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ALMS Preview 2009


If dirty great prototypes are your thing then you’ll love the American Le Mans Series, the biggest and best sportscar championship on the planet.

American Le Mans Series 2009 PREVIEW
Info:
If dirty great prototypes are your thing then you’ll love the American Le Mans Series, the biggest and best sportscar championship on the planet. Visiting nine different venues across the US of A as well as a brief trip north of the border into Canada, these 200mph custom built machines compete in both sprint and endurance format races that run from a modest hour and 40 minutes to literally half a day. The 50 car strong field includes four categories – two for prototypes and two more for GT cars – depending on the power, weight and homologation regulations. These are the same cars that are eligible to compete in the European based LMS championship and world motorsport’s greatest race, Le Mans. No single individual will drive for the entire race with tactical pit stops and driver changes very much part and parcel of endurance racing’s fabric.
Spec Sheet:
P1:
Min. weight: 900 kg
700bhp
Top speed: 200mph
Naturally-aspirated engines: max 6ltrs.
Turbo/Supercharged petrol engines: max 4ltrs.
Diesel engines (T/S charged): max 5.5ltrs.

P2:
Min. weight of 825 kg
550bhp
Top speed: 180-200mph
Naturally-aspirated engines: Racing max 3.4ltrs / Homologated max 4ltrs.
Turbo/Supercharged petrol engines: max 2ltrs.
Diesel engines (T/S charged and homologated): max 4.4ltrs.
 		 GT1:
Min. weight: 1125 kg
600-650bhp
Top Speed: 180-195mph
Highly modified production cars

GT2:
Min. weight: 1125 kg
500-550bhp
Top speed: 180mph
Moderately modified production cars

 
Instant Expert:
There are four classes in the ALMS: P1 and P2 – the fastest purpose built closed-wheel racing cars on the planet – and GT1 and GT2 – homologated road-going sportscars completely re-engineered for racing.
The fastest of the classes – P1 –actually have a top speed in excess of an F1 car’s. Last year’s Le Mans for instance saw speeds topping 230mph, prompting rule makers to tweak aero regulations for this season.
The Series was founded in 1999 by Georgia entrepreneur Don Panoz and represents a mirror image to the prestigious 24 Hours of Le Mans, the world’s most famous and authentic automobile race.
The ALMS is the only championship in the world to feature multiple street-legal alternative energy sources - clean diesel, E10 and E85 cellulosic ethanols as well new hybrid technologies.
 
Tracks
Sebring Preview

The Sebring 12-Hour race kicks off on March 21 signalling the start of the 2009 ALMS campaign. The event, now in its 57th year, is more than just a season curtain raiser however. Second only in importance to the Le Mans 24 Hours in sportscar circles, the Florida venue has always been a popular destination for teams and drivers alike to test themselves in readiness for the French endurance classic just two months later. Perennial championship winners Audi might have pulled the plug on a full season but the German manufacturer, along with Peugeot, still hold the race in high esteem. And with Acura also joining the P1 party, it’ll be the only chance to see the three foremost marques stage what promises to be a heavyweight battle for victory.

Round 1: Sebring 12-Hours Round 2: St Petersburg Round 3: Long Beach Grand Prix Round 4: Utah Grand Prix, Miller Motorsports Park Round 5: Northeast Grand Prix, Lime Rock Park
Round 6: Mid Ohio Round 7: Road America Round 8: Grand Prix of Mosport Round 9: Petit Le Mans, Road Atlanta Round 10: Laguna Seca
Cars:
Audi R15

To win at Sebring is to lay down an early marker for the season ahead which is why Audi, the 21st century kings of endurance racing, haven’t missed one since their ...See more

Peugeot 908
It won’t come as a massive surprise to seasoned onlookers that Peugeot have made few alterations to the fastest car on the grid. Only those changes that have...See more

Acura ARX-02a
Honda’s luxury brand steps up from P2 this year with an all-new car to boot. That both Highcroft and de Ferran squads proved competitive with the old P2 machines...See more

Key man: Allan McNish
Both Audis competing at Sebring will feature identical line-ups as in 2008 and although that continuity will be a valuable asset in its own right, the performance...See more

Best of the rest
With Acura graduating to the top class, only one of its ARX-01bs remain in P2. Fernandez Racing are charged with keeping it atop the admittedly diminished...See more

 

Published 05/03/2009 16:30

Latest News ALMS

Garcia set for full-time Corvette ALMS ride - 05/01 - 16:23

Antonio Garcia will compete full-time for Corvette in this year's American Le Mans Series.

ALMS announces new race director following Barfield departure - 04/01 - 17:41

The American Le Mans Series has moved quickly to confirm a new race director following Beaux Barfield's defection to IndyCar.

Flying Lizard confirm 2012 ALMS assault - 09/12 - 15:55

The Flying Lizard Motorsport squad will return to the American Le Mans Series next season with a pair of GT class Porsche 911 GT3 RSRs.

ALMS star Hand gets maiden DTM run - 18/11 - 12:04

American Le Mans Series star Joey Hand got his first taste of DTM machinery this week when he tried out BMW's 2012 racer at Spanish venue Monteblanco.

ALMS ace Hand gets DTM test - 10/11 - 14:45

ALMS GT Class champion Joey Hand will test BMW's new-for-2012 DTM car next week.

[ALMS news]

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