American Le Mans Series consolidates racing classes for 2010
2009 ALMS at Long Beach – Click above for high-res image galleryThe American Le Mans Series is responding to economic conditions and the decline in the diversity of racing machinery on the grid by changing up the racing classes in its ranks for next season. Rather than imposing spending caps that would be tough to enforce, the series is adding new classes that are closer to production machinery.
Starting in 2010, the two-tier LMP1 and LMP2 categories will be merged into one LMP class, while a new LMP Challenge class will be added starting with the inclusion of Oreca's lower powered Formula Le Mans cars. However, the old system will remain in place for the Sebring 12 Hours and Petit Le Mans races so as to allow European teams to compete in the series' premier American races.
In the GT categories, GT2 class will be remade as GT in the wake of GT1's decline, with a new GT Challenge mirroring the LMP Challenge class for Porsche 911 GT3s. ALMS CEO Scott Atherton has left the door open to other GT3 competitors if they are interested, so hopefully we'll soon see the Audi R8 GT4 get the necessary mods to run in the GTC class.
The revised classifications should amount to more direct competition between challengers – provided the standings don't get too convoluted by the premier event exceptions.
[Source: American Le Mans Series]
press release
SERIES ANNOUNCES REVISED CLASS STRUCTURE FOR 2010
Four classes going forward but addition of LMP, GT Challenge groups
In a progressive step designed to keep ahead of the rest of the industry, the American Le Mans Series today announced plans to overhaul its four-class structure beginning with the 2010 season. The four classes will be Le Mans Prototype (LMP), Le Mans Prototype Challenge (LMPC), Grand Touring (GT) and Grand Touring Challenge (GTC).
Scott Atherton: "We are the first movers to embrace a value-based new set of classes while at the same time retaining the core elements of what has made the American Le Mans Series the benchmark professional sportscar racing series in modern times."
"In today's changing environment, choosing the status quo over evolution is a potentially serious mistake," proclaimed American Le Mans Series President and CEO Scott Atherton. "Our sport has always been about evolution, and our plans for 2010 and beyond reflect it.
"We intend to stay ahead of the rest of the industry. We are the first movers to embrace a value-based new set of classes while at the same time retaining the core elements of what has made the American Le Mans Series the benchmark professional sportscar racing series in modern times. The automotive industry is going through radical changes, and the same can be said for most of the motorsports industry. With today's announcement we are adding value-based opportunities that expand accessibility to a broader base of competitors, manufacturers and teams."
The announcement is supported by the Automobile Club de l'Ouest (ACO), the organization that operates the 24 Hours of Le Mans and establishes the rules and regulations for Le Mans style racing worldwide.
LMP1 and LMP2 cars will compete as a single LMP class in 2010 with exception of the endurance classics - the Mobil 1 Twelve Hours of Sebring and Petit Le Mans Powered by MAZDA6 - that will continue to adhere to the ACO technical rules for LMP1 and LMP2. Among the LMP race cars eligible worldwide will be the Acura ARX-02a, Acura ARX-01b, Ginetta-Zytek 09HS (hybrid), Lola B09/86 Mazda, Lola B06/10, Radical SR9, Porsche RS Spyder, Audi R15 TDI, Peugeot 908, Aston Martin Lola and Pescarolo.
LMP Challenge, an exciting new class, was introduced earlier this year as part of the Le Mans Series in Europe and at the 24 Hours of Le Mans through the collaborative efforts between the ACO and ORECA/DPPI. In Europe, the ORECA Courage FLM09 that comprises the class has a minimum weight of 900 kilograms similar to its LMP brethren, but its horsepower is 450 hp which is considerably less than the LMP cars which range from 500-700 hp. The LMP Challenge car is a true Le Mans prototype, but represents an affordable "value engineered" entry to Le Mans prototype racing. The FLM09 is a very sophisticated race car with a full carbon fiber chassis, carbon brakes, and an Xtrac sequential gearbox with paddle shifting. All LMPC cars will race on single-supply tires.
LMP Challenge, a car built by ORECA, will debut in the American Le Mans Series in 2010.
LMP Challenge cars will make their debut this fall with a display during this year's Petit Le Mans weekend. On September 27, the Sunday following the race, IMSA will provide an opportunity to test the LMPC ORECA-Courage LMF09 at Road Atlanta. It is currently taking reservations from qualified teams and drivers. The LMPC class is expected to debut at the American Le Mans Series' opener in 2010, the Mobil 1 Twelve Hours of Sebring (March 20).
The GT class will follow specifications of the existing ACO / Le Mans GT2 class. Current manufacturers and models competing include Corvette C6.R, Porsche 911 GT3 RSR, Ferrari F430 GT, Jaguar XKR, BMW M3, Panoz Esperante, Ford GT, and Dodge Viper.
The GT Challenge class was introduced earlier this year at Miller Motorsports Park near Salt Lake City. Currently, Porsche 911 GT3 Cup race cars from the Patrón GT3 Challenge by Yokohama are eligible. In 2010, competition will be open to other versions of the Porsche 911 GT3 Cup cars as well. Other manufacturers are likely to be added in the future.
LMP1 and LMP2 cars will compete as a single LMP class in 2010 with exception of the endurance classics - the Mobil 1 Twelve Hours of Sebring and Petit Le Mans Powered by MAZDA6.
The class restructures are not unprecedented. After the 2003 season, the ACO and American Le Mans Series modified the LMP classes. At that time the two prototype classes were recognized as LMP900 and LMP675 in a reference to the minimum weights in both classes. Both classes competed equally for the overall win at Le Mans. In 2004 those minimums changed along with class designations to LMP1 and LMP2. The last time the GT class was modified was in 2005 when Grand Touring classes went from GT and GTS to GT1 and GT2. The ACO-spec GT1 class has essentially come to an end as manufacturers have elected to compete in the ultra-competitive and technology-relevant GT2 category, which will be known simply as "GT" in the American Le Mans Series beginning in 2010.
"The new format for 2010 will create more opportunities for more teams and manufacturers to participate in the American Le Mans Series, while at the same time providing fans with the chance to see new cars, teams and drivers in both prototype and GT competition," said Atherton.
"There is no question that developments in the economy - and especially the auto industry - have changed the business environment now and for the foreseeable future. For any organization to remain 'status quo' is a likely death sentence. The global economic situation has created a new paradigm that is requiring all businesses to take innovative approaches to how they must operate going forward. We believe we have implemented changes that will enable the Series and our participants to thrive," continued Atherton.
"The Challenge class that was created in GT competition this year has been a great success so far," added Paul Ritchie, President of Porsche Motorsport North America. "We wholeheartedly endorse the American Le Mans Series expanding on the concept and creating a legitimate, top-level development opportunity for teams and drivers in multi-class competition. We know from experience that with the guidance of IMSA we will have a very strong, cost effective and competitive platform for the big step up to endurance racing."
In the end, noted Atherton, the new class structure is designed to retain the core attributes of what has made the American Le Mans Series the most successful professional sports car racing series around the world - world class Le Mans prototypes and GT cars - while also adding new high-value opportunities that expand the accessibility of this platform to new participants.
All classes of cars will continue to race on alternative fuels or powertrains such as low sulfur clean diesel, E85 cellulosic ethanol, E10 and E10/gas-electric hybrid. Recognized as the Global Leader in Green Racing, the American Le Mans Series continues to work with the U.S. Department of Energy, U.S. Environmental Protection Agency, SAE International and the Series' automobile manufacturers to develop innovative fuel efficient cars that excel in overall performance, fuel efficiency and environmental impact. The American Le Mans Series is the only racing series that meets all the green racing protocols set by the EPA and DOE.
"As I have said previously," Atherton concluded, "I think the American Le Mans Series is ideally positioned to benefit from the current and future focus of all auto manufacturers. Recent announcements by major auto manufacturers and our government leaders confirm that racing series which provides opportunities to showcase and develop relevant new technologies - with an emphasis on the environment - are the future. We have never been more confident in our positioning and look forward to expanding our green racing initiatives to better serve the teams and manufacturers competing with us."
Reader Comments (Page 1 of 2)
Visnick 10:05AM (8/17/2009)
Go Risi Competizione!
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sparrk 12:06PM (8/17/2009)
Go Flying Lizzards !
Joe K. 10:22AM (8/17/2009)
So what class does LMP fit into for the endurance races?
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Cypher09 4:48PM (8/17/2009)
What ever equalization formula IMSA comes up with for LMP gets undone and they the ACO regs for what ever class the cars are built for.
UniBroW 10:25AM (8/17/2009)
all sounds good to me
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noodlz 10:32AM (8/17/2009)
I don't like it, gives teams less reason to run over here since it doesn't directly crossover to the 24 Hours of Le Mans.
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pedantic 10:33AM (8/17/2009)
GT Challenge has been racing with the "big boys" the last few races. This year only Porsche GT3 Cup race cars are allowed, however they are apparently looking to include additional variations to increase the field.
As for the LMPs, they are trying to have it return to the time when the Porsche RS Spyders and Audi R10s were competing for the overall win. Where the lighter variants would have an advantage on short twisty courses, and the heavier more powerful ones would like the longer faster courses.
LMP Challenge is an attempt to get privateers the chance to get into prototype racing, and spend relatively little money. Much how GT-C is designed to allow those competitors a chance at getting into GT racing.
Like today, the IMSA endurance races will probably use standard ACO rules, rather then the IMSA rules. This means the LMP classes will be split, with less ballast and larger restrictor for LMP1, and more ballast and smaller restrictor for LMP2. You already see that today as ALMS races don't exactly use ACO rules.
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Mike 11:08AM (8/17/2009)
Good point on the rules. I'm curious: which class rules will the new merged GT use?
This could turn out very bad for BMW Rahal Letterman's M3's in GT2.
BMW-RL can claim a first place win in their class this weekend, with a merged GT a 6/7 finish might be great for the team...but from a marketing perspective it is useless.
If I was BMW, I'd want to put my cars and $ into a class/series where I'd have a chance at the podium to promote my vehicle line.
why not the LS2LS7? 11:42AM (8/17/2009)
Petit Le Mans and Sebring will continue to use the ACO rules. This was mentioned onscreen while Atherton was talking.
I'm certain this is because right now Petit Le Mans and Sebring are in the ACO rules for Le Mans, the top finisher (who hasn't already qualified for other reasons) in each class gets an automatic bid to Le Mans the next year. But in order for this to happen, the race must be run under ACO rules. An instance where this was an issue was a couple years ago when the Vettes and the Prodrive Aston Martins were duking it out, one of them (I actually forget which) won so many races that they were getting quite a lot of rewards weight by Petit Le Mans. They were complaining it made their car dangerously heavy, the braking was compromised, so IMSA took some rewards weight off and gave them a smaller restrictor instead near the end of the season. This covered Petit Le Mans and I think Laguna Seca.
Well, they didn't clear it with the ACO, so the GT1 class was not certified by the ACO and the next year the ACO made a large point of indicating that no automatic bid was given for the GT1 class results at Petit Le Mans. It didn't amount to anything actually, since the team that won had won so many other races and the overall championship (whom also gets an automatic bid), so both teams ended up going to Le Mans anyway.
Wow, I think I told an Abe Simpson "as was the style at the time" type story there. Oh well, it's typed out now, I'm leaving it.
Mike, I don't see how a merged GT affects BMW any more than anyone else. The only team it really affects is Corvette, as they had to create a new GT2 car. For every other team, they were already fielding a GT2 car, so at Sebring and Petit Le Mans they will run as GT2 cars. And I don't see how with a merged class they would have a 6/7 place, as there are no GT1 cars to run and in fact none ran in the race, so the GT2 winner was the first non-prototype car to cross the line, making them 1st no matter how you slice it up.
dougjp 10:34AM (8/17/2009)
Have to feel sorry for Dyson and all the construction/development of those Mazdas. Unless there is an easy way to upgrade them to LMP1 specs, which is highly doubtful. Same for other LMP2 cars.
The new class will "add to the numbers", I guess. Not much other attraction from the fan standpoint, maybe a chance of some close racing in a junior class, that's all.
In GT, nothing of consequence has changed compared to the current reality at the latest race (RA).
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why not the LS2LS7? 11:47AM (8/17/2009)
The new LMP series merges both types of cars into LMP, the Mazda can run. And don't freak out about Mazda having to develop that car, it's mechanically very similar to the MG/Lolas (later Lola/AERs) that Dyson racing ran (and eventually took overall wins with 10 years ago). I'm sure the development was pretty cost-effective.
It is a bit unfortunate Mazda will have to compete with the big boys now and will have trouble winning. But I personally have always felt that the factory-backed racers should be separated from the privateers anyway. ALMS has done this many times in the past, it was the impetus for the creation of LMP675 (with the Lolas of Dyson racing), then again when ALMS rejiggered it to LMP1 and LMP2.
why not the LS2LS7? 12:21PM (8/17/2009)
Why did I say 10 years ago? It was closer to 5 I think.
Cypher09 4:43PM (8/17/2009)
No need to feel sorry for Dyson Mazda, with some ballast/air restrictor equalization they'll have no problem running with the sharp end of the field in 2010, if they can keep the cars from self destructing. Plus they're going to be in a strong position come 2011 when their LMP2 cars become LMP1s with two seasons of development behind them.
LeMuRfArT 2:21PM (8/17/2009)
ShoreTel w00T!
sorry had to give a shout out to my employer being a sponsor on the front of that flying lizards Porsche
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Black Cat 11:58AM (8/17/2009)
Homogenization instead of innovation.
That's not what racing should be about.
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audi_arena 1:06PM (8/17/2009)
Competition CREATES innovation. I'm sick of manufacturers bowing out of competition when they can't win. I'd like to see FEWER categories of racing so the bragging rights for winners is much bigger: therefore there will be more of an incentive for a manufacturer to compete.
And screw the privateers. Racing is about being the best. If they want to compete, then let them, but don't make concessions on their behalf.
why not the LS2LS7? 12:07PM (8/17/2009)
I am very glad to see this info on autoblog today. I saw the announcement during the race, and I think it's fantastic news. The erasure of GT1 was inevitable, not much to say about that. I am guardedly optimistic about about the GT3 cars, although this weekend they created some real problems, including a full course caution due to a ALMS-C-only wreck. And also a few bottle neck issues. I hope IMSA can get these ironed out. I have to say I still prefer the told GT2S idea slightly better. Among other things, it brought real, rotary Mazdas to Le Mans and I liked that. Perhaps though, this just isn't sustainable in the current economic climate.
I am very intrigued to hear of the LMP challenge cars. They said the use most of the top technology, including carbon brakes. On-air Atherton said a team could run the whole season in LMP-C for less than $1M! That'd be amazing, I'd love to see a lot of prototypes buzzing around out there.
I also want to congratulate Bill Auberlen and Joey Hand for taking 1st in GT2. Auberlen has worked hard up and down the ranks in road racing over the years, from dominating Speed TC in the Turner cars and running BMW M3s in Grand-Am. I know he's technically been at higher points in racing before (like driving the LMP BMWs in ALMS), but this really feels like a big deal to me for some reason. So congratulations guys. It'd be great to see those cars at Le Mans soon.
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Mr.Oak 12:40PM (8/17/2009)
Hey LS2: I also watch the race, heard the commentator make a comment air restrictors on the 'Vettes. I noticed how tiny they were, at the time of release. The 'vettes don't have the straight-line speed of the Porsches. Hope something changes soon.
jerry lipke 1:48PM (8/17/2009)
For now the "formula Lemans" class of LMP car will probably be all Courage/Chevy cars powered by closely governed LS3 engines....not exactly that interesting. They will be very fast depending on the restricters, but not representative of anything someone would buy. They will bring down the cost of racing a prototype. The semi-spec engines will get the cost near 1mil which is what they want.
As mentioned by Mr.Oak the GT2 Corvettes are "breathing through a straw" until they get to next years engine package. They have 200lbs more ballast added and 2mm smaller restricters than in GT1 because ALMS and FIA are worried {my opinion} of how fast they can be. Right now they have only a bit, more HP than a showroom stock C6.... 470 vs. 430 HP. No doubt they are sandbagging a bit to get the restricters enlarged for next year. A probuilt 6-litre LS-7 that they're using now till the end of this year, would easily make 800+ HP ......way too much for this series. The up side is that they'll probablly never blow a motor....just like the heavily restricted GT1 C6R.
Cypher09 5:05PM (8/17/2009)
The LMP-C class is pretty much paving the way for 2011 LMP2. 430ish hp stock road car or GT2 motors in a 900kg LMP chassis run by true privateer teams. Basically this class should only should stay spec for the 2010 season. Come 2011 when the new regs are run you'll have a few established teams ready to be re-branded LMP2.