THE LINE
Tuesday, January 20, 2009 at 01:16PM January 21, 2009
The ALMS. Seven teams from the American Le Mans Series are among the first to confirm their participation in this year’s 24 Hours of Le Mans. Audi Sport North America (as well as Audi Sport Team Joest), Corvette Racing, Risi Competizione and Flying Lizard Motorsports each will return to compete in the world’s most prestigious and demanding auto race. Teams from the American Le Mans Series have taken eight overall victories in addition to 24 class championships since1999. In 2008, Audi (overall) and Risi Competizione (GT2) scored triumphs with Series driver David Brabham winning with Aston Martin Racing in GT1. Other American Le Mans Series highlights at Le Mans include Champion Racing’s overall victory in 2005, the first for an American team in nearly 40 years. Tom Kristensen also won for the seventh time that year to break Jacky Ickx’s record for all-time Le Mans triumphs. In 2004, Clint Field became the youngest class winner at Le Mans as he topped the LMP675 victory podium at the age of 20 with Intersport Racing. And of course Corvette Racing has won the GT1 class five times. The deadline for entries to Le Mans this year is January 21. The full field of 55 cars will be announced soon after that date.
(Photo by John Thawley Copyright © 2008 Creative Communications Group, All Rights Reserved)
Corvette Racing will be one of the ALMS teams returning to compete in the 24 Hours of Le Mans in June.