1/11/2013
GRAND-AM, American Le Mans Series Announce Class Structure For Unified Series
Organizations say they are taking an "inclusionary, best of both worlds, multi-class approach."
Underscoring the cooperative spirit of the merger agreement they signed last September,
GRAND-AM Road Racing and the
American Le Mans Series
presented by Tequila Patron have unveiled the initial concept for the
organizations' unified competition class structure, which will debut in
January 2014 at the 52nd running of the Rolex 24 At Daytona.
The lineup – in effect for the 2014 and 2015 seasons – is based on a
philosophy of inclusion, the two organizations say. The majority of
classes from both the GRAND-AM Rolex Sports Car Series and the ALMS will
be retained with the exception of the ALMS' P1 prototype class.
Individual class names have yet to be determined. Key features of the planned structure include:
· GRAND-AM's DP and the ALMS' P2 classes will combine into one,
headlining prototype class that also will include the revolutionary
DeltaWing prototype, with performance of the cars balanced to maintain
close competition.
· The ALMS' Prototype Challenge (PC) class for spec prototypes will continue to run as a separate class.
· Both of the organizations' production-based GT classes will continue
as separate, distinct categories based on performance, preserving each
class' proud history and loyal fan following. As part of this plan, the
ALMS' GTC cars will join the GRAND-AM GTs.
· GRAND-AM's new GX class, which is debuting at this year's Rolex 24
later this month, is being explored as a possible addition to the
GRAND-AM half of the GT mix in 2014-15. There also is the possibility
that GX will run separately as a fifth class.
Specifications for all classes are still being determined and will be
announced later this year. In addition, the two groups say there will be
continued discussion regarding the increasing inclusion of green
technologies in the new unified series.