Difference between revisions of "American Le Mans Series"

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The '''American Le Mans Series''' ('''ALMS''') is a series of [[auto racing|automobile races]], founded in [[1999]] by [[Don Panoz]], and sanctioned by [[International Motor Sports Association|IMSA]]. The American Le Mans Series utilizes the rules and regulations of the [[Automobile Club de l'Ouest]], which organizes the world famous [[24 Hours of Le Mans]], to conduct several [[sports car racing]] events each year in [[North America]]. As with the 24 Hours of Le Mans the cars are divided into several classes, each car is assigned to multiple drivers, and all the cars compete together simultaneously. The cars of the American Le Mans Series are divided into two major classes. Purpose-built race cars with closed fenders compete in the ''Prototype'' classes (P1 and P2) and modified production sports cars compete in the ''Grand Touring'' classes (GT1 and GT2, formerly GT and GTS).  
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{| border=1 cellspacing=3 cellpadding=4 style="float:right; margin:0 0 .5em 1em; width:250px; background:#505050; border-collapse:collapse; border:1px solid #999; font-size:83%; line-height:1.5; " summary="Infobox Automobile"
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|- style="text-align:center; background:#505050;"
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| colspan=2 style="padding:0; background:#333333; color:#fff; border-bottom:1px solid #999;" |[[Image:alms.JPEG|250px]]
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|- style="color:#fff; background:darkred; font-size:larger;"
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! colspan=2 |'''American Le Mans Series season'''
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|-
 +
| Country/region    ||  [[United States]], [[Canada]]
 +
|-
 +
| Inaugural        ||  1999
 +
|-
 +
| Folded            || 
 +
|-
 +
| LMP classes      ||  LMP1, LMP2
 +
|-
 +
| GT classes        ||  GT1, GT2
 +
|-
 +
| Races            ||  12 (2007)
 +
|-
 +
| Champion driver  ||  P1:[[Rinaldo Capello]], [[Allan McNish]]<br/>P2:[[Romain Dumas]], [[Timo Bernhard]]<br/>GT1:[[Olivier Beretta]], [[Oliver Gavin]]<br/>GT2:[[Mika Salo]], [[Jaime Melo]]
 +
|-
 +
| Champion team    ||  P1:[[Audi Sport North America]]<br/>P2:[[Penske Racing]]<br/>GT1:[[Corvette Racing]]<br/>GT2:[[Risi Competizione]]
 +
|-
 +
| Manufacturer      ||  P1:[[Audi]]<br/>P2:[[Porsche]]<br/>GT1:[[Chevrolet]]<br/>GT2:[[Ferrari]]
 +
|-
 +
| Website          ||  [http://www.americanlemans.com americanlemans.com]
 +
|}
  
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The premier events of the series include the season opening [[12 Hours of Sebring]] held in March and the [[Petit Le Mans]] at [[Road Atlanta]].  Events held during 2005 also included races at [[Mid-Ohio Sports Car Course]], [[Lime Rock Park]], [[Infineon Raceway]], [[Portland International Raceway]], [[Mosport International Raceway]], [[Road America]], another race at Road Atlanta. and [[Mazda Raceway Laguna Seca]]. The races for 2005 were televised on [[Speed Channel]] and [[CBS]].
 
  
−
Points are awarded in each class after every race, and the team points leader in each class at the end of the season receives an automatic invitation to the next year's 24 Hours of Le Mans.  Additionally, ''privateer'' teams, teams that are not supported by the factory, compete for the IMSA Cup as well as special prizes for each race.  In its history, the ALMS has been dominated by [[Audi]], specifically the factory team [[Audi Sport Team Joest]] and now privateer team Champion Racing, both operating [[Audi R8 Race Car (1999-2005)|Audi R8]]s.
+
The '''American Le Mans Series''' ('''ALMS''') is a [[sports car racing]] series based in the [[United States]] and [[Canada]]. It consists of a series of [[endurance racing|endurance]] and sprint races, and was created in the spirit of the [[24 Hours of Le Mans]].  Teams compete in one of four classes: LMP1 and LMP2 for [[Le Mans Prototype]]s, and GT1 and GT2 for [[Grand tourer|
 +
Grand Touring]] cars.  Race lengths vary from 1 hour, 40 minutes to 12 hours.
  
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== External link ==
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==History==  
 +
The series was created by Georgia-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 Street Circuit|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.
 +
 +
[[Image:OldALMSLogo.gif|left|thumb|Old ALMS Logo.]]
 +
 +
The series began with eight races in [[1999 American Le Mans Series season|1999]], beginning with the [[12 Hours of Sebring]], and ending at [[Las Vegas Motor Speedway]].  The schedule expanded to 12 races in [[2000 American Le Mans Series season|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 [[roval]]s, road courses in the infield of large [[superspeedway]]s, 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]].  The series has raced at [[Mazda Raceway Laguna Seca|Laguna Seca]], [[Mosport]], [[Road Atlanta]] and [[Sebring Raceway|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 American Le Mans Series season|2009 season]].
 +
 +
 +
==Overview==
 +
[[Image:Porsche slips by the Ferrari.jpg|thumb|right|200px|[[2007 Northeast Grand Prix|Northeast Grand Prix 2007]]]]
 +
The American Le Mans Series uses essentially the same rules as the [[24 Hours of Le Mans]]. As with the 24 Hours, the cars are divided into four classes. Purpose-built race cars with closed fenders compete in the ''Prototype'' classes (LMP1 and LMP2) and modified production sports cars compete in the ''Grand Touring'' classes (GT1 and GT2, formerly GTS and GT).  Each car is driven by multiple drivers (2 or 3, depending on the length of the race), and all cars compete together simultaneously.
 +
 +
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.  Additionally, privateer teams (teams that are not supported by manufacturers) compete for the IMSA Cup as well as special prizes for each race.  Currently, factory teams exist in all four classes, with [[Audi]] in LMP1, [[Porsche]], [[Mazda]], and [[Acura]] in LMP2, [[Chevrolet]] in GT1, and [[Aston Martin]], [[Panoz]], [[Ferrari]], and [[Porsche]] in GT2.  Other manufacturers include [[Ford Motor Company|Ford]] and [[Dodge]].  [[BMW]], [[Cadillac]], and [[Chrysler]] factory teams have competed in the past.
 +
 +
== Green Challenge ==
 +
In January, 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 in 2009.  In conjunction with the [[Department of Energy]], the [[United States Environmental Protection Agency|Environmental Protection Agency]] and [[SAE International]], the Series has unveiled the Green Challenge's rules and regulations. Two class leading vehicles currently run low [[CO2]] or green engines including 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.
 +
 +
==Past champions==
 +
Note: Driver champions may not have necessarily driven for the same team which won the Teams Championship.
 +
 +
{| border=1 cellspacing=3 cellpadding=4 style="float:center; margin:0 0 .5em 1em; width:800px; background:#505050; border-collapse:collapse; border:1px solid #999; font-size:83%; line-height:1.5; " summary="Infobox Automobile"
 +
|- style="text-align:center; background:#505050;"
 +
|- tr BGCOLOR=darkred
 +
! colspan=2| &nbsp;
 +
! LMP/LMP900/LMP1
 +
! LMP675/LMP2
 +
! GTS/GT1
 +
! GT/GT2
 +
|-
 +
! rowspan=2 | [[1999 American Le Mans Series season|1999]]
 +
! Team <br> (Vehicle)
 +
| {{flagiconUSA}} [[Panoz Motorsports]] <br> ([[Panoz GTR-1]]<br>[[Panoz LMP-1]] - [[Élan Motorsport Technologies|Élan]])
 +
| rowspan=2 |
 +
| {{flagiconFRA}} [[Dodge Viper|Viper]] [[Oreca|Team Oreca]] <br> ([[Dodge Viper GTS-R]])
 +
| {{flagiconUSA}} [[Prototype Technology Group]] <br> ([[BMW M3 GTR]])
 +
|-
 +
! Driver(s)
 +
| {{flagiconUSA}} [[Elliott Forbes-Robinson]]
 +
| {{flagiconMON}} [[Olivier Beretta]]
 +
| {{flagiconUSA}} [[Cort Wagner]]
 +
|-
 +
! rowspan=2 | [[2000 American Le Mans Series season|2000]]
 +
! Team <br> (Vehicle)
 +
| {{flagiconGER}} [[Joest Racing|Audi Sport North America]] <br> ([[Audi R8R]])<br>([[Audi R8 (race car)|Audi R8]])
 +
| rowspan=2 |
 +
| {{flagiconFRA}} [[Dodge Viper|Viper]] [[Oreca|Team Oreca]] <br> ([[Dodge Viper GTS-R]])
 +
| {{flagiconUSA}} [[Dick Barbour Racing]] <br> ([[Porsche 911 GT3]]-R)
 +
|-
 +
! Driver(s)
 +
| {{flagiconGBR}} [[Allan McNish]]
 +
| {{flagiconMON}} [[Olivier Beretta]]
 +
| {{flagiconGER}} [[Dirk Müller]]
 +
|-
 +
! rowspan=2 | [[2001 American Le Mans Series season|2001]]
 +
! Team <br> (Vehicle)
 +
| {{flagiconGER}} [[Joest Racing|Audi Sport North America]] <br> ([[Audi R8 (race car)|Audi R8]])
 +
| {{flagiconUSA}} [[Dick Barbour Racing]] <br> ([[Reynard Motorsport|Reynard 01Q]] - [[Judd (engine)|Judd]])
 +
| {{flagiconUSA}} [[Corvette Racing]] <br> ([[Chevrolet Corvette C5-R]])
 +
| {{flagiconGER}} [[BMW Motorsport]] <br> ([[BMW M3 GTR]])
 +
|-
 +
! Driver(s)
 +
| {{flagiconITA}} [[Emanuele Pirro]]
 +
| {{flagiconBEL}} [[Didier de Radigues]]
 +
| {{flagiconUSA}} [[Terry Borcheller]]
 +
| {{flagiconGER}} [[Jörg Müller]]
 +
|-
 +
! rowspan=2 | [[2002 American Le Mans Series season|2002]]
 +
! Team
 +
| {{flagiconGER}} [[Joest Racing|Audi Sport North America]] <br> ([[Audi R8 (race car)|Audi R8]])
 +
| {{flagiconUSA}} [[KnightHawk Racing]] <br> ([[MG-Lola EX257]])
 +
| {{flagiconUSA}} [[Corvette Racing]] <br> ([[Chevrolet Corvette C5-R]])
 +
| {{flagiconUSA}} [[Alex Job Racing]] <br> ([[Porsche 911 GT3]]-RS)
 +
|-
 +
! Driver(s)
 +
| {{flagiconDEN}} [[Tom Kristensen]]
 +
| {{flagiconUSA}} [[Jon Field]]
 +
| {{flagiconCAN}} [[Ron Fellows]]
 +
| {{flagiconGER}} [[Lucas Luhr]]<br>{{flagiconGER}} [[Sascha Maassen]]
 +
|-
 +
! rowspan=2 | [[2003 American Le Mans Series season|2003]]
 +
! Team <br> (Vehicle)
 +
| {{flagiconGER}} [[Infineon]] [[Joest Racing|Team Joest]] <br> ([[Audi R8 (race car)|Audi R8]])
 +
| {{flagiconUSA}} [[Dyson Racing]] <br> ([[MG-Lola EX257]])
 +
| {{flagiconUSA}} [[Corvette Racing]] <br> ([[Chevrolet Corvette C5-R]])
 +
| {{flagiconUSA}} [[Alex Job Racing]] <br> ([[Porsche 911 GT3]]-RS)
 +
|-
 +
! Driver(s)
 +
| {{flagiconGER}} [[Frank Biela]]<br>{{flagiconGER}} [[Marco Werner]]
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| {{flagiconUSA}} [[Chris Dyson]]
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| {{flagiconCAN}} [[Ron Fellows]]<br>{{flagiconUSA}} [[Johnny O'Connell]]
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| {{flagiconGER}} [[Lucas Luhr]]<br>{{flagiconGER}} [[Sascha Maassen]]
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|-
 +
! rowspan=2 | [[2004 American Le Mans Series season|2004]]
 +
! Team <br> (Vehicle)
 +
| {{flagiconUSA}} [[ADT Security Services|ADT]] [[Champion Racing]] <br> ([[Audi R8 (race car)|Audi R8]])
 +
| {{flagiconUSA}} [[Miracle Motorsports]] <br> ([[Lola B2K/40]] - [[Nissan Motors|Nissan]]) <br> ([[Courage Compétition|Courage C65]] - [[Advanced Engine Research|AER]])
 +
| {{flagiconUSA}} [[Corvette Racing]] <br> ([[Chevrolet Corvette C5-R]])
 +
| {{flagiconUSA}} [[Alex Job Racing]] <br> ([[Porsche 911 GT3]]-RSR)
 +
|-
 +
! Driver(s)
 +
| {{flagiconGER}} [[Marco Werner]]<br>{{flagiconFIN}} [[JJ Lehto]]
 +
| {{flagiconGBR}} Ian James
 +
| {{flagiconCAN}} [[Ron Fellows]]<br>{{flagiconUSA}} [[Johnny O'Connell]]
 +
| {{flagiconGER}} [[Timo Bernhard]]
 +
|-
 +
! rowspan=2 | [[2005 American Le Mans Series season|2005]]
 +
! Team <br> (Vehicle)
 +
| {{flagiconUSA}} [[ADT Security Services|ADT]] [[Champion Racing]] <br> ([[Audi R8 (race car)|Audi R8]])
 +
| {{flagiconUSA}} [[Intersport Racing]] <br> ([[Lola B05/40]] - [[Advanced Engine Research|AER]])
 +
| {{flagiconUSA}} [[Corvette Racing]] <br> ([[Chevrolet Corvette C6.R]])
 +
| {{flagiconUSA}} Petersen/White Lightning <br> ([[Porsche 911 GT3|Porsche 911 GT3 RSR]])
 +
|-
 +
! Driver(s)
 +
| {{flagiconGER}} [[Frank Biela]]<br>{{flagiconITA}} [[Emanuele Pirro]]
 +
| {{flagiconUSA}} [[Clint Field]]
 +
| {{flagiconMON}} [[Olivier Beretta]]<br>{{flagiconGBR}} [[Oliver Gavin]]
 +
| {{flagiconUSA}} [[Patrick Long]]<br>{{flagiconGER}} [[Jörg Bergmeister]]
 +
|-
 +
! rowspan=2 | [[2006 American Le Mans Series season|2006]]
 +
! Team
 +
| {{flagiconUSA}} [[Champion Racing|Audi Sport North America]] <br> ([[Audi R8 (race car)|Audi R8]]) <br> ([[Audi R10 TDI]])
 +
| {{flagiconUSA}} [[Penske Racing]] <br> ([[Porsche RS Spyder]])
 +
| {{flagiconUSA}} [[Corvette Racing]] <br> ([[Chevrolet Corvette C6.R]])
 +
| {{flagiconUSA}} [[Risi Competizione]] <br> ([[Ferrari F430]] GT2)
 +
|-
 +
! Driver(s)
 +
| {{flagiconITA}} [[Rinaldo Capello]]<br>{{flagiconGBR}} [[Allan McNish]]
 +
| {{flagiconGER}} [[Lucas Luhr]]<br>{{flagiconGER}} [[Sascha Maassen]]
 +
| {{flagiconMON}} [[Olivier Beretta]]<br>{{flagiconGBR}} [[Oliver Gavin]]
 +
| {{flagiconGER}} [[Jörg Bergmeister]]
 +
|-
 +
! rowspan=2 | [[2007 American Le Mans Series season|2007]]
 +
! Team
 +
| {{flagiconUSA}} [[Champion Racing|Audi Sport North America]] <br> ([[Audi R10 TDI]])
 +
| {{flagiconUSA}} [[Penske Racing]] <br> ([[Porsche RS Spyder]])
 +
| {{flagiconUSA}} [[Corvette Racing]] <br> ([[Chevrolet Corvette C6.R]])
 +
| {{flagiconUSA}} [[Risi Competizione]] <br> ([[Ferrari F430]] GT2)
 +
|-
 +
! Driver(s)
 +
| {{flagiconITA}} [[Rinaldo Capello]]<br>{{flagiconGBR}} [[Allan McNish]]
 +
| {{flagiconGER}} [[Timo Bernhard]]<br>{{flagiconFRA}} [[Romain Dumas]]
 +
| {{flagiconMON}} [[Olivier Beretta]]<br>{{flagiconGBR}} [[Oliver Gavin]]
 +
| {{flagiconFIN}} [[Mika Salo]]<br>{{flagiconBRA}} [[Jaime Melo]]
 +
|-
 +
! rowspan=2 | [[2008 American Le Mans Series season|2008]]
 +
! Team
 +
| {{flagiconUSA}} [[Champion Racing|Audi Sport North America]] <br> ([[Audi R10 TDI]])
 +
| {{flagiconUSA}} [[Penske Racing]]<br>([[Porsche RS Spyder]])
 +
| {{flagiconUSA}} [[Corvette Racing]] <br> ([[Chevrolet Corvette C6.R]])
 +
| {{flagiconUSA}} [[Flying Lizard Motorsports]]<br>([[Porsche 911 GT3|Porsche 997 GT3-RSR]])
 +
|-
 +
! Driver(s)
 +
| {{flagiconDEU}} [[Lucas Luhr]]<br>{{flagiconDEU}} [[Marco Werner]]
 +
| {{flagiconDEU}} [[Timo Bernhard]]<br>{{flagiconFRA}} [[Romain Dumas]]
 +
| {{flagiconUSA}} [[Johnny O'Connell]]<br>{{flagiconDEN}} [[Jan Magnussen]]
 +
| {{flagiconDEU}} [[Jörg Bergmeister]]<br>{{flagiconDEU}} [[Wolf Henzler]]
 +
|}
 +
 +
 +
== See also ==
 +
 +
* [[Le Mans Series]]
 +
* [[European Le Mans Series]]
 +
* [[American Le Mans Series seasons]]
 +
* [[Radio Le Mans]]
 +
 +
 +
 +
==External links==
 
*[http://www.americanlemans.com American Le Mans official site]
 
*[http://www.americanlemans.com American Le Mans official site]
 
*[http://www.imsaracing.net International Motor Sports Association official site]
 
*[http://www.imsaracing.net International Motor Sports Association official site]
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*[http://www.clutchout.com Clutchout - ALMS/Motorsports Blog]
+
*[http://www.lemans.org/accueil/index_gb.html ACO official site]
 +
*[http://www.spotterguides.com Downloadable 2008 PDF Spotters Guide]
 
*[http://www.the-paddock.net the-Paddock.net - daily ALMS news]
 
*[http://www.the-paddock.net the-Paddock.net - daily ALMS news]
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 +
[[Category:American Le Mans Series]]
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[[Category:Sports car racing series]]
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[[Category:Auto racing organizations]]
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[[Category:International Motor Sports Association]]

Latest revision as of 08:51, 4 August 2009

Alms.JPEG
American Le Mans Series season
Country/region United States, Canada
Inaugural 1999
Folded
LMP classes LMP1, LMP2
GT classes GT1, GT2
Races 12 (2007)
Champion driver P1:Rinaldo Capello, Allan McNish
P2:Romain Dumas, Timo Bernhard
GT1:Olivier Beretta, Oliver Gavin
GT2:Mika Salo, Jaime Melo
Champion team P1:Audi Sport North America
P2:Penske Racing
GT1:Corvette Racing
GT2:Risi Competizione
Manufacturer P1:Audi
P2:Porsche
GT1:Chevrolet
GT2:Ferrari
Website americanlemans.com


The American Le Mans Series (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 four classes: LMP1 and LMP2 for Le Mans Prototypes, and GT1 and GT2 for Grand Touring cars. Race lengths vary from 1 hour, 40 minutes to 12 hours.

History

The series was created by Georgia-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.

Old ALMS Logo.

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. 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.


Overview

Northeast Grand Prix 2007

The American Le Mans Series uses essentially the same rules as the 24 Hours of Le Mans. As with the 24 Hours, the cars are divided into four classes. Purpose-built race cars with closed fenders compete in the Prototype classes (LMP1 and LMP2) and modified production sports cars compete in the Grand Touring classes (GT1 and GT2, formerly GTS and GT). Each car is driven by multiple drivers (2 or 3, depending on the length of the race), and all cars compete together simultaneously.

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. Additionally, privateer teams (teams that are not supported by manufacturers) compete for the IMSA Cup as well as special prizes for each race. Currently, factory teams exist in all four classes, with Audi in LMP1, Porsche, Mazda, and Acura in LMP2, Chevrolet in GT1, and Aston Martin, Panoz, Ferrari, and Porsche in GT2. Other manufacturers include Ford and Dodge. BMW, Cadillac, and Chrysler factory teams have competed in the past.

Green Challenge

In January, 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 in 2009. In conjunction with the Department of Energy, the Environmental Protection Agency and SAE International, the Series has unveiled the Green Challenge's rules and regulations. Two class leading vehicles currently run low CO2 or green engines including 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.

Past champions

Note: Driver champions may not have necessarily driven for the same team which won the Teams Championship.

  LMP/LMP900/LMP1 LMP675/LMP2 GTS/GT1 GT/GT2
1999 Team
(Vehicle) 		22px-Flag of the United States.png Panoz Motorsports
(Panoz GTR-1
Panoz LMP-1 - Élan) 		22px-Flag of France.png Viper Team Oreca
(Dodge Viper GTS-R) 		22px-Flag of the United States.png Prototype Technology Group
(BMW M3 GTR)
Driver(s) 22px-Flag of the United States.png Elliott Forbes-Robinson 22px-Flag of Monaco.svg.png Olivier Beretta 22px-Flag of the United States.png Cort Wagner
2000 Team
(Vehicle) 		22px-Flag of Germany.png Audi Sport North America
(Audi R8R)
(Audi R8) 		22px-Flag of France.png Viper Team Oreca
(Dodge Viper GTS-R) 		22px-Flag of the United States.png Dick Barbour Racing
(Porsche 911 GT3-R)
Driver(s) 22px-Flag of the United Kingdom.png Allan McNish 22px-Flag of Monaco.svg.png Olivier Beretta 22px-Flag of Germany.png Dirk Müller
2001 Team
(Vehicle) 		22px-Flag of Germany.png Audi Sport North America
(Audi R8) 		22px-Flag of the United States.png Dick Barbour Racing
(Reynard 01Q - Judd) 		22px-Flag of the United States.png Corvette Racing
(Chevrolet Corvette C5-R) 		22px-Flag of Germany.png BMW Motorsport
(BMW M3 GTR)
Driver(s) 3dflagsdotcom italy2bs.gif Emanuele Pirro 22px-Flag of Belgium (civil).png Didier de Radigues 22px-Flag of the United States.png Terry Borcheller 22px-Flag of Germany.png Jörg Müller
2002 Team 22px-Flag of Germany.png Audi Sport North America
(Audi R8) 		22px-Flag of the United States.png KnightHawk Racing
(MG-Lola EX257) 		22px-Flag of the United States.png Corvette Racing
(Chevrolet Corvette C5-R) 		22px-Flag of the United States.png Alex Job Racing
(Porsche 911 GT3-RS)
Driver(s) 22px-Flag of Denmark.png Tom Kristensen 22px-Flag of the United States.png Jon Field 22px-Flag of the Canada.png Ron Fellows 22px-Flag of Germany.png Lucas Luhr
22px-Flag of Germany.png Sascha Maassen
2003 Team
(Vehicle) 		22px-Flag of Germany.png Infineon Team Joest
(Audi R8) 		22px-Flag of the United States.png Dyson Racing
(MG-Lola EX257) 		22px-Flag of the United States.png Corvette Racing
(Chevrolet Corvette C5-R) 		22px-Flag of the United States.png Alex Job Racing
(Porsche 911 GT3-RS)
Driver(s) 22px-Flag of Germany.png Frank Biela
22px-Flag of Germany.png Marco Werner 		22px-Flag of the United States.png Chris Dyson 22px-Flag of the Canada.png Ron Fellows
22px-Flag of the United States.png Johnny O'Connell 		22px-Flag of Germany.png Lucas Luhr
22px-Flag of Germany.png Sascha Maassen
2004 Team
(Vehicle) 		22px-Flag of the United States.png ADT Champion Racing
(Audi R8) 		22px-Flag of the United States.png Miracle Motorsports
(Lola B2K/40 - Nissan)
(Courage C65 - AER) 		22px-Flag of the United States.png Corvette Racing
(Chevrolet Corvette C5-R) 		22px-Flag of the United States.png Alex Job Racing
(Porsche 911 GT3-RSR)
Driver(s) 22px-Flag of Germany.png Marco Werner
22px-Flag of Finland.png JJ Lehto 		22px-Flag of the United Kingdom.png Ian James 22px-Flag of the Canada.png Ron Fellows
22px-Flag of the United States.png Johnny O'Connell 		22px-Flag of Germany.png Timo Bernhard
2005 Team
(Vehicle) 		22px-Flag of the United States.png ADT Champion Racing
(Audi R8) 		22px-Flag of the United States.png Intersport Racing
(Lola B05/40 - AER) 		22px-Flag of the United States.png Corvette Racing
(Chevrolet Corvette C6.R) 		22px-Flag of the United States.png Petersen/White Lightning
(Porsche 911 GT3 RSR)
Driver(s) 22px-Flag of Germany.png Frank Biela
3dflagsdotcom italy2bs.gif Emanuele Pirro 		22px-Flag of the United States.png Clint Field 22px-Flag of Monaco.svg.png Olivier Beretta
22px-Flag of the United Kingdom.png Oliver Gavin 		22px-Flag of the United States.png Patrick Long
22px-Flag of Germany.png Jörg Bergmeister
2006 Team 22px-Flag of the United States.png Audi Sport North America
(Audi R8)
(Audi R10 TDI) 		22px-Flag of the United States.png Penske Racing
(Porsche RS Spyder) 		22px-Flag of the United States.png Corvette Racing
(Chevrolet Corvette C6.R) 		22px-Flag of the United States.png Risi Competizione
(Ferrari F430 GT2)
Driver(s) 3dflagsdotcom italy2bs.gif Rinaldo Capello
22px-Flag of the United Kingdom.png Allan McNish 		22px-Flag of Germany.png Lucas Luhr
22px-Flag of Germany.png Sascha Maassen 		22px-Flag of Monaco.svg.png Olivier Beretta
22px-Flag of the United Kingdom.png Oliver Gavin 		22px-Flag of Germany.png Jörg Bergmeister
2007 Team 22px-Flag of the United States.png Audi Sport North America
(Audi R10 TDI) 		22px-Flag of the United States.png Penske Racing
(Porsche RS Spyder) 		22px-Flag of the United States.png Corvette Racing
(Chevrolet Corvette C6.R) 		22px-Flag of the United States.png Risi Competizione
(Ferrari F430 GT2)
Driver(s) 3dflagsdotcom italy2bs.gif Rinaldo Capello
22px-Flag of the United Kingdom.png Allan McNish 		22px-Flag of Germany.png Timo Bernhard
22px-Flag of France.png Romain Dumas 		22px-Flag of Monaco.svg.png Olivier Beretta
22px-Flag of the United Kingdom.png Oliver Gavin 		22px-Flag of Finland.png Mika Salo
22px-Flag of Brazil.png Jaime Melo
2008 Team 22px-Flag of the United States.png Audi Sport North America
(Audi R10 TDI) 		22px-Flag of the United States.png Penske Racing
(Porsche RS Spyder) 		22px-Flag of the United States.png Corvette Racing
(Chevrolet Corvette C6.R) 		22px-Flag of the United States.png Flying Lizard Motorsports
(Porsche 997 GT3-RSR)
Driver(s) 22px-Flag of Germany.svg.png Lucas Luhr
22px-Flag of Germany.svg.png Marco Werner 		22px-Flag of Germany.svg.png Timo Bernhard
22px-Flag of France.png Romain Dumas 		22px-Flag of the United States.png Johnny O'Connell
22px-Flag of Denmark.png Jan Magnussen 		22px-Flag of Germany.svg.png Jörg Bergmeister
22px-Flag of Germany.svg.png Wolf Henzler


See also


External links

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