Caroll Shelby Talks About Aston Martin and Sebring

Caroll Shelby played an important part in Aston Martin’s motorsport history, having been on the 1959 Le Mans-winning line-up and also driving a DBR1 in the 12 Hours of Sebring. In total, Shelby contested Sebring four times for Aston Martin between 1954 and 1959, and is now talking about that period, as 2010 Sebring had just ended.

“It’s always made me very proud to be associated with Aston Martin,” says Carroll Shelby, who is now enjoying retirement. “What we achieved back then was remarkable; particularly as we didn’t have huge resources to spend. I think the Le Mans win in particular really put the company on the map in America.”

Aston Martin first raced at Sebring in 1950 with the DB2, while in 1954 and 1956 Shelby drove the DB3S, before switching to the DBR1 for the 1958 and 1959 races. Now aged 87, he still remembers exactly what it was like…

“Sebring is where my whole story with Aston Martin, which would take us all the way to winning Le Mans and the World Championship in 1959, originally started. I had offers from many other teams, like Ferrari, but I always chose to stay at Aston Martin because I had a very good and straightforward relationship with everyone there, such as John Wyer, Tony Brooks and Roy Salvadori. In most other teams there was a lot of politics, but Aston Martin was always very fair."

“Even though we didn’t get the results that we hoped for, Sebring is the race that really launched my international career with Aston Martin and I’ll always be thankful for that."

“I’d like to wish them all the very best of luck this weekend, and I’m so proud to see Aston Martin racing in America again. I’m sure that they will love the experience.”