American Le Mans Series
Encyclopedia
The American Le Mans Series presented by Tequila Patrón (ALMS) is a sports car racing
series based in the United States
and Canada
. It consists of a series of endurance and sprint races, and was created in the spirit of the 24 Hours of Le Mans
. Teams compete in one of five classes: LMP1, LMP2 and LMPC Le Mans Prototype
s, and GT(2/E) and GTC Grand Touring
cars. Race lengths vary from 1 hour, 40 minutes to 12 hours.
-based businessman Don Panoz
and ran its first season in 1999. Panoz created a partnership with the Automobile Club de L'Ouest
(ACO), the organizers of the 24 Hours of Le Mans
, to begin a 10-hour race in the spirit of Le Mans, dubbed the Petit Le Mans
. The inaugural Petit Le Mans took place in 1998 as a part of the Professional SportsCar Racing series, in which Panoz was an investor. For 1999, the series changed its name to the American Le Mans Series, and adopted the ACO's rulebook.
The partnership with the ACO allows ALMS teams to earn automatic entries in the Le Mans 24 Hours. This was a practice that began with the inaugural Petit Le Mans, a practice that continues today, where 1st and 2nd place teams in each class earn entries to the next year's 24 Hours. The ALMS race at Adelaide
in 2000 also received automatic entries. Invitations were extended to the series champions beginning in 2003, for the 2004 race. The ACO has always given high consideration to teams competing in ALMS races, and many ALMS teams have seen success in the 24 Hours.
The series began with eight races in 1999
, beginning with the 12 Hours of Sebring
, and ending at Las Vegas Motor Speedway
. The schedule expanded to 12 races in 2000
, including two races in Europe, and one in Australia. In subsequent years, the European races disappeared, with the creation of the short-lived European Le Mans Series
, and later the Le Mans Series
. The series also began to move away from the rovals, road courses in the infield of large superspeedways, at Charlotte Motor Speedway
, Las Vegas, and Texas Motor Speedway
. Lately, the series has visited more temporary street courses, many in conjunction with the Indy Racing League, at cities such as St. Petersburg, Florida
and Long Beach, California
. The series has raced at Laguna Seca
, Mosport
, Road Atlanta
and Sebring
in every year of its existence.
The series was the first motorsport racing series in North America to be recognized by the United States Environmental Protection Agency
(the EPA), the United States Department of Energy
and the Society of Automotive Engineers (SAE International) to be recognized as a "Green Racing Series", and is planned to hold an all-new series implemented on series races dedicated to the environment by holding their first-ever Green Challenge during the 2008 Petit Le Mans
and would continue at least up to the entire 2009 season
.
In 2010 the American Le Mans Series signed its first title sponsorship agreement, with Tequila Patrón
becoming a presenting sponsor for three seasons.
The American Le Mans Series uses essentially the same rules as the 24 Hours of Le Mans
. Like the 24 Hours of Le Mans, there are 4 primary classes, though there are 2 extra "Challenge classes" using standardized cars. Purpose-built race cars with closed fenders compete in the Prototype classes (LMP1, LMP2, and LMP Challenge or LMP-C) and modified production sports cars compete in the Grand Touring classes (GTE-Pro and GTE-Am, both formerly GT2, along with GT-Challenge or GT-C). Each car is driven by multiple drivers (2 or 3, depending on the length of the race), and all cars compete together simultaneously. LMP1 generally contains factory teams while LMP2 contains privateer teams. In GTE-Pro, all of the drivers of a car are professional, while in GTE-Am, 1 or 2 amateurs are allowed to race with a professional driver in support. The two "Challenge" classes are formula-based, and are designed for privateers or rookies to have an easier time entering the series. Currently, the Challenge classes use the Oreca FLM09 (LMP) and the Porsche 911 GT3 Cup (GT), though there are reports that the ACO may open the Challenge class to other manufacturers in 2011 or later.
The team points champions and runners-up in each class at the end of the season receive an automatic invitation to the next year's 24 Hours of Le Mans.
, the Environmental Protection Agency
, Environment Canada
and SAE International
, the Series has unveiled the Green Challenge's rules and regulations. Two class leading vehicles ran low CO2 or green engines during the 2008 season - the GT1 Chevrolet Corvette C6.R
with a E85 cellulosic ethanol
powered 7.0 litre V8 and the LMP1 Audi R10 TDI with a 5.5 litre turbodiesel
V12. Currently, the Michelin
Green X Challenge awards invitations to the 24 Hours of Le Mans
for the 1st and 2nd place winners in the Prototype and GT categories for the entire season.
The Challenge measures "Green" (based on fuel-type and other factors influencing emissions), "Speed" (overall speed), and "Efficiency" (based on fuel-economy). A formula is used to produce a score based on the 3 categories. The car with the lowest score at the end of the race wins the Challenge for that race.
and CNBC
. Since 2000 Speed Channel
has broadcast the majority ALMS races, including the 12 Hours of Sebring
and Petit Le Mans
, while some of the series' other races have been broadcast on ABC
, NBC
, and CBS
. For the 2011 season races will be shown live in their entirety on ESPN3.com with subsequent rebroadcasts on ESPN2 or condensed showings on ABC.
Sports car racing
Sports car racing is a form of circuit auto racing with automobiles that have two seats and enclosed wheels. They may be purpose-built or related to road-going sports cars....
series based in the United States
United States
The United States of America is a federal constitutional republic comprising fifty states and a federal district...
and Canada
Canada
Canada is a North American country consisting of ten provinces and three territories. Located in the northern part of the continent, it extends from the Atlantic Ocean in the east to the Pacific Ocean in the west, and northward into the Arctic Ocean...
. It consists of a series of endurance and sprint races, and was created in the spirit of the 24 Hours of Le Mans
24 Hours of Le Mans
The 24 Hours of Le Mans is the world's oldest sports car race in endurance racing, held annually since near the town of Le Mans, France. Commonly known as the Grand Prix of Endurance and Efficiency, race teams have to balance speed against the cars' ability to run for 24 hours without sustaining...
. Teams compete in one of five classes: LMP1, LMP2 and LMPC Le Mans Prototype
Le Mans Prototype
A Le Mans Prototype is a type of sports prototype race car most notably used in the 24 Hours of Le Mans, American Le Mans Series and Le Mans Series...
s, and GT(2/E) and GTC Grand Touring
Grand tourer
A grand tourer is a high-performance luxury automobile designed for long-distance driving. The most common format is a two-door coupé with either a two-seat or a 2+2 arrangement....
cars. Race lengths vary from 1 hour, 40 minutes to 12 hours.
History
The series was created by Braselton, GeorgiaBraselton, Georgia
Braselton is a town in Barrow, Gwinnett, Hall, and Jackson Counties in the U.S. state of Georgia, about 40 miles northeast of Atlanta. As of the 2010 census, the city had a population of 7,511....
-based businessman Don Panoz
Don Panoz
Dr. h.c. Donald Panoz is an American entrepreneur who made his name in pharmaceuticals and has since become a successful owner of various motorsport ventures.- Early life :...
and ran its first season in 1999. Panoz created a partnership with the Automobile Club de L'Ouest
Automobile Club de l'Ouest
The Automobile Club de l'Ouest , sometimes abbreviated to ACO, is the largest automotive group in France. It was founded in 1906 by car building and racing enthusiasts, and is most famous for being the organising entity behind the annual Le Mans 24 Hours race...
(ACO), the organizers of the 24 Hours of Le Mans
24 Hours of Le Mans
The 24 Hours of Le Mans is the world's oldest sports car race in endurance racing, held annually since near the town of Le Mans, France. Commonly known as the Grand Prix of Endurance and Efficiency, race teams have to balance speed against the cars' ability to run for 24 hours without sustaining...
, to begin a 10-hour race in the spirit of Le Mans, dubbed the Petit Le Mans
Petit Le Mans
The Petit Le Mans is a sports car endurance race held annually at Road Atlanta in Braselton, Georgia, USA. It uses the rules established for the 24 hours of Le Mans by the Automobile Club de l'Ouest , which are slightly modified if necessary, mainly to allow additional cars to compete.The race was...
. The inaugural Petit Le Mans took place in 1998 as a part of the Professional SportsCar Racing series, in which Panoz was an investor. For 1999, the series changed its name to the American Le Mans Series, and adopted the ACO's rulebook.
The partnership with the ACO allows ALMS teams to earn automatic entries in the Le Mans 24 Hours. This was a practice that began with the inaugural Petit Le Mans, a practice that continues today, where 1st and 2nd place teams in each class earn entries to the next year's 24 Hours. The ALMS race at Adelaide
Adelaide Street Circuit
The Adelaide Street Circuit is a temporary street circuit in the East Parklands adjacent to the central business district of the city of Adelaide in South Australia....
in 2000 also received automatic entries. Invitations were extended to the series champions beginning in 2003, for the 2004 race. The ACO has always given high consideration to teams competing in ALMS races, and many ALMS teams have seen success in the 24 Hours.
1999 American Le Mans Series season
The 1999 American Le Mans Series season was the first season of the IMSA American Le Mans Series. It was a series for Le Mans Prototypes and Grand Touring race cars divided into three classes: LMP, GTS, and GT...
, beginning with the 12 Hours of Sebring
12 Hours of Sebring
The 12 Hours of Sebring is an annual motorsport endurance race for sports cars held at Sebring International Raceway, a former Army Air Force base in Sebring, Florida...
, and ending at Las Vegas Motor Speedway
Las Vegas Motor Speedway
Las Vegas Motor Speedway, located in Clark County, Nevada near Las Vegas, is a complex of multiple tracks for automobile racing. The complex is owned by Speedway Motorsports, Inc., which is headquartered in Charlotte, North Carolina.-History:...
. The schedule expanded to 12 races in 2000
2000 American Le Mans Series season
The 2000 American Le Mans Series season was the 2nd season for the IMSA American Le Mans Series. It was a series for Le Mans Prototypes and Grand Touring race cars divided into 3 classes: LMP, GTS, and GT...
, including two races in Europe, and one in Australia. In subsequent years, the European races disappeared, with the creation of the short-lived European Le Mans Series
European Le Mans Series
The European Le Mans Series was a sports car endurance series based around the 24 Hours of Le Mans that was created in 2000 and ran its only season in 2001 before being cancelled. It was created by Don Panoz as an expansion on his successful American Le Mans Series run by IMSA...
, and later the Le Mans Series
Le Mans Series
The Le Mans Series is a European sports car racing endurance series based around the 24 Hours of Le Mans race and run by the Automobile Club de l'Ouest . The series was originally named the Le Mans Endurance Series, but changed its name prior to the 2006 season...
. The series also began to move away from the rovals, road courses in the infield of large superspeedways, at Charlotte Motor Speedway
Charlotte Motor Speedway
Charlotte Motor Speedway is a motorsports complex located in Concord, North Carolina, United States 13 miles from Charlotte, North Carolina. The complex features a quad oval track that hosts NASCAR racing including the prestigious Coca-Cola 600 on Memorial Day weekend and the Sprint All-Star Race...
, Las Vegas, and Texas Motor Speedway
Texas Motor Speedway
Texas Motor Speedway is a speedway located in the northernmost portion of the U.S. city of Fort Worth, Texas – the portion located in Denton County, Texas....
. Lately, the series has visited more temporary street courses, many in conjunction with the Indy Racing League, at cities such as St. Petersburg, Florida
St. Petersburg, Florida
St. Petersburg is a city in Pinellas County, Florida, United States. It is known as a vacation destination for both American and foreign tourists. As of 2008, the population estimate by the U.S. Census Bureau is 245,314, making St...
and Long Beach, California
Long Beach, California
Long Beach is a city situated in Los Angeles County in Southern California, on the Pacific coast of the United States. The city is the 36th-largest city in the nation and the seventh-largest in California. As of 2010, its population was 462,257...
. The series has raced at Laguna Seca
Mazda Raceway Laguna Seca
Mazda Raceway Laguna Seca is a paved road racing track used for both auto racing and motorcycle racing, originally constructed in 1957 near both Salinas and Monterey, California, USA....
, Mosport
Mosport
Mosport International Raceway is a multi-track facility located north of Bowmanville, Ontario, Canada. The facility features a , 10-turn road course; a half-mile paved oval; a 2.4 km advance driver and race driver training facility with a quarter-mile skid pad Mosport International Raceway...
, Road Atlanta
Road Atlanta
Road Atlanta is a 2.54-mile road course located just north of Braselton, Georgia, USA. The facility is utilized for a wide variety of events, including professional and amateur sports car and motorcycle races, racing and driving schools, corporate programs and testing for motorsports teams...
and Sebring
Sebring Raceway
Sebring International Raceway is a road course auto racing facility located near Sebring, Florida.Sebring Raceway is one of the oldest continuously-operating race tracks in the United States, its first race being run in 1950...
in every year of its existence.
The series was the first motorsport racing series in North America to be recognized by the United States Environmental Protection Agency
United States Environmental Protection Agency
The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency is an agency of the federal government of the United States charged with protecting human health and the environment, by writing and enforcing regulations based on laws passed by Congress...
(the EPA), the United States Department of Energy
United States Department of Energy
The United States Department of Energy is a Cabinet-level department of the United States government concerned with the United States' policies regarding energy and safety in handling nuclear material...
and the Society of Automotive Engineers (SAE International) to be recognized as a "Green Racing Series", and is planned to hold an all-new series implemented on series races dedicated to the environment by holding their first-ever Green Challenge during the 2008 Petit Le Mans
2008 Petit Le Mans
The 2008 Petit Le Mans powered by the Totally New Mazda6 was the eleventh running of the Petit Le Mans and the tenth round of the 2008 American Le Mans Series season. It took place at Road Atlanta in Braselton, Georgia, United States of America on October 4, 2008...
and would continue at least up to the entire 2009 season
2009 American Le Mans Series season
The 2009 American Le Mans Series season was the eleventh season for the International Motor Sports Association's American Le Mans Series. It began on March 21, 2009, and ended on October 10, 2009 after ten events. The series was composed of Le Mans Prototypes and Grand Tourer race cars divided...
.
In 2010 the American Le Mans Series signed its first title sponsorship agreement, with Tequila Patrón
Patrón
Patrón is a luxury brand of tequila produced in Mexico and sold in hand-blown, individually numbered bottles.Made entirely from Blue Agave "piñas" , Patrón comes in five varieties: Silver, Añejo, Reposado, Gran Patrón Platinum and Gran Patrón Burdeos. Patrón also sells a tequila-coffee blend known...
becoming a presenting sponsor for three seasons.
Overview
24 Hours of Le Mans
The 24 Hours of Le Mans is the world's oldest sports car race in endurance racing, held annually since near the town of Le Mans, France. Commonly known as the Grand Prix of Endurance and Efficiency, race teams have to balance speed against the cars' ability to run for 24 hours without sustaining...
. Like the 24 Hours of Le Mans, there are 4 primary classes, though there are 2 extra "Challenge classes" using standardized cars. Purpose-built race cars with closed fenders compete in the Prototype classes (LMP1, LMP2, and LMP Challenge or LMP-C) and modified production sports cars compete in the Grand Touring classes (GTE-Pro and GTE-Am, both formerly GT2, along with GT-Challenge or GT-C). Each car is driven by multiple drivers (2 or 3, depending on the length of the race), and all cars compete together simultaneously. LMP1 generally contains factory teams while LMP2 contains privateer teams. In GTE-Pro, all of the drivers of a car are professional, while in GTE-Am, 1 or 2 amateurs are allowed to race with a professional driver in support. The two "Challenge" classes are formula-based, and are designed for privateers or rookies to have an easier time entering the series. Currently, the Challenge classes use the Oreca FLM09 (LMP) and the Porsche 911 GT3 Cup (GT), though there are reports that the ACO may open the Challenge class to other manufacturers in 2011 or later.
The team points champions and runners-up in each class at the end of the season receive an automatic invitation to the next year's 24 Hours of Le Mans.
Michelin Green X Challenge
In January 2008, the American Le Mans Series announced it would hold its first "Green Challenge" competition during Petit Le Mans at Road Atlanta in October, ahead of the Challenge being implemented at all ALMS races during the 2009 season. In conjunction with the Department of EnergyUnited States Department of Energy
The United States Department of Energy is a Cabinet-level department of the United States government concerned with the United States' policies regarding energy and safety in handling nuclear material...
, the Environmental Protection Agency
United States Environmental Protection Agency
The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency is an agency of the federal government of the United States charged with protecting human health and the environment, by writing and enforcing regulations based on laws passed by Congress...
, Environment Canada
Environment Canada
Environment Canada , legally incorporated as the Department of the Environment under the Department of the Environment Act Environment Canada (EC) (French: Environnement Canada), legally incorporated as the Department of the Environment under the Department of the Environment Act Environment...
and SAE International
SAE International
SAE International is an organization for engineering professionals in the aerospace, automotive, and commercial vehicle industries. The Society is a standards development organization for the engineering of powered vehicles of all kinds, including cars, trucks, boats, aircraft, and others.SAE...
, the Series has unveiled the Green Challenge's rules and regulations. Two class leading vehicles ran low CO2 or green engines during the 2008 season - the GT1 Chevrolet Corvette C6.R
Chevrolet Corvette C6.R
The Chevrolet Corvette C6.R is a grand tourer racing car built by Pratt & Miller and General Motors for competition in endurance racing. It is a replacement for the Corvette C5-R racing car, applying the body style of the new C6 generation Chevrolet Corvette as well as improvements to increase the...
with a E85 cellulosic ethanol
Cellulosic ethanol
Cellulosic ethanol is a biofuel produced from wood, grasses, or the non-edible parts of plants.It is a type of biofuel produced from lignocellulose, a structural material that comprises much of the mass of plants. Lignocellulose is composed mainly of cellulose, hemicellulose and lignin...
powered 7.0 litre V8 and the LMP1 Audi R10 TDI with a 5.5 litre turbodiesel
Turbodiesel
Turbodiesel refers to any diesel engine with a turbocharger. Turbocharging is the norm rather than the exception in modern car and truck diesel engines...
V12. Currently, the Michelin
Michelin
Michelin is a tyre manufacturer based in Clermont-Ferrand in the Auvergne région of France. It is one of the two largest tyre manufacturers in the world along with Bridgestone. In addition to the Michelin brand, it also owns the BFGoodrich, Kleber, Riken, Kormoran and Uniroyal tyre brands...
Green X Challenge awards invitations to the 24 Hours of Le Mans
24 Hours of Le Mans
The 24 Hours of Le Mans is the world's oldest sports car race in endurance racing, held annually since near the town of Le Mans, France. Commonly known as the Grand Prix of Endurance and Efficiency, race teams have to balance speed against the cars' ability to run for 24 hours without sustaining...
for the 1st and 2nd place winners in the Prototype and GT categories for the entire season.
The Challenge measures "Green" (based on fuel-type and other factors influencing emissions), "Speed" (overall speed), and "Efficiency" (based on fuel-economy). A formula is used to produce a score based on the 3 categories. The car with the lowest score at the end of the race wins the Challenge for that race.
Television
The series' first season in 1999 was covered by NBCNBC
The National Broadcasting Company is an American commercial broadcasting television network and former radio network headquartered in the GE Building in New York City's Rockefeller Center with additional major offices near Los Angeles and in Chicago...
and CNBC
CNBC
CNBC is a satellite and cable television business news channel in the U.S., owned and operated by NBCUniversal. The network and its international spinoffs cover business headlines and provide live coverage of financial markets. The combined reach of CNBC and its siblings is 390 million viewers...
. Since 2000 Speed Channel
SPEED Channel
Speed , is a cable and satellite television network broadcast to various parts of North America, but primarily the United States...
has broadcast the majority ALMS races, including the 12 Hours of Sebring
12 Hours of Sebring
The 12 Hours of Sebring is an annual motorsport endurance race for sports cars held at Sebring International Raceway, a former Army Air Force base in Sebring, Florida...
and Petit Le Mans
Petit Le Mans
The Petit Le Mans is a sports car endurance race held annually at Road Atlanta in Braselton, Georgia, USA. It uses the rules established for the 24 hours of Le Mans by the Automobile Club de l'Ouest , which are slightly modified if necessary, mainly to allow additional cars to compete.The race was...
, while some of the series' other races have been broadcast on ABC
American Broadcasting Company
The American Broadcasting Company is an American commercial broadcasting television network. Created in 1943 from the former NBC Blue radio network, ABC is owned by The Walt Disney Company and is part of Disney-ABC Television Group. Its first broadcast on television was in 1948...
, NBC
NBC
The National Broadcasting Company is an American commercial broadcasting television network and former radio network headquartered in the GE Building in New York City's Rockefeller Center with additional major offices near Los Angeles and in Chicago...
, and CBS
CBS
CBS Broadcasting Inc. is a major US commercial broadcasting television network, which started as a radio network. The name is derived from the initials of the network's former name, Columbia Broadcasting System. The network is sometimes referred to as the "Eye Network" in reference to the shape of...
. For the 2011 season races will be shown live in their entirety on ESPN3.com with subsequent rebroadcasts on ESPN2 or condensed showings on ABC.
See also
- Le Mans SeriesLe Mans SeriesThe Le Mans Series is a European sports car racing endurance series based around the 24 Hours of Le Mans race and run by the Automobile Club de l'Ouest . The series was originally named the Le Mans Endurance Series, but changed its name prior to the 2006 season...
- European Le Mans SeriesEuropean Le Mans SeriesThe European Le Mans Series was a sports car endurance series based around the 24 Hours of Le Mans that was created in 2000 and ran its only season in 2001 before being cancelled. It was created by Don Panoz as an expansion on his successful American Le Mans Series run by IMSA...
- Radio Le MansRadio Le MansRadio Le Mans is the English language radio service for the 24 Hours of Le Mans race.It first broadcast at the 1987 24 Hours of Le Mans.- History :...
- List of Le Mans Prototypes