American Le Mans Series

Series Description

Founded in 1999 by entrepreneur Don Panoz, the American Le Mans Series is a series of sports car endurance racing events patterned after the world-famous 24 Hours of Le Mans.

The ALMS is holding nine North American events in 2001, while its affiliated series, the European Le Mans Series, is holding five events in Europe. Teams from both series will compete in a special Asia-Pacific Le Mans Series race in the latter part of 2001 in Malaysia.

The majority of the North American races are "sprint" races of two hours and 45 minutes in length. The longest event is the Superflo 12 Hours at Sebring (Fla.) International Raceway, the oldest sports car race in America. The Petit Le Mans at Road Atlanta is a 10-hour event.

In founding the series, Panoz also founded a relationship with the Automobile Club de l'Ouest (ACO), the organizer of the Le Mans event in France. ALMS cars are run under the ACO rules, with the events sanctioned and conducted by Professional Sports Car Racing. Teams that regularly compete in ALMS events receive special consideration in the selection of the 48-car field for the 24 Hours of Le Mans.

All ALMS, ELMS and A-PLMS events feature four classes of race cars, all competing at the same time but for the overall win as well as four different "class" wins within each race.

Automobile Club de l'Ouest (ACO)

Panoz LMP-1 Roadster S / Ford (LMP 900), Audi R8 (LMP 900), Porsche 911 GT3 R (GT)

Saleen S7 (GTS)

BMW M3 (GT)

The Le Mans Prototype (LMP) class is the highest class, featuring closed-wheel, purpose-built racing chassis that weigh no less than 900 kg. These sleek and powerful machines are open-cockpit and are carry 6.0 litre normally aspirated or 4.0 litre turbocharged engines. The Audi R8, Panoz LMP-1 and LMP-07, Lola B2K, Reynard 2KQ and Cadillac Northstar are among the LMP 900 cars.

New to the series in 2001 is the LMP 675 class, featuring lighter and less-powerful Prototypes. The cars cannot weigh less than 675 kg.

There are two categories of closed-roof cars: the Grand Touring Sport (GTS) and Grand Touring (GT).

The GTS cars are faster and are more "race-modified" from the street versions of the same cars. Popular models in competition include the Chevrolet Corvette C5 R, Dodge Viper GTS-R, Saleen S7R and Porsche 911 Turbo.

The GT cars are also similar to the street versions, somewhat less modified than the faster GTS cars. The BMW M3, Callaway C12, Chevrolet Corvette C5 and Porsche 911 GT3 R are the most common models.

One of the most exciting elements of ALMS events is the speed differential between the Prototype and GT cars. The races feature a great deal of passing and dicing as drivers compete for their own class wins while maneuvering in difficult traffic situations around road racing circuits.

Related Series

Series Rules:

Contact Information

American Le Mans Series
5624 West 73rd Street
Indianapolis, Indiana 46278

Phone: (317) 295-3500
Fax: (317) 298-8924

Web: www.americanlemans.com

Executive Director: Bill Donaldson
Director of Media and Communications: Andy Hall
Director of Promotions: Melissa Grunnah
Director of Operations: Tim Pendergast

2001 Schedule

March 4	Leather Center Grand Prix of Texas / Texas Motor Speedway / Fort Worth, Texas
March 17	49th Annual Exxon Superflo 12 Hours at Sebring Presented by Dodge / Sebring International Raceway / Sebring, Florida
July 22	The X-Factor Grand Prix of Sonoma / Sears Point Raceway / Sonoma, California
August 4	American Le Mans Series Grand Prix of Portland / Portland International Raceway / Portland, Oregon
August 19	Gran Turismo 3 Grand Prix at Mosport / Mosport International Raceway / Bowmanville, Ontario, Canada
August 25	American Le Mans Series at Mid-Ohio / Mid-Ohio Sports Car Course / Lexington, Ohio
September 9	Monterey Sports Car Championships Presented by Mazda / Mazda Raceway Laguna Seca / Monterey, California
October 6	Audi Presents Petit Le Mans / Road Atlanta Motor Sports Center / Braselton, Georgia
Tentative schedule -- Subject to change Detailed 2001 American Le Mans Series Schedule