ALMS: Intersport commits to LMP Challenge class

American Le Mans Series regulars Intersport Racing has become the first team to commit to the championship’s new LMP Challenge class.
 

The ALMS announced a major to change to its class structure last month, combining the LMP1 and LMP2 categories and creating LMP and GT Challenge classes.
 

LMP Challenge will be feature identical cars to those designed and manufactured by Oreca this season’s Formula Le Mans series which supported the Le Mans Series in Europe. The ORECA-Courage FLM09 is similar to its LMP2 brethren but only has 450bhp and is designed to be a cost effective sports-prototype racer.
 

Intersport, which is the ALMS longest running privateer team with 100 starts to its credit, has become the first squad to place an order for the car. They are set to run it alongside their current LMP1 win programme where the team has competed with an AER powered Lola B06/10.
 

“As a privateer team our commitment to IMSA and the American Le Mans Series is not only unwavering, but stronger than ever,” said team owner and driver Clint Field.
 

“It is their continued effort to grow sports car racing in North America that wins our confidence to continue to invest our racing dollars here.
 

"The new Challenge classes shows us the Series is listening. We see the LMPC car has the perfect addition to our LMP1 program and an extension of our IMSA Lites program.
 

“Our program can now provide a true path of growth for drivers who want to succeed in sports car and endurance racing. With the addition of the LMPC car we now provide fully supported programs in three steps - IMSA Lites, LMP Challenge and our flagship prototype, LMP1."
 

Watch the American Le Mans Series on Motors TV.

Andy Wilkinson