But in this pantheon of sportscar legends where does a name like Juan Manuel Fangio come into the mix? In fact the five-time F1 champion won the 12 Hour race twice in a row in the late 1950s (just before Gendebien began his reign of wins). Each victory was taken with a legendary Italian marque and each alongside a name as famous in the world of motorsport.
In '56 the world of endurance racing was still reeling from the events at Le Mans the year before. The loss of 83 spectators and two drivers in the worst disaster in motorsport history hit events like Sebring hard. The circuit was left without a sanctioning body and doubtful as to whether it would ever see racing again. Founder Alec Ullman, whose name is now worn by Sebring's bumpy back straight, managed to pursuade the FIA to give them special dispensation to hold the race and thankfully it took place.
So arrived Ferrari on the scene, fresh with the 850 Monza and with Fangio and Eugenio Castellotti in tow. The prancing horse completed a dominant win, its star power wowing the crowds as they romped to victory fully four laps clear of any other car (a locally entered D-Type).
It was just Fangio who returned in '57, but with Maserati this time and now teamed up with Jean Behra. Again he helped an Italian marque to a one-two, as Stirling Moss and Harry Schell brought a second Maserati home in second place (and first in their class), this time just two laps clear of Mike Hawthorn and Ivor Bueb's D-Type. Now Fangio's name is take by the gently curving chicane away from the iconic hairpin. A reminder of a man whose star power helped save this once threatened track.