ALMS: Challenge Class teams confirmed for Utah

The Challenge Class will make its debut in the American Le Mans Series at the Utah Grand Prix in a fortnight’s, boosting the overall entry list by as many as nine cars.

Patrón GT3 Challenge by Yokohama regulars Snow Racing, Gruppe Orange and ORBIT Racing will field their stable of Porsche 911 GT3 Cup cars at Miller Motorsports Park as ALMS organisers look to help develop the sportscar drivers of the future.

Utah will be the first of five scheduled outings for the Challenge Class whose drivers and teams usually make up the weekend’s support bill. To be eligible for selection, drivers and teams must have had notable success for at least a year within GT3 level of racing while only 911 GT3 Cup cars from the Platinum class of the Patrón GT3 Challenge by Yokohama are allowed.

Certain technical regulations for the American Le Mans Series’ GT2 class will apply for Challenge entries, most notably rules governing refueling. Sporting regulations for the Challenge class also differ slightly from GT2. The number of crew members allowed over the wall during a pit stop is reduced, and only two members with only one wheel gun are allowed to change tires per stop. Teams also will have to make at least one stop to change all four tires at one point during the race.


Tom Hornsby