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The American Le Mans Series run the same type of cars as race at the famous 24 Hours of Le Mans, the ultimate test of man and machine. It is auto racing with European style and American attitude. The series celebrated its tenth anniversary in 2008 and is considered the world's premier sports car series.
ALMS races are run under the rules of the Automobile Club de l"Quest (ACO), the organizers of the 24 Hours of Le Mans. Teams that regularly compete in the ALMS events receive special consideration in the selection of the 48 car field for the 24 Hours of Le Mans.
The Technology
Auto manufacturers that compete in the American Le Mans Series develop technologies and innovations which transfer to the showroom. Some Series examples include direct fuel injection, sulfur-free diesel technology, composite brakes, paddle shifting, lightweight carbon fiber chassis/body panels, telemetry, drive-by-wire throttle and tunable traction control. The Series also is the first major racing series in the world to use multiple “street legal” alternative fuels. Rules allow all racecars to compete using clean diesel, E10, a cellulosic E85 ethanol blend and a gas electric hybrid. The 2009 season will see the American Le Mans Series continuing in its industry-leading position as the global leader in green racing. In 2008, the Series received the unprecedented endorsement and backing from the U.S. Department of Energy, Environmental Protection Agency and SAE International as the only motorsports body in the world to meet the criteria created for Green Racing. Those elements focus on three vital characteristics that measure performance, fuel efficiency and ecological impact. The Series also introduced the Green Challenge™ in 2008 at Road Atlanta’s Petit Le Mans, a race-within-a-race that scores teams on the amount of energy they use, greenhouse gases (GHG) they emit and amount of petroleum they displace. For 2009, longtime partner Michelin is the title sponsor of the MICHELIN® Green X® Challenge.The Cars
There are four different classes in each event which makes for hard fought racing. The Le Mans Prototype (LMP1) cars are purpose built closed wheel race cars and are among the faster race machines in the world. Examples include the Acura ARX-02a, the Audi R15, the Peugeot 908 and the Zytek and Creation. LMP2 cars are smaller, less powerful prototypes, but are nimble, fast and competitive. Dyson Racing took the overall win at the Sears Point race in 2003 with this class of car and LMP2 cars won four of eleven ALMS races in 2008. Dyson Racing continues in LMP2 for 2009, campaigning two Lola LMP2 coupes in the ten-race series. The BP Dyson Racing Mazda coupes will be powered by the 2.0 liter turbo Mazda MZR-R engines prepared by Advanced Engine Research (AER) Ltd.
The GT1 cars are based on production cars, but are heavily modified for racing. The Chevrolet Corvette has been a consistent winner in this class. The GT2 class also feature production based automobiles, but with less extensive modifications. That class is populated with Porsche, BMW, Ferrari, Aston Martin and Corvette. There are more engine manufactures in the ALMS than NASCAR, NHRA, Champ Car and the IRL combined.The Races
There are ten races in 2009. All of the ALMS races, with the exception of the Petit Le Mans, are based on time. They vary in length from the two hour and 45 minute endurance format to the four hour event at Mazda Raceway at Laguna Seca to the famous 12 Hours of Sebring. The Petit Le Mans at Road Atlanta is contested for 1,000 miles or ten hours, whichever comes first. This year, the ALMS is running three race weekends with the Indy Racing League.
The Tracks
ALMS races on eight natural road courses and two street courses in Long Beach CA, and St. Petersburg FL. The road courses are the most competitive tracks in North America including Road Atlanta, GA, Road America, WI, Mazda Raceway at Laguna Seca, CA, Sebring, FL, Salt Lake City, UT, Lime Rock, CT, Mid-Ohio OH, and Mosport in Ontario, Canada. These tracks have defined sports car racing in North America for over fifty years.
The Drivers
There are multiple drivers for each car: two per regular race and three for the longer events. This adds the element of team work and the excitement of driver changes during pit stops. It is a world class mix of drivers, with many from Europe and the United States, several having Formula One ties. Past drivers include names such as Dan Gurney, Phil Hill, A.J. Foyt, Bruce McLaren, Jackie Ickx, Derek Bell and Graham Hill. Current drivers include the Dyson Racing drivers, Chris Dyson, Marino Franchitti, Butch Leitzinger, and Guy Smith. Other drivers: Alan McNish – Audi; Gil de Ferran - Acura; David Brabham – Acura; Oliver Gavin – Corvette; Jan Magnussen – Corvette ; Clint Field - Lola; Mika Salo – Ferrari; and Bill Auberlen – BMW. The 2008 Petit Le Mans at Road Atlanta saw the deepest field ever assembled in the American Le Mans Series. There were seven winners from past 24 Hours of Le Mans entered, as well as five drivers who won championships in either CART or IndyCar, plus five competitors who have won the Indianapolis 500.
Growth
The ALMS is the fastest growing race series in the world. Attendance, corporate partnerships and manufacturer involvement have shown significant increases over the last several years. In 2008, attendance alone grew six (6) percent, averaging nearly 80,000 per race. The Series boasts a worldwide television audience of nearly 650 million homes.Demographics
The ALMS has the most affluent demographic following out of all regularly televised sports, exceeding sports such as golf, tennis, skiing and sailing. The median income of the average fan is in excess of $125,000.