In automobile endurance racing, three events have come to form a Triple Crown. They are considered three of the most challenging endurance races over the decades: the 24 Hours of Daytona, 12 Hours of Sebring, and 24 Hours of Le Mans.[1][2] As of 2025 only 12 drivers have completed the Triple Crown by winning all three races, Phil Hill was the first do so in 1964, and Timo Bernhard is the most recent to do so in 2010.[3] No driver has won all three events in the same year.
Ken Miles lost the chance to win all three events in the same year when a problem with the Ford team orders for a photo finish made him lose the 1966 24 Hours of Le Mans. This incident was dramatized in the 2019 film Ford v Ferrari. Miles died two months later testing the Ford J-car.
Hurley Haywood and Al Holbert have won all three races at least twice.
Numerous drivers have won only two out of the three events that makes up the triple crown of endurance racing.
List of Triple Crown winners
Bold on year indicate at which race the driver achieved his Triple Crown.
| Driver | Year completed | 24 Hours of Daytona | 12 Hours of Sebring | 24 Hours of Le Mans | Total wins |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
 Phil Hill |
1964 | 1964* | 1958, 1959, 1961 | 1958, 1961, 1962 | 7 |
| Dan Gurney |
1967 | 1962** | 1959 | 1967 | 3 |
 Hans Herrmann |
1970 | 1968 | 1960, 1968 | 1970 | 4 |
 Jackie Oliver |
1971 | 1971 | 1969 | 1969 | 3 |
 Jacky Ickx
|
1972 | 1972*** | 1969, 1972 | 1969, 1975, 1976, 1977, 1981, 1982 | 9 |
| Hurley Haywood |
1977 | 1973, 1975, 1977, 1979, 1991 | 1973, 1981 | 1977, 1983, 1994 | 10 |
| A. J. Foyt |
1985 | 1983, 1985 | 1985 | 1967 | 4 |
| Al Holbert |
1986 | 1986, 1987 | 1976, 1981 | 1983, 1986, 1987 | 7 |
| Andy Wallace |
1992 | 1990, 1997, 1999 | 1992, 1993 | 1988 | 6 |
 Mauro Baldi |
1998 | 1998, 2002 | 1998 | 1994 | 4 |
| Marco Werner |
2005 | 1995 | 2003, 2005, 2007 | 2005, 2006, 2007 | 7 |
| Timo Bernhard |
2010 | 2003 | 2008 | 2010, 2017 | 4 |
| Nick Tandy |
2025 | 2025 | 2025 | 2015 | 3 |
(*) Held as the 2000 km of Daytona. (**) Held as the Daytona 3 Hours. (***) Held as the 6 Hours of Daytona.
Source:[4]
Big Six
The "Big Six" is an expansion of the endurance racing Triple Crown that adds Petit Le Mans, the Nürburgring 24 Hours and the Spa 24 Hours.[5][6][7] The Big Six races are considered to be the six most prestigious endurance races in the world.[8] Petit Le Mans is the only other major endurance race besides Le Mans, Daytona and Sebring to feature top-tier machinery, while Nürburgring and Spa are the only other major 24-hour races besides Le Mans and Daytona.
In 2025, Nick Tandy became the first driver to win the Big Six endurance races overall after winning the 2025 12 Hours of Sebring.[9]
See also
References
- ^ Ryan, Nate (2011-06-08). "Joey Hand goes for sports-car Triple Crown in Le Mans". USA Today.
- ^ "The other Triple Crown that Alonso is on his way to achieving". Retrieved 20 August 2021.
- ^ Richards, Giles (2015-11-21). "Mark Webber and Porsche claim World Endurance Championship title". The Guardian.
- ^ "The Elusive Sportscar Triple Crown… | dailysportscar.com". www.dailysportscar.com. Retrieved 2024-06-29.
- ^ Dagys, John (2025-03-11). "Tandy: "High Motivation" to Complete "Big Six" Enduro Wins – Sportscar365". sportscar365.com. Retrieved 2025-03-16.
- ^ "One driver's quest for unprecedented endurance glory". The Race. 2025-03-13. Retrieved 2025-03-16.
- ^ "Nick Tandy makes history after winning the six biggest endurance races | Crash.net". www.crash.net. 2025-03-16. Retrieved 2025-03-16.
- ^ "Winners and losers from the Sebring 12 Hours". The Race. 2025-03-16. Retrieved 2025-03-16.
- ^ Dagys, John (2025-03-15). "Tandy Reflects on 'Triple Crown', 'Big Six' Feats With Sebring Win – Sportscar365". sportscar365.com. Retrieved 2025-03-16.