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American LeMans
ALMS: Baltimore For 2011
Labor Day weekend race marks second event in prominent Eastern market
John Dagys  |  Posted September 01, 2010   Chicago, IL
The 2-mile street circuit will hit some of key landmarks of the city. (Baltimore GP)
The American Le Mans Series is headed to Baltimore next year as part of a Labor Day weekend double-header with the IZOD IndyCar Series. Announced today by Baltimore City Mayor, Stephanie Rawlings-Blake, and Baltimore Racing Development President Jay Davidson, the ALMS will hit the streets on September 2-4, 2011 as part of the inaugural Baltimore Grand Prix.

“From the beginning we wanted to create an entire weekend racing experience and the addition of American Le Mans Series does just that,” said Davidson “We’ve been talking with the Series team for a while now and have always wanted them to join the IZOD IndyCar Series to enhance our event. This is a great addition to the weekend and we believe fans will be eager to see these amazing cars in action.”

The event, which will be held on a two-mile temporary circuit constructed around the streets of downtown Baltimore, will include sections by Oriole Park at Camden Yards and along the Inner Harbor on Light Street. It’s estimated to attract more than $100,000 people to the area and have an economic impact of $70 million.

For the ALMS, it marks the second street course race on the 2011 schedule, joining the famed Grand Prix of Long Beach. However, unlike Long Beach, it’s slated to be a full two-hour and 45-minute race.

“The combination of two premier race series in one location on the same weekend is a rare opportunity for race fans,” said ALMS President and CEO Scott Atherton. “We have had outstanding doubleheader successes on street courses such as Long Beach, Houston and St. Petersburg, and I’m confident that the Baltimore Grand Prix will provide more of the same with a stellar backdrop for some of the best road racing on the planet. It will be the place to be next Labor Day weekend.”

The Baltimore Grand Prix was one of two yet-to-be determined or announced races on the 2011 schedule, which was released last month. It appears the other event, the proposed Oklahoma City Grand Prix, is now in jeopardy following a rejection by its city council on Tuesday.

The Oklahoma City council voted 6-2 against a plan that would have committed $6.9 million towards the proposed street race, to have been held on July 3, 2011. Citing the poor economy, the race could be off the tables for next year, although OKC organizers appear to be pushing ahead to bring motorsports to the city in 2012, but with private funds.

There’s no official word on whether the proposed OKC event would be replaced on the ALMS schedule or if the Series would revert back to a nine-race calendar for 2011.

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