American Le Mans Series (ALMS) News
 

Here's the prospective entry list for the 2008 edition of the American Le Mans Series. Many of the drivers are just assumed though. "The 3" means just Sebring, Petit Le Mans, and Laguna Seca.

I'll update the list as more information becomes available

LMP1
1 Audi Sport North America Audi R10 TDI (McNish, Capello)
2 Audi Sport North America Audi R10 TDI (Werner, Luhr)
06 Team Cytosport Lola B06/10 AER (Pickett, Graf, Gidley)
12 Autocon Motorsports Creation CA06/H (Lewis, McMurray, Willman)
37 Intersport Racing Lola B06/10 AER (J. Field, C. Field, Berry)
88 Creation Autosportif Creation CA07 AIM (Campbell-Walter, Ortiz) The 3

LMP2
6 Penske Motorsports Porsche RS Spyder (Maassen, Long, Briscoe)
7 Penske Motorsports Porsche RS Spyder (Collard, Dumas, Bernhard)
8 Mazdaspeed/B-K Motorsports Lola B07/46 MZR-R (Bach, Devlin, Matos)
9 Highcroft Racing Acura ARX-01b V8 (Branham, Sharp)
15 Lowe's Fernandez Racing Acura ARX-01b V8 (Fernandez, Diaz)
16 Dyson Racing Team Porsche RS Spyder (Leitzinger, Wallace, Lally)
19 van der Stuer Racing Radical SR9 AER P07-E (van der Stuer, Pecorari)
20 Dyson Racing Team Porsche RS Spyder (Dyson, Smith)
26 Andretti Green Racing Acura ARX- 01b V8 (Herta, D. Fittipaldi, Kanaan)
27 Lista/Horag Racing Porsche RS Spyder (Theys, Leinhard, Lammers) The 3
32 Barazi Epsilon Zytek 07S/2 (Barazi, Vergers, TBA) Sebring Only

LMGT1
3 Corvette Racing Corvette C6.R (O'Connell, Magnussen, Fellows)
4 Corvette Racing Corvette C6.R (Gavin, Beretta, Papis)

LMGT2
XX Barwell Motorsports AM V8 Vantage (Drayson, Cocker)
18 Rahal Letterman Racing Porsche 997 GT3 RSR (Kelleners, Milner, Rahal)
28 LGM/Pro Long Tube Headers Riley/Corvette C6 (Gigliotti, TBA )
31 PWL Racing Ferrari F430 GT (Petersen, Dumbreck)
44 Flying Lizard Motorsports Porsche 997 GT3 RSR (Pechnik, Neiman, Law)
45 Flying Lizard Motorsports Porsche 997 GT3 RSR (van Overbeek, J. Bergmeister, Lieb)
48 Corsa Motorsports Ferrari F430 GT (Jeanette, Mowlem)
53 Robertson Racing Ford GT (D. Robertson, A. Robertson, Murray)
54 Team Trans Sport ??? (Pappas, Borcheller, TBA)
61 Risi Competizione/Krohn Racing Ferrari F430 GT (TBA, TBA)
62 Risi Competizione Ferrari F430 GT (Salo, Melo)
71 Tafel Racing Ferrari F430 GT (Henzler, Farnbacher)
73 Tafel Racing Ferrari F430 GT (Tafel, TBA)
85 Farnbacher Loles Porsche 997 GT3 RSR (Keen, TBA)
87 Farnbacher Loles Porsche 997 GT3 RSR (Miller, D. Werner)


?? MAYBE'S ??

P-1
XX Peugeot 908 HDi FAP V-12 diesel (Gene, Minassian) Sebring/PLM
XX Peugeot 908 HDi FAP V-12 diesel (Lamy, Sarrazin ) Sebring/PLM

P-2
XX Highcroft Racing Acura ARX-01b V-8 (Dayton, Kerr)
XX ? BK ? 2nd Mazda MZR-R
XX Rahal Letterman Racing Porsche RS Spyder (TBA, TBA)
XX Conzus Motorsports Porsche RS Spyder (TBA, TBA)
99 CET Solaroli Motorsports Porsche RS Spyder (Lehto, Herbert)

GT-1
007 AMR DBR9 (TBA, TBA)
009 AMR DBR9 (TBA, TBA)

GT-2
21 Panoz Team PTG Panoz Esperante GTLM (Auberlen, Hand, Kimber-Smith)
22 Panoz Team PTG Panoz Esperante GTLM (TBA)
XX 2nd PWL Racing Ferrari F430 GT (TBA, TBA)
XX 2nd Team Trans Sport ??? (TBA, TBA)
XX 3rd Flying Lizard Motorsports Porsche 997 GT3 RSR (TBA, TBA)
XX Doran Kuttner Ford GT (TBA, TBA) Limited schedule
XX 3rd Farnbacher Loles Porsche 997 GT3 RSR (TBA, TBA)
XX ARC Bratislava (Konopka) Porsche 997 GT3 RSR (TBA, TBA) Sebring

Looks like some fantastic racing in 2008, I look forward to seeing how the winter testing/rumors continue!

The Ford GT GT2 car vs. the Ferraris+ Flying LIzard GT3 RS + Pantoz Esperante GTLM is fantastic!

LMP2 is awesome as usual... really wonder about the 3 chassis being used in LMP1... and like everyboyd, that the Aston's are in ALMS this year in GT1 again.

Thanks :)

ALMS: Robertson Racing Ford GTR in mid-build
 

Robertson Racing has posted some pictures of their upcoming ALMS ride, a GT2 class Ford GT-R in mid build. The team's first choice was a Ferrari 430 GT, but being unable to get one, they chose the Doran-built Ford GT-R. They plan to run 1 car, driven by the husband and wife team of Andrea and David Robertson, along with David Murray. A 2nd car, to be piloted by two pro drivers is also in the works.

As you can see, the car still has quite a ways to go in its transformation into a GT2 class race car. It still has its stock supercharged engine which will be replaced by a Yates/Roush sourced Nascar-based V8 for the race car. It's also still running stock brakes, and many other stock components that will be replaced with racing parts by the time the car is completed.

I'm not expecting much from the Robertson's as they're by no means pros and they're going up against the best in the world, but it's great to see people with such a great spirit and passion for sports car racing!

http://www.supercars.net/pitlane/pic...6/1008072a.jpg

http://www.supercars.net/pitlane/pic...6/1008072b.jpg

http://www.supercars.net/pitlane/pic...6/1008072c.jpg

http://www.supercars.net/pitlane/pic...6/1008072d.jpg

http://www.supercars.net/pitlane/pics/1008072e.jpg

http://www.supercars.net/pitlane/pics/1008072f.jpg

ALMS: No GT2 Vipers for 2008...
 

Dodge has been forced to revise their anticipated support of potential American Le Mans GT2 entrants for 2008. Citing workforce reductions in the wake of budgetary constraints after the Cerberus takeover, SPEEDtv.com has learned factory engineering and financial support of the projected 3-5 Dodge Viper Competition Coupes anticipated for 2008 has been tabled for a possible green light in 2009.

Those entries, all privateer, had been waiting on confirmation from Dodge as to the level of support they would receive in the manufacturer-driven American Le Mans Series. The majority of those privateers are expected to pass on a GT2 program without manufacturer support akin to what their Porsche and Ferrari rivals enjoy.

Primetime Race Group owner/driver Joel Feinberg, having previously announced his entry for the 2008 American Le Mans season, remains unaffected.

Feinberg and co-driver Chapman Ducote made their series debut in Detroit in 2007, with Feinberg preparing in both the SPEED World Challenge GT series and the IMSA Lites category before making the leap to ALMS GT2.

ALMS: Mazda Power for Quifel Team ASM Lola in 08
 

LMP2 stalwarts in the European Le Mans Series will run their LMP2 Lola B05/40 with a Mazda MZR-R powerplant in 2008. They will also be bringing in some new drivers in the form of Oliver Pla or Filipe Albuquerque.

The Mazda engine, a turbocharged 2.0L inline-4 built by AER has shown great strength in the B-K Motorsports LMP2 Lola in the ALMS in its first year, leading the race overall for some time at Mosport this past season. They've had to deal with reliability and teething issues that always come with a new engine, but AER claims the bugs have been worked out, and even more go fast goodies in the form of direct injection and a variable geometry turbocharger will be ready for the engine sometime this season.

I think this engine package is easily as strong as any out there.

I read somewhere that there were going to be some GT1 Vipers this year. Do you have any news on that?

http://jalopnik.com/cars/racing/amer...iew-323472.php

Aston Martin Racing Vantage GT2 sketch:
http://www.blogsmithmedia.com/www.au...agegt2_low.jpg
It will be fully unveiled next week in Birmingham at the Autosport International show.

Coming from the people that reported that Jeremy Clarkson died from falling off a horse a few years ago.... the story seems iffy at best as a whole, but I sure hope its true.

Blue8, looks great to have another GT2 car in ALMS! :) its going to be a great year in GT2 I think!

Cool to see the F GT in competition too. ALMS will be reall fun to watch. Hope the Pugs make it too!

http://images.worldcarfans.com/artic...108.007.1M.jpg
I didn't know the M3 would be a part of this. That's good to know!

Having had a chance to read up on the rules for GT2 and LMGT2 it is a little dissapointing to say the least.

These cars cost upward of $3 million a year to run and are so far from stock in chassis, engine, body and other components its really just a race of the money teams in "shadow" cars...

Other than the prototypes, there really should only be GT3 and GT1 cars - I mean anyone who thinks their "favourite street car" is represented in GT2 racing is sorely mistaken - these are purpose built and engineered race cars that just happen to slightly resemble their street counterparts ;)

It's probably the old M3 GTRs.
And why is Lexus even bothering with this? You'll know they'll say something like, "we'll get podium finish in 3 years.", but you know it'll end up as a (another) white elephant.

Tokyo show will get another white elephant...in black... in DTM spec, apparently
http://www.blogsmithmedia.com/www.au...e_teaser_2.jpg



Don't get so grumpy. :-P More cars is always good!

But how many more race formulas do we need that have little resemblance to the real cars?

I would rather see more GT3 "street style" and GT1 "unlimited budget open rules" style events.. and clear the "muddy" GT2 middle ground out.

Who doesn't like racing moments like these? :thumbup:

The 24 Hour old winner of Mans 2007 of category GT1, Aston Martin Racing will defend his title next June. To the occasion of Autosport Show, the British manufacturer indeed comes to confirm the engagement of two DBR9. The two cars will raise a decoration dedicated to the tanker GULF Oil. Of the mythical colors for a devastating look!

GULF will try to take down its first victory in Mans since 40 years. "It is undoubtedly the most important year of all times for GULF in mechanical sports" specifies Alain Dujean, Vice President de Gulf International Oil. "the famous colors of GULF in competition gained their first success in 1968, therefore 2008 had already a great significance for us. But for GULF, to join Aston Martin this year, it is fantastic. It is the meeting of two great names of the car, for what will be, I hope for it, a length and profitable partnership."

"the race of endurance is anchored in the inheritance of GULF and of Aston Martin" continues David Richards, President de Aston Martin. "We are both intrinsically bound by the intermediary of Mans since decades. It was can be written that we would be finally joined together in the Sarthe, the year when we defend our title in GT1 and where GULF celebrates its 40ème birthday."

As in 2007, both Aston Martin will carry numbers 007 and 009. The names of the pilots on the other hand were not communicated. No precision was brought as for a possible presence to the 12 hours of Sebring or more generally in American Mans Series.

GULF-liveried Aston Martins?!! That's awesome!

*They do look awesome!!!
http://img231.imageshack.us/img231/5...f002iw7.th.jpghttp://img172.imageshack.us/img172/2...f001az5.th.jpg

Just was sent this....

WOW :)

Interesting - since Risi does a lot of testing at MSR, might we see a new uber-track record in the Texas heat? ;)

meh, I know the GT1 and GT2 cars don't have much mechanical resemblance to their street driven counterparts, but the body lines are pretty much there. I love the ALMS series since th GT cars actually look like cars, unlike the late Trans Am series where you were lucky if the racecars had anything that sort of looked like headlights.

I've come up with an interesting theory. In Murphy the Bear's latest blog, he bas a blurb about Corvette Racing getting competition in GT1 this year in which someone plans to run an Aston Martin DBR9 in the series and it's titled "Corvette Playmate". "It’s said the funding is in place, the car is in North America, and there’s reason to believe it might be seen in a week or so", murphy says. The official Wheels Down Sebring Winter Test is next week, so that's what "next week" is referring to.

Elsewhere, it was reported that Unitech Racing, the team that ran Playboy sponsored Nissan 350Zs and Daytona Prototypes in Grand Am is planning an ALMS GT Program.

Put 2 and 2 together, and what do you get? A Playboy sponsored Unitech Racing Aston Martin DBR9 for the ALMS full time in 2008!

That's just my theory, but it seems to make sense.

That black and white livery would look awesome on a DBR9!

http://www.supercars.net/pitlane/pics/1062117a.jpg

Highcroft Racing announces exciting changes for the 2008 American Le Mans Series (ALMS) season. Scott Sharp will be joining the team and partnering with Le Mans-winning driver, David Brabham, with Patrón Spirits as the team’s title sponsor. Patrón Spirits is the distiller of Patrón Tequila, the world’s number-one selling ultra-premium tequila. The team will be known as Patrón Highcroft Racing. Highcroft Racing is a factory-backed team which campaigned an Acura ARX-01a in the LMP2 class in the 2007 ALMS season.

Duncan Dayton, Team Principal of Patrón Highcroft Racing, said, "I am truly excited to announce the partnership between Patrón Spirits and Highcroft Racing’s Acura program in the ALMS. Our ability to attract Patrón Spirits is a testament to the hard work that Highcroft has put in over the past 18 months and our results on the track. This partnership represents a significant milestone for this young team and for the ALMS."

Dayton continued, "The team is delighted to welcome Scott Sharp to the Patrón Highcroft Racing family. Scott comes from a long line of sports-car racers and holds strong family ties to the Connecticut area. In fact, some of our team members worked for the original Newman-Sharp teams over 20 years ago. Scott’s distinguished career in the Indy Racing League certainly bodes well for a successful partnership with Patrón Highcroft Racing, Acura and David Brabham."

In moving from the IndyCar Series to the ALMS, Scott Sharp’s career has come full circle. Sharp began racing sports cars in the beginning of his professional career, and is returning to the arena once again. Sharp has won nine IndyCar events and has 35 top-five finishes in the Series. He holds the record of 138 consecutive IndyCar starts. In 1996, he was the IndyCar Series co-champion and also won the 24 Hours of Daytona. He is also a two-time Trans-Am champion, winning 15 races over three seasons.

Patrón Highcroft Racing's David Brabham said, "I am really looking forward to the next season racing for the Patrón Highcroft Racing team and driving with Scott. I believe Scott will be a great addition to the team. I had a fantastic time working with Highcroft and Acura last year and I am honored to continue as one of their drivers. Highcroft came in ahead of the other Acura teams last year, and as drivers, Scott and I will be pushing not only to be the lead Acura team, but also to be at the front of the P2 class in 2008."

David Brabham raced in Formula One, Formula 3000 and Formula 3 before becoming one of the world’s leading sports car racers in the American Le Mans Series and the famed 24 Hours of Le Mans. He took top honors at the 2007 24 Hours of Le Mans driving an Aston Martin. David is the only American Le Mans Series driver to have taken the pole in all four Series classes. He won the 12 Hours of Sebring in 2005 and 2006 in the GT1 class. Other notable career victories include the Bathurst 1000, which he won with his brother, Geoff, in 1997, the 24 Hours of Spa in Belgium and the Macau Grand Prix, where he defeated Michael Schumacher.

Patrón Highcroft Racing also announced that Stefan Johansson, who was David Brabham’s teammate last season, will be joining the team again for the two endurance events - the 12 Hours of Sebring and Petit Le Mans. One of the most experienced drivers in all of motorsports, Stefan Johansson has competed in everything from Formula One and Champ Cars to prototype sports cars, with great success in every division. Notable career achievements include winning the 12 Hours of Sebring twice, in 1984 and 1997, and an overall victory at the 24 Hours of Le Mans in 1997 with Joest Racing. Stefan drove full time for Highcroft in the 2007 season and helped the team take third place in the LMP2 championship.

Duncan Dayton welcomed Stefan Johansson back, saying, "We are thrilled to have Stefan joining Patrón Highcroft Racing for the 12 Hours of Sebring and Petit Le Mans. His long, successful career and his results for Highcroft last year speak for themselves. We're looking forward to having his experience in the Acura program contribute to our efforts in 2008."

Founded in 1989, Highcroft Racing started as a vintage racing and restoration company and moved into the modern racing arena a few years later. Both the racing team and restoration company are housed in a state-of-the-art 48,000 square foot shop in Danbury, Connecticut. In addition to Patrón Spirits, Patrón Highcroft Racing's other sponsors are Acura, Takata, Forbes and Beta Tools. The team's technical partners include Honda Performance Development, Wirth Engineering, Hewland Engineering, McLaren Electronics and BERU Systems.

Simply Perfect in every way, Patrón is the world's #1 selling ultra-premium tequila. From the finest, most expensive Weaber Blue agave plants grown in the highlands of Jalisco, Mexico, to the centuries-old distillation process, to the signed, handcrafted glass bottles, Patrón is produced with unparalleled attention to detail. Imported and marketed by Las Vegas-based The Patrón Spirits Company, brands in the portfolio consist of Patrón Gran Platinum, Patrón Anejo, Patrón Reposado, Patrón Silver, Patrón XO Café (tequila and coffee blend), and Patrón Citrónge (extra fine orange liqueur), Ultimat Vodka (80 proof, Black Cherry and Chocolate Vanilla), as well as Pyrat Pistol, Pyrat Cask, and Pyrat XO Reserve Caribbean rums.

Credit: Highcroft Racing

http://www.supercars.net/pitlane/pic...7/1064292d.jpg

Updates:

Peterson/White Lightning has withdrawn its entry for the 2008 season

Factory Ferrari driver Dirk Mueller will be Dominik Farnbacher's partner in the #71 Tafel Ferrari

Farnbacher Loles will run 1 Porsche full time, and will have a 2nd for at least 5 races.

LMP1
1 Audi Sport North America Audi R10 TDI (McNish, Capello) (TK, Rocky)
2 Audi Sport North America Audi R10 TDI (M. Werner, Luhr)
06 Team Cytosport Lola B06/10 AER ( Pickett, Graf, Gidley )
12 Autocon Motorsports Creation CA06/H (Lewis, McMurray, Willman)
37 Intersport Racing Lola B06/10 AER (J. Field, C. Field, Berry)
88 Creation Autosportif Creation CA07 AIM ( Campbell-Walter, Ortiz) The 3
07 Peugeot 908 HDi FAP V-12 diesel (Gene, Minassian) Sebring/PLM
08 Peugeot 908 HDi FAP V-12 diesel (Lamy, Sarrazin )Sebring/PLM

LMP2
6 Penske Motorsports Porsche RS Spyder (Maassen, Long)
7 Penske Motorsports Porsche RS Spyder (Dumas, Bernhard)
8 Mazdaspeed/B-K Motorsports Lola B07/46 MZR-R (Bach, Devlin, Matos)
9 Highcroft Racing Acura (Patron) ARX- 01b V8 ( Brabham, Sharp, Johansson)
15 Lowe's Fernandez Racing Acura ARX-01b V8 (Fernandez, Diaz)
16 Dyson Racing Team Porsche RS Spyder (Dyson, Smith)
19 van der Stuer Racing Radical SR9 AER P07-E (van der Stuer, Pecorari)
20 Dyson Racing Team Porsche RS Spyder (Leitzinger, M. Franchitti, Lally)
26 Andretti Green Racing Acura ARX- 01b V8 (Herta, Fittipaldi, Kanaan )
27 Lista/Horag Racing Porsche RS Spyder (Theys, Leinhard, Lammers ) The 3
32 Barazi Epsilon Zytek 07S Zytek (J.Barazi, M.Vergers, TBA) Sebring

LMGT1
3 Corvette Racing Corvette C6.R (O'Connell, Magnussen, Fellows)
4 Corvette Racing Corvette C6.R (Gavin, Beretta, Papis)

LMGT2
?? Barwell Motorsports AM Vantage GT-2 (E-85?) (Drayson, Co.cker)
11 Primetime Race Group Viper Comp. Coupe (Feinberg, Ducote)
18 Rahal Letterman Racing Porsche 997 GT3 RSR (Kelleners, Milner, Rahal)
21 Panoz Team PTG Panoz Esperante GTLM (Auberlen, Hand, Sutherland)
22 Panoz Team PTG Panoz Esperante GTLM (TBA )
28 LGM/Pro Long Tube Headers Riley/Corvette C6 ( Gigliotti, TBA )
44 Flying Lizard Motorsports Porsche 997 GT3 RSR (Pechnik, Neiman, Law)
45 Flying Lizard Motorsports Porsche 997 GT3 RSR (van Overbeek, J. Bergmeister, Lieb)
48 Corsa Motorsports Ferrari F430 GT (Jeanette, Mowlem)
49 LGM/Pro Long Tube Headers Riley/Corvette C6 ( TBA, TBA)
53 Robertson Racing K/D Mk.VII Ford GT (D. Robertson, A. Robertson, D.Murry)
54 Team Trans Sport K/D Mk.VII Ford GT (E-85?) (Pappas, Borcheller, Basseng)
61 Risi Competizione/Krohn Racing Ferrari F430 GT (Krohn, Jonsson) ??
62 Risi Competizione Ferrari F430 GT (Salo, Melo, )
71 Tafel Racing Ferrari F430 GT (Farnbacher,Muller, TBA )
73 Tafel Racing Ferrari F430 GT (Tafel, Ehret, TBA)
85 Farnbacher Loles Porsche 997 GT3 RSR ( Keen, TBA )
87 Farnbacher Loles Porsche 997 GT3 RSR ( Miller, D. Werner )


?? MAYBE'S ??

P-1


P-2
XX Highcroft Racing Acura ARX-01b V-8 ( Dayton, Kerr )
XX ? BK ? 2nd Mazda MZR-R
99 CET Solaroli Motorsports Porsche RS Spyder ( Lehto, Herbert)

GT-1
007 AMR DBR9 (TBA, TBA)
009 AMR DBR9 (TBA, TBA)

GT-2
XX Farnbacher Loles Porsche 997 GT3 RSR ( ? 3rd car )
XX Flying Lizard Motorsports Porsche 997 GT3 RSR ( ? 3rd car)
XX Doran Kuttner Mk. VII Ford GT (TBA, TBA) Limited schedule
86 Spyker Squadron Spyker C8 (Kox, Hezemans)
XX ARC Bratislava (Konopka) Porsche 997 GT3 RSR (TBA, TBA) Se

I can't wait for this year's Long Beach GP. I totally dissed Capello buy ignoring him to talk to McNish instead. I have a picture of him looking at me funny.

As for the Ford GT2s. Excellent news! I hope Aston would run their cars, but I think they're happily settled with focusing just on Le Mans.

I guess V8 Vantage GT2 will do everything else then.

New entries.

LMP2 De Ferran Motorsports Acura ARX-01b (Gil de Ferran, ?)
Doesn't start racing till mid-season. Possibly as early as Long Beach GP.

GT1 Bell Motorsports Aston Martin DBR9 (intermediate drivers: Antonio Garcia, Chapman Ducote, Jamie Camara)
http://www.motorsport.com/photos/alm...wt-eg-0149.jpg

GT2 Drayson-Barwell Motorsports Aston Martin Vantage GT2
Dale White of Petersen/White Lightning Racing team will join the Drayson-Barwell Motorsport for 2008. Petersen/White Lightning Racing, which ran an F430 in 2007, is absent from ALMS this year since Michael Petersen wants to focus on his Petersen Motorsports team's rally efforts.