Atherton speaks on ILMC, Blancpain Endurance Series recap from Monza, Notes from Long Beach and more...
With only three Le Mans-spec prototypes having taken the start, the GT class took center stage last weekend at Long Beach. (Photo: John Dagys)
With a bumper grid and epic battles on track, the 59th Mobil 1 Twelve Hours of Sebring proved to be one of the most successful races in the 13-year history of the American Le Mans Series. But many expecting the same product last weekend at Long Beach were in for a rude awakening.
While the momentum kept flowing for the highly competitive GT category, with over a dozen cars represented, a mere four Le Mans-spec prototypes turned up for the Southern California street fight, and only three took the green flag. Compared to the 15 machines that took part at Sebring, it was a noticeable decline.
The reason for the sudden falloff was two-fold, with the current economic conditions hitting some of the sport’s privateers the hardest. But as ALMS President and CEO Scott Atherton admitted, the launch of the ACO’s new Intercontinental Le Mans Cup has also left an impression that’s been both positive and negative to the series’ field.
“We’re being very careful of how the American Le Mans Series is affected by the ILMC,” Atherton said in an exclusive interview with SPEED.com. “Some of those elements are within our ability of control, but not all. In particular, how our car counts are affected by ILMC as an alternative. There’s lots of discussion and dialogue internally as to how this develops. We’re committed to being a good partner with the ACO, but our primary focus is on making sure we’re making decisions that are best for the American Le Mans Series.”
You might be thinking, ‘Wait a minute. What teams has the ALMS lost to the ILMC?’ With only two American-based squads - Level 5 Motorsports and Krohn Racing - taking part in this year’s global sportscar championship, the ILMC doesn’t appear to have been a big threat to regular ALMS competitors.
But according to Atherton, it hasn’t only been teams stepping onto the global stage, but rather European-based squads and manufacturers that have put their focus behind the budding world series instead of a full-season domestic championship as seen in years’ past.
“ILMC has given manufacturers and teams a second option that is an alternative to a full-season commitment either to a European series, or more importantly, for us, to the American Le Mans Series,” he said. “Clearly there are teams that have opted for that over what otherwise would have been a full season commitment here.
“We were confident we had Audi confirmed for a full season return. That didn’t work out. The alternative for them is a full ILMC commitment. Whether or not that would have come to fruition without the ILMC is up for speculation. But it certainly suggests that was the way it would have gone.”
The European-based Le Mans Series has also seen a sharp decline in grid sizes this year, primarily in LMP1, where teams such as Aston Martin Racing, Team ORECA Matmut and OAK Racing have instead focused their efforts around the ILMC.
While the situation in Europe hasn’t been as dire compared to their American counterparts, there’s been talk of the LMP1 category disappearing altogether and the LMS moving to standalone events away from the ILMC. The Patrick Peter-organized series shares three of their five races with the ILMC this year.
With the LMS on the verge of separation from the ILMC, aimed to help the European championship establish its own identity as a privateer-driven series, could the ALMS be on the same path? Not exactly, according to Atherton.
“We don’t share that view, but at the same time, we’re also undecided in terms of how we manage and incorporate the ILMC into our schedule going forward,” Atherton said.
“Right now, we have a sample of one and it was a fantastic result. It would be hard pressed to say that Sebring was anything short of an across-the-board success.
“What we want to avoid is having two spectacularly successful ILMC events, but have the success of those events dictate a lesser level of success in the others. [Sebring and Petit Le Mans] have always been better subscribed and have attracted international entries that the other races haven’t had. That in itself isn’t a negative. That’s something that has been part of the series since its inception.”
Atherton noted that differences in ILMC vs. non-ILMC events can go beyond just car counts, as international media rights, sponsorship revenues and other potential factors could affect the balance of the ALMS for the full-season.
“When you factor some of these other elements into the equation, and if the disparity between an ILMC race and a non-ILMC race is so great that it makes the balance of the series look less attractive or to ultimately become less successful, that’s when we need to potentially call a time-out.
“We’re supportive of the ILMC, but what we won’t support is the success of the ILMC coming at the expense of the American Le Mans Series.”
While negotiations are underway for 2012 and beyond, with Atherton assuring their relationship with the ACO being as strong as it’s ever been, one still has to question what the future could hold for the ALMS in relation to the ILMC.
And with the Le Mans Series possibly evolving to a separated championship, what would that do for European teams in the ILMC? What impact could that have on the ALMS, if any? There are many questions yet to be answered. The good news is that time appears to be on everyone’s side, with 2011 only being in the early stages.
Video Showcase of the Week
Enjoy a look back at last weekend’s Tequila Patron American Le Mans Series through the eyes of Level 5 Motorsports, which racked up win number two of the season in the LMP2 category.
Race of the Week: Blancpain Endurance Series, Monza
The new Blancpain Endurance Series kicked off last weekend at Monza, with the inaugural race going in favor of Autorlando Sport’s Paulo Roberti, Raffaele Gianmaria and Gianluca.
The trio aboard their GT3-spec Porsche 997 GT3 R used fuel mileage to its maximum, having only made two pit stops over the course of the three-hour race, compared to the Belgian Audi Club’s three, which included a splash-and-dash with 10 minutes to go.
Ruberti crossed the line nearly a minute ahead of the Bert Longin, Filipe Albuquerqe and Stephane Ortelli-driven Audi R8 LMS, which also was delayed early with a puncture. FIA GT1 World Championship regulars Marc VDS completed the podium in their Ford GT.
“My last stint was not pushing to the maximum as we knew that other cars would stop to do a splash and dash,” Ruberti explained. “I tried not to make any mistakes to get to the end and win. I am very happy, my team mates and team did a great job, the tire change was very fast.”
The top three finishers overall were all GT3 Pro Cup competitors, one of four categories in the SRO-run championship. GT3 Pro-Am Cup, a class featuring a mix of pro and gentlemen drivers, was won by the Blancpain-Reiter Lamborghini Gallardo of Marc A Hayek and Peter Kox, which finished fourth overall.
Top honors in the GT3 Citation Cup, an all-gentlemen drivers category, went to Georges Cabannes and Gregory Guilvert in their Ruffier Racing Lamborghini Gallardo, while the Lotus Italia squad of Edoardo Piscopo, Leo Mansell and Greg Mansell scored the class win in GT4 Cup aboard their Lotus Evora.
A strong grid of 33 cars took the start of the championship, with more expected next time out at Navarra on May 22.
Results:
1. Ruberti/Roda/Gianmaria - Autorlando Sport Porsche 997 GT3 R
2. Longin/Alburquerqe/Ortelli - Belgian Audi Club Audi R8 LMS +58.504 sec
3. Palttala/Martin/Leinders - Marc VDS Racing Ford GT +1:30.360
4. Hayek/Kox - Blancpain-Reiter Lamborghini Gallardo +1 lap
5. Lorenzi/Bonetti/Borghi - De Lorenzi Racing Porsche 997 GT3 R +1 lap
Photo Focus: Blancpain Endurance Series, Monza
Take a look back at last weekend’s inaugural Blancpain Endurance Series event with a selection of photos from the three-hour enduro at the famed Italian circuit.
Notes from Long Beach
• Saturday’s two-hour sprint was the first American Le Mans Series event that ended under caution since last year’s shortened Grand Prix of Mosport, which was red-flagged after an accident that caused significant damage to a barrier. The 2009 race at Long Beach also ended under the safety car.
• Kudos to Jaguar RSR’s Cristiano Da Matta and Bruno Junqueria, who stayed out of trouble to record a solid sixth-place finish in the highly competitive GT category, the team’s best result in ALMS competition to date. While the Brazilian duo aboard the No. 99 Jaguar XKR GT no doubt benefitted from the high attrition rate, it was still a deserving result for the Paul Gentilozzi-led squad.
• Anthony Nicolosi suffered a broken leg following a severe crash in qualifying on Friday. The Performance Tech driver went for a wild ride after something apparently broke in his Oreca FLM09 prior to entering Turn 6. With both driver and car out of commission, it forced the Brent O’Neil-led team to withdraw from the race.
• If for not Patrick Long’s race-ending brush with the wall, could he and co-driver Jorg Bergmeister have taken the fight to the BMW of Joey Hand and Dirk Muller? Judging by Long’s pace early on, where he briefly put the No. 45 Flying Lizard Motorsports Porsche out front, it was more than possible. Post-race, Muller said Long had the quicker car.
Design the Zytek Hybrid’s Livery!
Zytek is offering motorsport fans the unique opportunity to design the livery for their new Hybrid LMP1 sportscar, the first petrol-electric hybrid car to run in the Le Mans Series. Using Zytek’s latest KERS technology the car will be run by Italian Team MIK Corse.
The competition winner will have their design liveried on the car for the Spa LMS race on May 7, as well as being invited with a guest to the Silverstone LMS race as VIP guests of the MIK Corse Team.
The car will run for the first time at the Le Mans test in the base color black, with the chosen livery design applied to the car for the Spa LMS race.
The design proposed for the car should be based around the KERS technology that will be used on the car. The base color of the car will be black, download an image of the car attached. Be creative and enjoy designing the livery for the first petrol-electric car in the Le Mans Series.
Entry is open to all motorsport fans. To get started on your design simply Download The Blank Canvas Here.
To enter the competition submit your design to motorsport@zytek.co.uk with the subject ‘Livery Competition’. The competition closing date is Monday, April 25 and no other submissions will be accepted after this date. The winner will be selected on April 26.
See below for more details, design rules and regulations. Specific LMS Series regulations relating to livery can be found at http://www.lemans-series.com/en/s02_corporate/2011_reglement_sportif.pdf.
1. The design must include the car number 23 in white on a red background as determined by the series regulations. Competitors must make three spaces or the car number, one on each side and one on the front.
2. The Car's class should be shown on the front and sides: LMP1 (in red).
3. The front of the car must include an Italian flag (nationality of entrant).
4. The design of the car should promote the electric hybrid technology which it is using.
5. A Zytek KERS Logo must appear on the Engine cover
6. Space should be left for the names of three drivers and their national flags close to the cockpit.
7. Zytek reserve the right to make minor amends to the winning design in order to apply it to the car or to account for the requirements of the team, sponsor or organizer.
Designs should be submitted as picture files (jpeg, gif, tif, png) and entrants are free to use their artistic skills and creativity as they choose to create their entry. All entries will be considered, whether created using CAD or hand drawn on the blank canvas and scanned in.
This Weekend
SPEED.com will have on-site coverage of this weekend's Le Mans Test Day. With the debut of Audi's R18 TDI, the first look at the new Lotus Evora GTE-class contender as well as the European debut of Level 5 Motorsports, there will be plenty of storylines from Circuit de la Sarthe.
World of Sportscars Live! Chat
Join us for our now-regular World of Sportscars Live! Chat every Monday at 7 p.m. on SPEED.com. With topics ranging from GRAND-AM to World Challenge and the GT1 World Championship, there’s always something for everyone each week.
John Dagys is SPEED.com’s Sportscar Racing Reporter, focusing on all major domestic and international championships. You can follow him on Twitter @johndagys or email him at askdagys@gmail.com
Zytek is offering motorsport fans the unique opportunity to design the livery for their new Hybrid LMP1 sportscar, the first petrol-electric hybrid car to run in the Le Mans Series. Using Zytek’s latest KERS technology the car will be run by Italian Team MIK Corse.
The competition winner will have their design liveried on the car for the Spa LMS race on May 7, as well as being invited with a guest to the Silverstone LMS race as VIP guests of the MIK Corse Team.
The car will run for the first time at the Le Mans test in the base color black, with the chosen livery design applied to the car for the Spa LMS race.
The design proposed for the car should be based around the KERS technology that will be used on the car. The base color of the car will be black, download an image of the car attached. Be creative and enjoy designing the livery for the first petrol-electric car in the Le Mans Series.
Entry is open to all motorsport fans. To get started on your design simply Download The Blank Canvas Here.
To enter the competition submit your design to motorsport@zytek.co.uk with the subject ‘Livery Competition’. The competition closing date is Monday, April 25 and no other submissions will be accepted after this date. The winner will be selected on April 26.
See below for more details, design rules and regulations. Specific LMS Series regulations relating to livery can be found at http://www.lemans-series.com/en/s02_corporate/2011_reglement_sportif.pdf.
1. The design must include the car number 23 in white on a red background as determined by the series regulations. Competitors must make three spaces or the car number, one on each side and one on the front.
2. The Car's class should be shown on the front and sides: LMP1 (in red).
3. The front of the car must include an Italian flag (nationality of entrant).
4. The design of the car should promote the electric hybrid technology which it is using.
5. A Zytek KERS Logo must appear on the Engine cover
6. Space should be left for the names of three drivers and their national flags close to the cockpit.
7. Zytek reserve the right to make minor amends to the winning design in order to apply it to the car or to account for the requirements of the team, sponsor or organizer.
Designs should be submitted as picture files (jpeg, gif, tif, png) and entrants are free to use their artistic skills and creativity as they choose to create their entry. All entries will be considered, whether created using CAD or hand drawn on the blank canvas and scanned in.
This Weekend
SPEED.com will have on-site coverage of this weekend's Le Mans Test Day. With the debut of Audi's R18 TDI, the first look at the new Lotus Evora GTE-class contender as well as the European debut of Level 5 Motorsports, there will be plenty of storylines from Circuit de la Sarthe.
World of Sportscars Live! Chat
Join us for our now-regular World of Sportscars Live! Chat every Monday at 7 p.m. on SPEED.com. With topics ranging from GRAND-AM to World Challenge and the GT1 World Championship, there’s always something for everyone each week.
John Dagys is SPEED.com’s Sportscar Racing Reporter, focusing on all major domestic and international championships. You can follow him on Twitter @johndagys or email him at askdagys@gmail.com
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