLY BMWs, MINIs, RRs and Handicap Vehicle are allowed in the Corral. No open fires are allowed but you can prepare meals on a grill. There is 110V power in the BMW Corral Tent. You can sleep on your cot or air mattress in the Corral Tent if you choose. If you have a non-BMW car, you can park in public parking and walk into the BMW Corral. Note: You are not required have to have a Corral Pass to walk-in.

The planned activities at the BMW Corral

There will be BMW-exclusive Parade Laps on the track. These Parade Laps will be Friday evening at a time to be determined (likely between 5:30PM and 6:30PM). Details and signup will be in the BMW Corral on Friday. Passengers are allowedin the BMW/MINI/RR cars that make the Parade Laps. You MUST have a BMW Corral Pass on your parking ticket to participate in the popular Parade Laps.

Personalized “Meet & Greet” with BMW Team race drivers and race team personalities on Friday in the Paddock at a time will be posted in the Corral. This is a nice opportunity to see the Z4 racecars up close and obtain BMW race team driver autographs.

The sponsoring BMW Performance Center will conduct a drawing in the BMW Corral for a Two-day BMW Performance Driving School at the South Carolina Factory. You are responsible for your own transportation to the school. This drawing will be during the race Saturday afternoon at 2:00PM. Tickets will be handed out in advance in the Corral. You must be present to win the Drivers School.

We will have closed circuit television feed of the race in the BMW Corral Tent.

Other amenities of the BMW Corral include bottled water and light snacks, restrooms, private bleachers, along with the private parking for 100 vehicles.  The BMW Race Team and BMW personnel will try to provide personal updates on the team effort in the BMW Corral. Time and frequency of the briefings depend of the progress of the race.

You may bring friends with you in your BMW; they are welcome in the BMW Corral. If you are not driving a BMW and park in the public parking, you are welcome in the Corral. Please take time to sign the registration in the BMW Corral Tent.

You will receive your Corral Pass with Your Ticket(s) from Sebring. It is a small sticker in the corner of the Parking Pass. If the Corral Sticker is not on the Parking Pass, you should contact Sebring immediately. Handicap-equipped vehicles with a BMW Corral Pass may access the Corral. The maximum size is a van. Note: A rental van with a Handicap Tag does NOT qualify.

To get to the BMW Corral, take the road straight down the main midway road. Turn left at the BMW Corral Sign, just past the Patron Hospitality Area. At the entrance to the BMW Corral there will be a guard to verify the Corral Sticker that allows access. Please consult the BMW Corral staff for a parking location. The BMW Corral is fenced in and controlled by the Sebring security staff. That makes the BMW Corral a special place at the 12 Hours of Sebring. You will join many special BMW and MINI enthusiasts to enjoy the race from the private bleachers or shaded tent.

We look forward to seeing you in the BMW Corral. Remember only the first 100 to register will be able to gain access to the Corral. That is full capacity for the space. Have any questions? E-mail them to Jim Ringold at carstuff1@tampabay.rr.com