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Le Mans / ALMS
LE MANS: Future Uncertain For Shared ALMS, WEC Races
Twelve Hours of Sebring to kick off 2012 FIA World Endurance Championship, but no agreements yet in place for future joint WEC/ALMS events...
FIA World Endurance Championship general manager Gerard Neveu admitted that the WEC may consider holding a standalone round in America in 2013. (Photo: Drew Gibson/LAT)
After months of speculation, the ACO confirmed the calendar for the new FIA World Endurance Championship Saturday at Zhuhai International Circuit. Featuring eight rounds in eight countries spread out on four continents, it’s no doubt a significant face lift over this year’s seven-race Intercontinental Le Mans Cup, which took the checkered flag for the final time on Sunday.
The Six Hours of Bahrain has arguably been the most talked about addition to the calendar, especially in the wake of this year’s cancellation of the Formula One Bahrain Grand Prix due to civil unrest. But the race, scheduled for Oct. 20, also has a direct clash with the Petit Le Mans, an event which was not included on the WEC schedule.
Speaking with SPEED.com, WEC general manager Gerard Neveu said they had no choice but to schedule the Middle Eastern race on the same weekend and admitted it would have been difficult to again race at Road Atlanta given the circuit’s size.
“For the World Championship, it would be difficult to do a race at Petit Le Mans like we did this year because there were too many cars on track and it can absolutely change the result of the race,” Neveu said. “You cannot imagine this is fair regarding the sporting race. It was already one of the main reasons.”
Instead, Sebring will be the only North American round next year, as well as being the only shared event with another series. Neveu admitted that could change in 2013 as he’s expressed interest in holding a standalone race in America, mainly on the ground of having a race run to full WEC regulations.
Next year’s Twelve Hours of Sebring will see season-long ALMS LMPC and GTC entries accepted, two categories not allowed in WEC competition, along with other modifications to the ACO rulebook, thanks to the newly agreed licensing renewal between the two parties, which gives the ALMS more technical freedom in modifying the base regulations.
“I think what we could possibly do a standalone race in the USA just to make sure we can keep the fair result and the fair condition of the races,” Neveu said. “If we do not do the races in Europe with the Le Mans Series, how are you going to do the the races with the ALMS in the United States?”
However, Neveu stressed he’s willing to give next year’s combined event a chance. If successful, it could become a staple of the WEC calendar.
“We'll for sure be at Sebring in 2012, but for 2013, we're still discussing,” he said. “I don't want to close any doors. There are many things to do. The ACO is doing a great job with Don Panoz and the ALMS, so there's no reason [not] to continue in this way.
“But I think the first step is to do Sebring and [see how it goes]. We've changed the rules a little bit this year, so we'll have to see how it exactly works. If it works well, then there's no reason to continue.”
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
The Six Hours of Bahrain has arguably been the most talked about addition to the calendar, especially in the wake of this year’s cancellation of the Formula One Bahrain Grand Prix due to civil unrest. But the race, scheduled for Oct. 20, also has a direct clash with the Petit Le Mans, an event which was not included on the WEC schedule.
Speaking with SPEED.com, WEC general manager Gerard Neveu said they had no choice but to schedule the Middle Eastern race on the same weekend and admitted it would have been difficult to again race at Road Atlanta given the circuit’s size.
“For the World Championship, it would be difficult to do a race at Petit Le Mans like we did this year because there were too many cars on track and it can absolutely change the result of the race,” Neveu said. “You cannot imagine this is fair regarding the sporting race. It was already one of the main reasons.”
Instead, Sebring will be the only North American round next year, as well as being the only shared event with another series. Neveu admitted that could change in 2013 as he’s expressed interest in holding a standalone race in America, mainly on the ground of having a race run to full WEC regulations.
Next year’s Twelve Hours of Sebring will see season-long ALMS LMPC and GTC entries accepted, two categories not allowed in WEC competition, along with other modifications to the ACO rulebook, thanks to the newly agreed licensing renewal between the two parties, which gives the ALMS more technical freedom in modifying the base regulations.
“I think what we could possibly do a standalone race in the USA just to make sure we can keep the fair result and the fair condition of the races,” Neveu said. “If we do not do the races in Europe with the Le Mans Series, how are you going to do the the races with the ALMS in the United States?”
However, Neveu stressed he’s willing to give next year’s combined event a chance. If successful, it could become a staple of the WEC calendar.
“We'll for sure be at Sebring in 2012, but for 2013, we're still discussing,” he said. “I don't want to close any doors. There are many things to do. The ACO is doing a great job with Don Panoz and the ALMS, so there's no reason [not] to continue in this way.
“But I think the first step is to do Sebring and [see how it goes]. We've changed the rules a little bit this year, so we'll have to see how it exactly works. If it works well, then there's no reason to continue.”
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
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