In the American Le Mans Series, pushing the limits of automotive technology and innovation takes place with every lap raced, tested or practiced. The best drivers, top-quality manufacturers and world-class teams comprise the American Le Mans Series presented by Tequila Patrón.
In addition to being the most prominent automotive endurance race in the world, the penultimate 24 Hours of Le Mans has served as the test bed for man and machine since 1923. Every June, a minuscule little town in France named Le Mans hosts this endurance classic that has encouraged some of the most significant automotive advancements in history.
additional photo
Seventy-five years after the first race at Le Mans, the inaugural Petit Le Mans took place at Road Atlanta. Dr. Don Panoz, the proprietor of the state-of-the-art automotive racing facility in Braselton, Georgia, breathed new life into American sports car racing by creating this scintillating 10-hour endurance race for the very well-regarded Road Atlanta track in October 1998 and then the first American Le Mans Series race in 1999 at Sebring International Raceway.
After 12 years, the American Le Mans Series has fulfilled Panoz’s idea of an eclectic mix of the world’s premier manufacturers and leading independent teams. Races are held on the most famous permanent road courses and major-market temporary street circuits in North America and around the world. Twenty-three venues in five countries have played host to the American Le Mans Series since 1999 with four holding events each year since the Series’ inception: Sebring International Raceway, Mosport International Raceway, Road Atlanta and Mazda Raceway Laguna Seca.
The American Le Mans Series is a veritable who’s who of the greatest names in automotive racing history. Beretta, Bergmeister, Brabham, de Ferran, Franchitti, Kristensen, Lehto, McNish, O’Connell and Salo are just some of the accomplished racecar drivers. Acura, Aston Martin, Audi, BMW, Chevrolet, Ferrari, Panoz, Peugeot, Porsche and Saleen are a mere sample of the automotive manufacturers marques that have earned the checkered flag in the Series, as have teams the caliber of Audi Sport, Corvette Racing, Penske Racing, Prodrive, Rahal Letterman and Risi Competizione.
The venerable 24 Hours of Le Mans stands for diversity, innovation and relevance – the same platforms the American Le Mans Series champions and enhances with each successive event. The American Le Mans Series is the ultimate on-track R&D laboratory - whether advancements in energy efficiencies are being sought, car safety constructions improved upon or tire technologies enhancements are achieved.
Uniquely ALMS
The American Le Mans Series, like the 24 Hours of Le Mans, fields numerous classes of sports cars racing on the track at the same time. Having several different classes of racecars yields endless passing and demands the deployment of intelligent racing strategies by all the race teams throughout the season.
Each car has two drivers sometimes three for the longer endurance races who switch during the course of the race.
The majority of the races are “timed” races of 2:45 and not based on laps. Longer endurance races include the Mobil 1 Twelve Hours of Sebring 12 hours, Petit Le Mans 10 hours or 1,000 miles, whichever comes first, and the American Le Mans Series Monterey presented by Tequila Patrón at Mazda Raceway Laguna Seca six hours.
If you’ve never been to an ALMS race or viewed the action on TV, imagine that every car in contention looks and sounds absolutely awesome. Then, consider that there are four distinct classifications of cars. Each category has different weight, horsepower, torque and specific silhouette. The visual, auditory and sensory ecstasy experienced by the spectators is unsurpassed as a result. In essence, it’s like watching two very well matched NFL teams in the Super Bowl versus seeing pee wee football. You get the ultimate in terms of action, witnessing the American Le Mans Series racecars, drivers and race teams doing what they do best – tearing up the tarmac wherever they’re racing at an obliterating rate of speed!
ALMS – the Most Relevant Racing Series on the Planet
Manufacturers that compete in the American Le Mans Series develop technologies and innovations that wind up on the automobiles that we drive on the road. 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 is also the first major racing series in the world to use multiple “street legal” alternative fuels, with all of its cars on track racing on either clean diesel, E10 or cellulosic E85 ethanol blends and hybrid technology, a groundbreaking evolution that hit the track in 2009.
ALMS Drivers
The Series features the best sports car drivers from all over the world. Many of the racers are from Europe; however, there are many great American drivers as well such as current and past champions Patrick Long, Johnny O’Connell, Scott Sharp, Clint Field and Chris Dyson, as well as Butch Leitzinger and Johannes van Overbeek.
The ALMS Tracks & Street Courses
The Series competes on North America’s prominent road courses such as Sebring International Raceway, Road America, Mosport International Raceway, Road Atlanta and Mazda Raceway Laguna Seca. It also annually holds events on urban street circuits in some of the nation’s major markets such as Long Beach in southern California.
ALMS Offers a Global Reach
The American Le Mans Series reaches all corners of the world with an considerable online radio network in partnership with Radio Show Limited, the rights holders for Radio Le Mans. In addition to online and at-track coverage via PA, local track radio and scanner frequency, Series radio broadcasts are also aired on SIRIUS+XM in the United States. Series races reach more than 600 million homes around the world.
ALMS & Participating Manufacturers
The American Le Mans Series has more participating manufacturers than F1, NASCAR and IndyCar combined. They include such prestigious and elite brands as Aston Martin, BMW, Chevrolet, Ferrari, Ford, Jaguar, Mazda, Panoz, Peugeot and Porsche.
additional photo
ALMS and Le Mans
The 24 Hours of Le Mans is a single, stand-alone event organized and operated by the Automobile Club de l’Ouest ACO in France. It is one of the oldest and most renowned auto races in the world and was the genesis of the American Le Mans Series in 1999. The American Le Mans Series has become a winning force at Le Mans over the past 11 years. In addition to eight overall victories, Series teams have claimed a total of 25 class championships. Special consideration is given to Series teams during the entrant selection process for the 24 Hours of Le Mans. The four class-winning teams at Petit Le Mans also receive invitations to the following year’s event at Le Mans.
