ALMS Invites IMSA GT3 Cup Cars

The Patron IMSA Challenge Porsche, the type of car which will compete in the new ALMS Challenge Class. (www.patrontequila.com/racing/)

The American Le Mans Series will allow IMSA GT3 Cup teams to participate in five ALMS races this season, giving up-and-coming sports car drivers a chance to experience a higher level of competition.

ALMS is creating the “Challenge Class,” for GT3 Cup cars and drivers, using almost the same technical specifications as the Patrón GT3 Challenge by Yokohama, where these cars usually race.  

The Challenge Class will give GT3 Cup drivers endurance racing experience in the most advanced sports car series in North America.

“When the International Motor Sports Association (IMSA) launched the GT3 Cup Series a few years ago, one of the primary goals was to develop future American Le Mans Series talent, and with this announcement today we take a big step forward in fulfillment of that goal,” said Series’ President and CEO Scott Atherton. “We believe this is a bold and innovative way to encourage the next generation of entrants for the classes that are eligible for Le Mans as well as for the teams involved in our development series.”

Because there are almost no mechanical changes, GT3 teams will be able to afford the extra races; not only will the drivers and teams gain racing experience, the teams’ sponsors will gain added exposure. The cars will race on Yokahama tires identical to those used in GT3 Cup races.

“By keeping the technical regulations consistent with our Challenge series, we will be able to keep the cost extremely reasonable, consistent with our desire to introduce a new generation of entrants for the Series,” said Tim Mayer, Chief Operating Officer of IMSA and the American Le Mans Series.

 

The Patrón GT3 Challenge has been one of the fastest-growing series since its inception in 2005; it regularly attracts thirty drivers per race. The series features a mix of professional and highly-skilled amateur drivers. GT3 Cup races are only 30 minutes long, while the ALMS races will be about three hours long.

IMSA will decide which GT3 Cup drivers will be eligible for the Challenge Series, choosing the most skilled and most talented drivers from teams which have raced successfully in GT3 for at least a year.

“The American Le Mans Series’ Challenge Class creates a platform for qualified drivers to transition from Sprint racing to Endurance racing in a cost-effective manner,” says Paul Ritchie, President and CEO of Porsche Motorsport North America. “It will allow the teams to build experience and resources before moving up within the classes of the Series. Porsche Motorsport North America is obviously excited to see more Porsches in the entry lists and will be there to fully support the teams with Parts and Electronic services as we do in all other series.”

With Porsche pulling its LMP2 team out of ALMS this year, the Challenge Cup offers Porsche a cost-effective way to gain exposure in ALMS. At the same time, the Challenge Class increases the number of cars on ALMS grids, providing fans with more exciting racing.

“The Challenge Class is a good idea not only for the American Le Mans Series and IMSA, but for Yokohama and the drivers as well,” says Mark Chung, Yokohama’s Director of Strategic Marketing. “It means increased exposure, and it will be an excellent opportunity for our new eco-friendly race tire.”