GRAND-AM, ALMS Announce Class Structure For Unified Series

Organizations take inclusionary,‘Best Of Both Worlds’multi-class approach

Scott Elkin, Richard BuckDAYTONA BEACH, Fla. (Jan. 4, 2013) – Underscoring the cooperative spirit of their merger announced last September, GRAND-AM Road Racing and the American Le Mans Series presented by Tequila Patrón today unveiled the initial concept for the organizations’ unified competition class structure that will debut in January 2014 at the 52nd running of the Rolex 24 At Daytona.

The lineup – in effect for the 2014 and 2015 seasons – is based on a philosophy of inclusion. The majority of classes from both the GRAND-AM Rolex Sports Car Series and the ALMS will be retained with the exception of the ALMS’ P1 prototype class.

Individual class names have yet to be determined. The planned structure:

• GRAND-AM’s DP and the ALMS’ P2 classes will combine into one, headlining prototype class that also will include the revolutionary DeltaWing prototype, with performance of the cars balanced to maintain close competition.

• The ALMS’ Prototype Challenge (PC) class for spec prototypes will continue to run as a separate class.

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SCI Interview: Allan McNish

Two-time Le Mans 24 Hours winner, three-time Sebring 12 Hours winner and two-time American Le Mans Series champion Allan McNish has been an Audi factory driver for the past seven years, and the Scot will very soon be tackling his eleventh Le Mans 24 Hours. Teamed up with fellow veterans Tom Kristensen and Dindo Capello in one of three of the German manufacturer’s all-new R18 TDIs, McNish will be an instrumental part of the fight against the three works Peugeots in what is being billed as one of the closest Le Mans ever. SCI recently had the opportunity to char with Allan about his recent appearance as a steward at the Monaco Grand Prix, his thoughts on the physical and mental demands of racing and other sports, and the state of play between Audi and Peugeot as the last-minute preparations go into overdrive…

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A Very Hot Warm-Up For Le Mans

The story of the 2011 Spa-Francorchamps 1000km race, the second round of the first full season of the ILMC (Intercontinental Le Mans Cup), was one of confounded expectations. Firstly, there was the weather. Not a drop of rain fell on the sun-baked Ardennes track for the duration of the three-day meeting, something quite at odds with the circuit’s renowned microclimate. And secondly, Peugeot won. In retrospect, perhaps this wasn’t that much of surprise: the blue and black cars have enjoyed a perfect record in Belgium since 2007, but they certainly didn’t have the aura of eventual victors around them on Thursday and Friday. For starters, there was Pedro Lamy’s coming-together with the RML Acura of Mike Newton that left both cars heavily damaged and ended the British team’s race weekend on the spot. With almost 60 cars entered, traffic problems had been expected to feature prominently, and so it proved, with multiple yellow and red flags in every session due to an outbreak of ‘two into one does not go’ driving. Then, a critical miscalculation in Friday’s qualifying session left the Peugeots unable to set a fast time after OAK Racing’s Mathieu Lahaye had a major accident that left the crash barriers out of commission and brought the session to a premature close. The French cars would start 13th, 18th and 50th, honour preserved once again by Oreca’s privately-run 908, which was the fastest car behind the Audi 1-2-3 lockout.

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Petrol Heads

As the Le Mans 24 Hours rapidly approaches, the major talking point remains as it has been for the past several years – the parity, or lack thereof, between the diesel and petrol LMP1 cars. At the recent Spa 1000km ILMC race, Sports Car Insider sat down with three privateer team principals running petrol LMP1 cars to get a feel for what it’s like to be on the frontlines of the battle to catch the Audi and Peugeot juggernauts…

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And So It Goes… Editorial

Hardly seems like we’ve made a full journey around the sun since the 2010 Mobil 1 12 Hours of Sebring, yet here we are, poised to launch the 2011 American Le Mans Series season.

Looking forward, I can’t help but look back. It’s funny how we always feel we have our finger on the pulse of things, yet we never really do. If racing is anything, it is unpredictable. Both on and off the track. You can skew your predictions based on the business of business, the economy, the rules, the players, the competition and nowadays, even the environment and price of oil. Skew as you may, you’re predictions will still probably be wrong.

Personally, I anticipated a rougher road for the Series in 2009 and 2010. In 2009 I really thought we’d take a bigger hit given the state of the economy and the state of GT1. Kudos to the Series adding LMPC and GTC for 2010. It added to the content, the show and the health of the Series.

But 2011? I’m concerned on one hand, yet on the other, I’m encouraged by my own inaccurate previous predictions.

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Take No Prisoners... We're Going Home.

© 2010 | Thawley

©2010 Dole Photo

©2010 Regis LefebureWe easily log 30,000 plus miles per year. We drag 40 plus pounds of camera gear and we practically get to know TSA inspectors by name. The airports look alike, the car rental counters seem to get taller as the season wears on. And by time Road America and Mosport roll around, you sit in an airport lounge waiting for yet another delayed flight wondering if you made the right career choice.

But then you get trackside. You fire off a few frames. You point your 500mm at the crest under the bridge coming into Road America’s turn six or at the evil off camber sky shot at the top of Mosport’s turn two and you get that rush. And you remember… this is a pretty damn good job.

And long as the season may feel… as crumby as the airports and travel may get, there always comes that time where you dig a little deeper trying to raise your game. You know there are other eyes out there. Guys like John Brooks, Richard Prince, Bob Chapman… they’re all digging in, they’re all looking for that extra edge. That shot that leaves fans, admirers and yes, other photographers shaking their heads wondering, “wow… how’d he do that? How come I didn’t see that?”

Races like Sebring, Laguna and Petit build a fire in your belly. These are the races that have unique opportunities built in. Well, maybe not built in. But the potential is there. Late day opportunities, sunset, twilight, night practice… pit stops under the lights - and every photographer there… like the teams and competitors… everyone has their game face on.

So as we end the season with arguably the ALMS Superbowl, Petit Le Mans, SCi presents you with the very best efforts of Rick Dole, Regis Lefebure, and me, John Thawley. I know with every aching bone in my body… we left it all out on the track. No effort was spared. From 20,000 plus images shot over 5 days in Atlanta, we’ve narrowed it down to  130 frames. It comes down to this. Hope you enjoy them as much as we enjoyed the hunt.

GALLERIES:

• Rick Dole

• Regis Lefebure

• John Thawley

A Thousand Miles in A Thousand Words.

©2010 Dole Photo“Strange how the night moves, with Autumn closing in…”  — Bob Seger

With a return to its rightful place as the season-ending Last Big Bash for the American Le Mans Series, this year’s Petit Le Mans powered by MAZDA 2 was a fantastic end to the 2010 sports car racing series.

One year ago, Petit Le Mans was a wash-out, quite literally. The anticipation of Audi vs. Peugeot taking on the hills, valleys, and twists of Road Atlanta had all of the excitement of Ali vs. Frazier on wheels. Of course, epic floods turned parts of the track into swimming holes and fishing camps, cutting short the action and delivering to Peugeot what could best be described as a split decision.

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ATHERTON: STATE OF THE SERIES IS 'HEALTHY AND STRONG'

©2010 | T H A W L E YComprehensive growth on and off the track to continue in 2011

BRASELTON, Ga. “Strength and new growth” are on tap for the 2011 American Le Mans Series presented by Tequila Patrón. That is the forecast Series President and CEO Scott Atherton delivered today in the annual State of the Series address at Road Atlanta. The Series is closing an incredibly tight 2010 championship with Petit Le Mans powered by MAZDA 2.

“Our brand is healthy, strong and poised for growth,” proclaimed Atherton. “Our product is well-positioned to meet our customers’ needs and business objectives.”

Atherton touched on virtually every aspect of Series’ business in his 30- minute address. He emphasized the ALMS had made significant strides even amidst the worst economic climate in decades. He highlighted new partners, competitors, car classes, media, a new race and compelling new data from Nielsen Media Research.

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