American Le Mans Series
2012 American Le Mans Series season
File:American Le Mans Series logo.jpg
Category	Sports car racing
Country or region	United States, Canada
Inaugural season	1999
Prototype Classes	P1, P2, PC
GT Classes	GT, GTC
Current Drivers' champion/s	LMP1: Chris Dyson & Guy Smith GT: Joey Hand & Dirk Müller LMP2: Christophe Bouchut & Scott Tucker LMPC: Ricardo González, Gunnar Jeannette & Eric Lux GTC: Tim Pappas
Current Teams' champion	LMP1: Dyson Racing Team GT: BMW Team RLL LMP2: Level 5 Motorsports LMPC: CORE Autosport GTC: Black Swan Racing
Current Makes' champion	LMP1: Mazda GT: BMW
Official website	http://www.alms.com

The American Le Mans Series presented by Tequila Patrón (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 five current classes: P1, P2 & PC Le Mans Prototypes, and GT(E) & GTC Grand Touring cars. Race lengths vary from 1 hour 40 minutes to 12 hours.

The American Le Mans' Headquarters is in Braselton, Georgia, adjacent to Road Atlanta.

History[link]

The series was created by Braselton, Georgia-based businessman Don Panoz and ran its first season in 1999.^[1] 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.^[2] Invitations were extended to the series champions beginning in 2003, for the 2004 race.^[3] The ACO has always given high consideration to teams competing in ALMS races, and many ALMS teams have seen success in the 24 Hours.

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, at cities such as St. Petersburg, Florida and Long Beach, California. The series has raced at Mazda Raceway 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.^[4]

In 2010 the American Le Mans Series signed its first title sponsorship agreement, with Tequila Patrón becoming a presenting sponsor for three seasons.^[5]

Overview[link]

Northeast Grand Prix 2007

The American Le Mans Series uses essentially the same rules as the 24 Hours of Le Mans. Like the 24 Hours of Le Mans, there are 3 primary classes, though there are 2 extra "Challenge classes" using standardized cars. Purpose-built race cars with closed fenders compete in the Prototype classes P1, P2, and P-Challenge) (PC) and modified production sports cars compete in the Grand Touring classes GT (GTE-Pro and GTE-Am combined, formerly GT2) along with GT-Challenge or GTC. The former GT1 category was abandoned after 2009 season. In 2012, the "Le Mans" (LM) was dropped from the names of the prototype categories.

Each car is driven by multiple drivers (2 or 3, depending on the length of the race), and all cars compete together simultaneously. P1 generally contains factory teams while P2 contains privateer teams. In ACO-sanctioned racing all of the drivers are professional in GTE-PRO, while in GTE-Am, 1 or 2 amateurs are allowed to race with a professional driver in support. However since ALMS uses only one GTE category and combines the PRO/AM classes, there are no limitations for drivers.

The two "Challenge" classes are formula-based, and are designed for privateers or rookies to have an easier time entering the series. Currently, the Challenge classes use the Oreca FLM09 (P) and the Porsche 911 GT3 Cup (GT), though there are reports that the ACO may open the Challenge class to other manufacturers in 2013 or later.^[6]

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.

Michelin Green X Challenge[link]

In January 2008, 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 during the 2009 season. In conjunction with the Department of Energy, the Environmental Protection Agency, Environment Canada and SAE International,^[7] the Series has unveiled the Green Challenge's rules and regulations.^[8] Two class leading vehicles ran low CO2 or green engines during the 2008 season - 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. Currently, the Michelin Green X Challenge awards invitations to the 24 Hours of Le Mans for the 1st and 2nd place winners in the Prototype and GT categories for the entire season.

The Challenge measures "Green" (based on fuel-type and other factors influencing emissions), "Speed" (overall speed), and "Efficiency" (based on fuel-economy). A formula is used to produce a score based on the 3 categories. The car with the lowest score at the end of the race wins the Challenge for that race.

Television[link]

The series' first season in 1999 was covered by NBC and CNBC. Since 2000 Speed Channel has broadcast the majority ALMS races, including the 12 Hours of Sebring and Petit Le Mans, while some of the series' other races have been broadcast on ABC, NBC, and CBS. For the 2012 season, all races will be webcasted on ESPN3.com. The Long Beach Grand Prix, Northeast Grand Prix at Lime Rock, and Grand Prix of Mosport will be broadcast live on ESPN2, while the ALMS at Monterey, Road Race Showcase at Road America and ALMS at VIR will have delayed highlights on the same channel. The Mid-Ohio Sports Car Challenge will be broadcast live on ABC, while the 12 Hours of Sebring, Baltimore Grand Prix, and Petit Le Mans will have delayed highlights on the same network.^[9]

Champions[link]

See also[link]

Wikimedia Commons has media related to: American Le Mans Series

• European Le Mans Series (current)
• 2001 European Le Mans Series season
• Radio Le Mans
• List of Le Mans Prototypes

References[link]

External links[link]

• American Le Mans official site
• International Motor Sports Association official site
• ACO official site

This article does not cite any references or sources. Please help improve this article by adding citations to reliable sources. Unsourced material may be challenged and removed. (April 2011)

European Le Mans Series
2012 European Le Mans Series season
File:Current ELMS Logo.jpg
Category	Sports car racing
Country or region	International
Inaugural season	2004
Prototype Classes	LMP2, LMPC
GT Classes	LMGTE-PRO, LMGTE-AM, LMGTC
Current Drivers' champion/s	Emmanuel Collard, Julien Jousse
Current Teams' champion	Rebellion Racing
Official website	lemans-series.com

The European Le Mans Series (ELMS) is a European sports car racing endurance series based around the 24 Hours of Le Mans race and run by the Automobile Club de l'Ouest (ACO). The European Le Mans Series is similar to the American Le Mans Series (ALMS) based in the United States and Canada that has been running with ACO backing since 1999, which is run by IMSA. ELMS team champions and runners-up receive an automatic entry to the following year's 24 Hours of Le Mans. Originally titled the Le Mans Endurance Series before becoming simply the Le Mans Series in 2006, the series was renamed once more in 2012, reusing a name previously utilized by IMSA in 2001.

History[link]

With the allowing Don Panoz to bring the rules and racing formulas of the 24 Hours of Le Mans to North America with the creation of the Petit Le Mans in 1998, Don Panoz attempted to build up a series to be based around Petit Le Mans. The aged IMSA GT Championship was taken over and became the new American Le Mans Series, and met with much success in 1999.

Europe had lacked a major sports prototype series since the demise of the World Sportscar Championship in 1992. Following the success of the ALMS, Panoz attempting to bring sports prototype racing back to Europe. This led to the 2000 American Le Mans Series season, which included two races in Europe as the Nürburgring and Silverstone Circuit, as well as a round in Australia. These races would serve as a precursor to what would become the separate European Le Mans Series in 2001.

The European Le Mans Series was launched for 2001 with five races, including a premier 1000 km race at Estoril, which would be the European equivalent of the 1000 mile Petit Le Mans and earn automatic entries to the 24 Hours of Le Mans for each class winner.

To aid in the development of the ELMS, the 2001 season shared some races between both ALMS and ELMS. The 12 Hours of Sebring and Petit Le Mans, normally ALMS races, were considered optional races for ELMS teams. At the same time, the ELMS races at Donington Park and Jarama were considered optional for ALMS teams. This allowed for the possibility of boosting the draw from international teams to either series.

The series was unable to earn much attention from European sportscar teams, especially since the final FIA Sportscar Championship and FIA GT Championship series used similar cars, but different rules which would require teams to modify their cars or buy new cars to comply with ELMS rules. For the ELMS events that included ALMS teams, very few teams actually bothered to make the trip across the Atlantic to participate in races that appeared to have very few serious competitors. Thus the entry lists for each race fell from 25 at the beginning of the season to a mere 14 at season's end, with some classes only having one or two competitors.

With a lack of involvement from teams, and less interest from the media due to the lack of teams, the European Le Mans Series folded following the 2001 season.

The ACO was not completely satisfied with the fact that IMSA did not fully comply with the ACO's regulations in order to help attract privateer teams, as well as the failure of the FIA Sportscar Championship to succeed in Europe. Seeing the success of the American Le Mans Series, the ACO decided that a series run by themselves would be a better alternative for Europe. The ACO would instead attempt to attract factory backed teams with longer endurance races than ALMS and FIA SCC ran. The series would also be European based instead of international, thus it could be closer to the factories of a large number of sportscar teams to help attract them to the series.

In 2003, the ACO announced their intentions to create their own European-based series, named the Le Mans Endurance Series, which would be similar to the original European Le Mans Series, but feature only 1000 km races instead of the shorter, 2 hour 45 minute races used by the ELMS, and less races in a season than the ALMS and FIA SCC to help keep costs down. Winners of the LMES championship would go on to earn automatic entries in the 24 Hours of Le Mans, similar to the American Le Mans Series.

The series was initially previewed in an open race run under the LMES banner in 2003 at the 1000km of Le Mans, a one-off event before the season started in 2004.

For the 2004 Le Mans Series season, the series participated in four events, including resurrecting classic races like the 1000km Monza, 1000km Nürburgring, 1000 km Silverstone and the Spa 1000 km. A large number of competitors turned out, making the racing very exciting.

2005 saw the series expand to a five race format with the addition of the Istanbul Racing Circuit. In 2007, the LMS held its first and single overseas race with Mil Milhas Brasil as the sixth round.

Champions[link]

Season	LMP1 Team	LMP2 Team	LMGTS / LMGT1 Team	LMGT / LMGT2 / LMGTE-PRO Team	LMGTE-AM Team	FLM / LMPC Team
	LMP1 Driver(s)	LMP2 Driver(s)	LMGTS / LMGT1 Driver(s)	LMGT / LMGT2 / LMGTE-PRO Driver(s)	LMGTE-AM Driver(s)	FLM / LMPC Driver(s)
2004	Audi Sport UK Veloqx	Courage Compétition	Larbre Compétition	Sebah Automotive	None	None
	Johnny Herbert Jamie Davies	Alexander Frei Sam Hancock	Pedro Lamy Christophe Bouchut Steve Zacchia	Roman Rusinov	None	None
2005	Pescarolo Sport	Chamberlain-Synergy	BMS Scuderia Italia	Sebah Automotive	None	None
	Jean-Christophe Boullion Emmanuel Collard	Gareth Evans	Michele Bartyan Christian Pescatori Toni Seiler	Xavier Pompidou Marc Lieb	None	None
2006	Pescarolo Sport	Barazi-Epsilon	Aston Martin Larbre	Autorlando Sport	None	None
	Jean-Christophe Boullion Emmanuel Collard	Juan Barazi Michael Vergers	Pedro Lamy Gabriele Gardel Vincent Vosse	Marc Lieb Joël Camathias	None	None
2007	Team Peugeot Total	Ray Mallock Ltd.	Team Oreca	Virgo Motorsport	None	None
	Stéphane Sarrazin Pedro Lamy	Mike Newton Thomas Erdos	Soheil Ayari Stéphane Ortelli	Robert Bell	None	None
2008	Audi Sport Team Joest	Van Merksteijn Motorsport	Luc Alphand Aventures	Virgo Motorsport	None	None
	Alexandre Prémat Mike Rockenfeller	Jos Verstappen	Guillaume Moreau Patrice Goueslard	Robert Bell	None	None
2009	Aston Martin Racing	Quifel ASM Team	Luc Alphand Aventures	Team Felbermayr-Proton	None	None
	Tomáš Enge Jan Charouz Stefan Mücke	Miguel Amaral Olivier Pla	Patrice Goueslard Yann Clairay	Marc Lieb Richard Lietz	None	None
2010	Team Oreca Matmut	RML	Larbre Compétition	Team Felbermayr-Proton	None	DAMS
	Stéphane Sarrazin	Mike Newton Thomas Erdos	Gabriele Gardel Patrice Goueslard	Marc Lieb Richard Lietz	None	Andrea Barlesi Gary Chalandon
2011	Rebellion Racing	Greaves Motorsport	None	AF Corse	IMSA Performance Matmut	Pegasus Racing
	Emmanuel Collard Julien Jousse	Karim Ojjeh Tom Kimber-Smith	None	Giancarlo Fisichella Gianmaria Bruni	Nicolas Armindo Raymond Narac	Julien Schell Mirco Schultis Patrick Simon

See also[link]

• FIA Sportscar Championship
• World Sportscar Championship

References[link]

External links[link]

Wikimedia Commons has media related to: Le Mans Series

• Official LMS website
• Official ACO website

Le Mans
Palais of Comtes du Maine, birth place of Henry II of England
Le Mans
Location within Pays de la Loire region  Le Mans
Administration
Country	France
Region	Pays de la Loire
Department	Sarthe
Arrondissement	Le Mans
Intercommunality	Le Mans
Mayor	Jean-Claude Boulard (2001–2008)
Statistics
Elevation	38–134 m (125–440 ft) (avg. 51 m or 167 ft)
Land area1	52.81 km2 (20.39 sq mi)
Population2	148,169  (2006)
- Density	2,806 /km2 (7,270 /sq mi)
INSEE/Postal code	72181/ 72000
Dialling code	(0)243
1 French Land Register data, which excludes lakes, ponds, glaciers > 1 km² (0.386 sq mi or 247 acres) and river estuaries.
2 Population without double counting: residents of multiple communes (e.g., students and military personnel) only counted once.

Coordinates: 48°00′28″N 0°11′54″E / 48.0077°N 0.1984°E / 48.0077; 0.1984

Le Mans (French pronunciation: [ləmɑ̃]) is a city in France, located on the Sarthe River. Traditionally the capital of the province of Maine, it is now the capital of the Sarthe department and the seat of the Roman Catholic diocese of Le Mans. Le Mans is a part of the Pays de la Loire region.