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American LeMans
DAGYS: The Coming Global Sportscar Superstorm?
A deeper look inside the Petit Le Mans/Bahrain ALMS/WEC date clash...
John Dagys  |  Posted November 19, 2011   Chicago, IL
It's unlikely the American Le Mans Series and World Endurance Championship will ever share the 1,000-mile Petit Le Mans classic, following the latest series of events that unfolded earlier this month. (Photo: John Dagys)
Sportscar racing has certainly seen its highs and lows over the past decade. From the early years of the American Le Mans Series and GRAND-AM Rolex Sports Car Series in America to the formation of the European-based Le Mans Series, there has no doubt been an everlasting power struggle as the prominent national and continental championships vie to be the leader of the endurance racing world.

The last 18 months have put a dramatic twist on the global scope of the sport, with the launch of the FIA GT1 World Championship and the Intercontinental Le Mans Cup, which transforms into the FIA World Endurance Championship next year. The latter, formed by the unlikely partnership between the FIA and Le Mans organizers Automobile Club de l’Ouest, sees the first official Word Championship for prototypes in two decades, following the collapse of the WSC in 1992 due to skyrocketing costs.

While GT World Championship boss Stephane Ratel’s dreams of becoming the world leader with his cost-effective, privateer-driven formula of GT-only sprint races appears to be falling by the wayside, due to internal struggles with proposed regulations, next year’s WEC appears to have hit the jackpot, even before the drop of the first green flag.

Powerhouse factory efforts from Audi, Peugeot and Toyota have already signed up for the globe-trotting WEC (Toyota is expected to enter only select races), while works and factory supported squads representing Ferrari, Porsche, Aston Martin and BMW are all poised to compete in the production-based GT Endurance ranks.
ALMS/IMSA COO Scot Elkins, left, with ALMS President and CEO Scott Atherton, right. (Photo: John Dagys)

With more than 30 cars expected, building on the two-dozen full-season entries this year in ILMC, the ACO and FIA’s formula has grabbed the attention of nearly everyone in the sportscar racing community, and has created a large demand for drivers wanting to take part in a proper World Championship tied around the legendary French endurance classic.

On this side of the pond, just a few short months ago, the American Le Mans Series, the first Le Mans-branded championship founded in 1999 that helped get the ACO’s vision on the international map, was in a state of uncertainty. Panoz Motor Sport Group’s contract with the ACO was up at the end of this year, and questions remained on whether its two key events, the Twelve Hours of Sebring and Petit Le Mans, would be included in the the new WEC.

Most concerns were put to rest in late September, when ALMS President and CEO Scott Atherton announced the renewal of the Le Mans contract and that Sebring would kick off the WEC calendar next year. While Atherton admitted that Petit Le Mans stood only a “50/50” chance of inclusion in the World Championship, it appeared the partnership between the ACO and the ALMS was stronger than ever.

Or not. Fast forward six weeks to the official launch of the WEC in Zhuhai, China, which saw confirmation of the 2012 WEC calendar, where questions immediately arose whether the relationship was really as rosy as many had made it out to be.

Not only was Petit Le Mans not on the 2012 WEC schedule, but a round in the politically unstable kingdom of Bahrain was scheduled on the same weekend, and better yet, on the exact same day. WEC general manager Gerard Neveu said they had no other choice but to schedule the Bahrain race that weekend based on the circuit’s schedule.

To top it off, the ALMS, nor any of its partners in the ILMC or other ACO-represented sportscar championships, were informed of the schedule until of its official release, adding further fuel to the fire in Braselton, Ga. The move was no doubt considered a stab in the back to one of its most loyal partners, just weeks after it renewed its vows for the foreseeable future.

What looked to be a marriage made in heaven has turned into a serious game changer that could have the folks at the the ALMS thinking twice about their current relationship with the ACO.

Decisions of what, or what not to do, are likely to be made in the coming weeks, but ultimately, Atherton and IMSA COO Scot Elkins have three options, in my opinion, one of which could turn turn into the real global superstorm that nobody had anticipated just one month ago.

The first, and arguably safest approach, would obviously be to do nothing. With a strong North American contingent of teams, drivers and sponsors, the obvious clash of Petit Le Mans would have a significant impact on the 1,000-mile contest, which in its 14-year history has grown into one of the premier endurance races in the world. But it would not mark the instant death of the race or series.

Factory juggernauts Audi or Peugeot would forgo the trip due to the Bahrain clash, but at the same time, the series could capitalize from other European teams, namely Le Mans Series entrants, also not competing in the World Championship, and potentially Toyota, which has not committed for the entire WEC season. While it won’t attract big-buck LMP1 efforts (aside from the possible Toyota involvement), it could serve as a life raft for the 2012 race.
Krohn Racing is expected to be the only American team to compete in next year's eight-round globe-trotting FIA World Endurance Championship. (Photo: John Dagys)

Many forget that just two years ago, the Twelve Hours of Sebring featured a scant 26-car starting field and the event rebounded to become a key round on the WEC schedule. With Petit Le Mans only being a single race of the nine, or potentially ten round ALMS championship, and Sebring likely to be another barnburner, mainly due to WEC involvement, sucking up and taking another blow from the ACO could be a smart, short-term solution.

Option two would be to move the Petit Le Mans race to an alternative date. While the ALMS has reaffirmed its commitment to the Oct. 20 weekend, it comes seven weeks after the Baltimore Grand Prix, the previous round in the current nine-round championship, which is also in jeopardy due to financial issues. Moving the date to late September or early October could help accommodate WEC teams wanting to take part in the race, while also leaving a smaller gap between races, should the series’ 10th round not materialize.

While the WEC schedule is jam packed with rounds in Brazil and Japan in September, commitment from a LMP1 factory such as Audi, which would no doubt have two extra R18 TDIs at its disposal, could make the event doable, even if it’s only a week before or after a far-flung WEC race.

Removing the direct conflict would also free up drivers and international media to do both events, which could prove to be crucial for the continued success of Petit Le Mans. It too would help the burgeoning Gold Coast 600 V8 Supercars race on the streets of Surfer’s Paradise, which is also locked into the problematic Oct. 20 weekend.

One of the downsides, though, could come in making such a late season schedule change, something the ALMS was all-too-familiar with from last year. However, given calendars from most series have been released (except for IndyCar), the ALMS could craft its Petit Le Mans date into the best possible weekend to help attract international teams, as well as top drivers from the WEC, LMS and other forms of motorsport.

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