Next week we’ll be receiving our first glimpse of the 2010 ALMS! Before the beginning of each season, the series schedules an annual testing event. The two day event will be held Monday, February 22nd and Tuesday, February 23rd at Sebring International Raceway – a 3.7 mile 17-turn road course in Florida.
The two day test event will basically offer teams a vital opportunity to break their cars before the season actually begins. All aspects of a typical race will be challenged. Drivers will have the chance to showcase their skills in a competitive environment, pit crews will operate as if under the clock, and cars will be put through the rigors of endurance racing. This is a pretty big event for competitive teams who relish the opportunity to perform under race-like conditions without the pressure of winning or losing. Teams can determine where they need to make the necessary improvements, adjustments and changes to remain competitive throughout the season.
Additionally, fans will have the opportunity to take a look at some of the new and returning drivers and cars to ALMS. We should also be able to establish a better perspective on the class changes or rather additions of the challenge classes and how this will affect a race.
As of February 10th, a record-breaking 27 teams are scheduled to participate in the 2010 Winter Test at Sebring with possibly more entering before the 22nd. Scheduled for testing are two P-1 cars, three P-2 cars, eleven GT-2 cars (my favorite!), five LMPC (Le Mans Prototype Challenge) cars for the new prototype challenge class, and six GTC (Grand Touring Challenge) cars for the other new grand touring challenge class. In all, 10 different manufacturers will be represented.
All classes of cars, in endurance race fashion, will be on the track testing simultaneously simulating an actual race-like environment. Testing will be from 8:00am to noon and 1:00pm to 5:00pm both Monday and Tuesday. Make sure you check it out on the SPEED channel; this is what Baltimore Racing Development is hoping to bring to Baltimore!
Jason Schiavone
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Craig …. Just checked out ALMS website and they are stating that the number of cars for this weeks testing session(s) will be a record of sorts. They had 26 cars test earlier this week @ Sebring. I looked up the recent history of the starting grid numbers and they are the following:
2009 – 26 cars
2008 – 33 cars
2007 – 34 cars
2006 – 35 cars
2005 – 38 cars
1999 – 58 cars
I can remember the day when we would start 80 – 90 cars, occasionaly over 100 in the glory days (yes, I am dating myself).
I hope ALMS can start a record number of cars in this years race. We will know in a few weeks.
Merging of the two RR Series would be huge for the fans of road racing but there are so many issues between IMS – ALMS – and of course … the French governing body (no comment). If you want to race @ LeMans, grand daddy of endurance racing, you will need to conform to the regulations of our good friends in Europe.
I loved it when you could see teams from all over the world you name it, Europe, South America,Japan and of course the states, running against one another at Daytona and Sebring. I NEVER will say NEVER in terms of the possibilty of seeing these two groups work together because they did in-fact race against one another and formed a great racing series years ago. Unfortunatley, mindsets for what they are on both sides of pond, it is hard to envision such a merger at it’s present scenerio.
BTW … The technology in ALMS is amazing. Sadly, the budgets for these rockets are unreal and just makes it that much more difficult to grow your series right now. Heck, you want real true blooded horse-power on a race weekend, take a ride up to Southern Pa and take in a World of Outlaws race against the Pennsylvania Posse’. Now that is some incredible racing as well .. It’s all good.
Does anyone believe that the IRL will exist in 2011?
If, and it’s a HUGE if, you actually get the IndyCar Series (ICS) and ALMS here, let’s not forget the other excellent support series such as Star Mazda, Atlantics, Speed Challenge series, MX-5 Cup, etc.
Of course, I am deeply suspicious of the ICS even being a series next year (2011).
As for an ALMS and GrandAm merger, I don’t think that is likely either. Two different philosophies of technology and competition. And we all know what happened the last time we had two different series with those same kinds of differences. Unfortunately, the more inferior series–technology wise–with the crown jewel of IMS, won.
As for Sebring, the Peugeot/Audi battle in LMP, and the GT battles make for a fantastic event. ALMS website is reporting the largest grid in 5 years.
Jason, according to your totals for this years 12 Hr @ Sebring, 27 cars taking the green is horrible. I LOVE ALMS but the car counts have been eroding for several years now. The fastest growing road racing series in North America is Grand-Am and their car counts were off for the 24 Hour @ Daytona in a big-way as well. GA had 42/43 cars start this years 24 Hour compared to last years 73 or so. I have seen cars in excess of 90 or more cars start both the 24 Hrs @ Daytona and the 12 Hours of Sebring.
I am hopeful that ALMS and GA ( owned by ISC BTW) can merge in some fashion and get back to the days of having the best road racing teams compete @ Daytons / Sebring / Watkins Glen (6Hr) and of course LeMans.
Economy is reeking havoc as we all know and the governing bodies of both road racing sancatios need to get their act(s) together.
I will be watching Sebring of course, always have but I have grown to like the GA teams a great deal as well. If 27 cars take the green flag @ Sebring, the racing will not be very interesting. Hopefully, I am dead wrong on this one too.
BRD … Jay and company, bring both ALMS and GA to support your IRL races.
Paul
…Correct, Baltimore Racing Development is hoping to bring the IRL to Baltimore. BRD would also like to see the ALMS add a race to their schedule in 2011 here in Baltimore as well.
I love Sebring (have driven there many times in club events) and it would be great if ALMS came to Baltimore, but I thought BRD wanted to bring Indy cars to town- assuming that the IRL still exists by that time.