ALMS races are run under the rules of the Automobile Club de l”Quest (ACO), the organizers of the 24 Hours of Le Mans. Teams that regularly compete in the ALMS events receive special consideration in the selection of the 48 car field for the 24 Hours of Le Mans.

THE CARS
In 2009, there were three and later in the season, four different classes in each event which made for hard fought racing. The Le Mans Prototype (LMP1) cars are purpose built closed wheel race cars and are among the faster race machines in the world. Examples include the Acura ARX-02a, the Audi R15, the Peugeot 908 and the Zytek and Creation. LMP2 cars are smaller, less powerful prototypes, but are nimble, fast and competitive. Dyson Racing took the overall win at the Sears Point race in 2003 with this class of car and LMP2 cars won four of eleven ALMS races in 2008. In 2010, there is a revised class structure featuring four classes. LMP1 and LMP2 will compete as a single LMP class with the exception of the endurance classics, the 12 Hours of Sebring and the Petit Le Mans, which will run under the ACO technical regulations for LMP1 and LMP2. Among the LMP race cars eligible 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. Dyson Racing continues in the LMP class for 2010, campaigning their Lola B09/86 Mazda coupe in the nine-race series. The BP Dyson Racing Mazda coupe is powered by the 2.0 liter turbo Mazda MZR-R engines prepared by Advanced Engine Research (AER) Ltd.

LMP Challenge, a new ALMS class for 2010, was introduced in 2009 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 race car that makes up the class has a minimum weight of 900 kilograms: similar to its LMP brethren, but its horsepower is 450 hp which is 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 GT class features production based automobiles, but with extensive modifications for racing. That class is populated with Porsche, BMW, Jaguar, Ferrari, Panoz, Ford GT, Dodge Viper and Corvette. There are more engine manufactures in the ALMS than NASCAR, NHRA, and the IRL combined.

The GT Challenge class was introduced mid-season in 2009. 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, and other manufacturers are likely to be added in the future.

THE RACES
There are nine races in 2010. All of the ALMS races, with the exception of the Petit Le Mans, are based on time. They vary in length from the two hour and 45 minute endurance format to the six hour event at Mazda Raceway Laguna Seca to the famous 12 Hours of Sebring. The Petit Le Mans at Road Atlanta is contested for 1,000 miles or ten hours, whichever comes first. For 2010, the ALMS is running two race weekends with the Indy Racing League.

THE TRACKS
ALMS races on eight natural road courses and the street course in Long Beach CA. The road courses are the most competitive tracks in North America including Road Atlanta, GA, Road America, WI, Mazda Raceway Laguna Seca, CA, Sebring, FL, Salt Lake City, UT, Lime Rock, CT, Mid-Ohio OH, and Mosport, Ontario, Canada. These tracks have defined sports car racing in America for over fifty years.

THE DRIVERS
There are multiple drivers for each car: two per regular race and three and four for the longer events. This adds the element of team work and the excitement of driver changes during pit stops. It is a world class mix of drivers, with many from Europe and the United States, several having Formula One ties. Past drivers include names such as Dan Gurney, Phil Hill, A.J. Foyt, Bruce McLaren, Jackie Ickx, Derek Bell and Graham Hill. Current drivers include the Dyson Racing drivers, Chris Dyson, Guy Smith, and Andy Meyrick. Other drivers: David Brabham – HPD; Oliver Gavin – Corvette; Jan Magnussen – Corvette; Clint Field - Lola; Sir Paul Drayson - Lola; Jaime Melo – Ferrari; Greg Pickett - Porsche; Andy Wallace - Oreca; and Bill Auberlen – BMW. The 2008 Petit Le Mans at Road Atlanta saw the deepest field ever assembled in the American Le Mans Series. There were seven winners from past 24 Hours of Le Mans entered, as well as five drivers who won championships in either CART or IndyCar, plus five competitors who have won the Indianapolis 500.