LINK TO THE PAST AND FUTURE
Unlike other forms of motorsports, the American Le Mans Series is heavily steeped in tradition with a heritage directly traced to the world’s most famous auto race – the 24 Hours of Le Mans. A key goal of the American Le Mans Series from its founding in 1999 is to provide a year-long competitive continuation of Le Mans.
Born in the Sarthe region of France, the 24 Hours of Le Mans was first contested in 1923 when the Automobile Club de l’Ouest (ACO) created a maiden race on a then 10.73-mile circuit that wound through the city of Le Mans. Since that inaugural event, the world’s most famous automobile marques and drivers have been challenged by the greatest test of human and machine. Through the years victory lane at Le Mans has been graced by elite manufacturers such as Aston Martin, Audi, Bentley, BMW, Chevrolet, Ferrari, Ford, Jaguar, Mazda, Mercedes-Benz, Panoz, Peugeot and Porsche. Behind the wheel, a “who’s who” listing of the great driving talents in motorsports history have claimed 24 Hours of Le Mans victories – Phil Hill, A.J. Foyt, Bruce McLaren, Dan Gurney, Jacky Ickx as well as current stars such as eight-time winner Tom Kristensen, Emanuele Pirro, Frank Biela and JJ Lehto. Still, many racing legends and champions, including Mario Andretti, Jack Brabham, Juan Manuel Fangio, Stirling Moss, Jackie Stewart and Michael Schumacher, have all competed but never captured the pinnacle of success in sports car competition at Le Mans.
AUTOMOBILE CLUB de l’OUEST
Begun in the western part of France in January of 1906, the purpose of the Automobile Club de l’Ouest is to “build relationships between all those who are passionately fond of cars.” Its basis is the passion of men who saw the automobile as a major invention that would change the world. The ACO organizes more than a dozen events each year at Le Mans, also know by its complete name: Circuit de la Sarthe. In addition, the ACO also sanctions and organizes the European-based Le Mans Series as well as the Asian Le Mans Series, set to debut in 2009.
AMERICAN LE MANS SERIES’ COMPETITIVE IMPACT AT LE MANS
Guided by President Jean-Claude Plassart and based in the city of Le Mans, the ACO organizes more than a dozen annual events each year at the famed Circuit de la Sarthe and has launched the Le Mans Series, a six-race schedule of events at famous European circuits. It also has organized the Asian Le Mans Series, which will see non-championship events at Okayama, Japan (October 30-November 1), and a race in Shanghai, China (November 7-8).
In 10 seasons since its inception (1999-2008), the competitive impact of the American Le Mans Series on the 24 Hours of Le Mans has been significant. In addition to eight overall victories, the Series has claimed a total of 23 class championships in the world’s most famous auto race. At the 2008 event, diesel powers Audi and Peugeot waged an incredible battle with the two manufacturers finishing on the same lap after nearly 3,200 miles. Audi’s trio of Dindo Capello, Tom Kristensen and Allan McNish gave the Audi R10 TDI its third consecutive overall victory and eighth for Audi since 2000. Risi Competizione claimed its first Le Mans victory as Jaime Melo, Mika Salo and Gianmaria Bruni turned in an eight-lap victory in their Ferrari F430 GT. The 2008 race marked the 10th consecutive season that multiple American Le Mans Series teams claimed championships.
Among other American Le Mans Series highlights at the 24 Hours of Le Mans: In 2005, Series teams swept all three podium spots in three of the four classes for the second year in a row led by Champion Racing (Audi) – the first American team since 1967 to win the overall championship at Le Mans; Kristensen, one of the drivers of the winning Audi R8, captured his then-record seventh Le Mans title to surpass Jacky Ickx’s all-time mark; in 2004, Intersport Racing’s Clint Field became the youngest class winner at Le Mans as he topped the LMP675 victory podium at the age of 20.
In addition to the special consideration that is given to Series teams during the entrant selection process for the 24 Hours of Le Mans, the four class team winners at Petit Le Mans as well as the Series’ four class team champions for the season all receive invitations to the following year’s event at Le Mans.
