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List of American Le Mans Series champions

From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia

The American Le Mans Series (ALMS) was a North American sports car racing championship administered by the International Motor Sports Association (IMSA) sanctioning body.[1][2] It was founded by pharmaceutical entrepreneur Don Panoz in 1999 after reaching an agreement with the French-based 24 Hours of Le Mans organiser Automobile Club de l'Ouest to form a new sports car series based on the Le Mans rulebook that would serve as a local hub for North American entrants.[3] The series disbanded following the 2013 season when it and the Grand-Am-sanctioned Rolex Sports Car Series merged to become the IMSA SportsCar Championship.[1][2] It featured several championships awarded by IMSA to the most successful competitors within each of the racing categories used by the series each season. Individual championships were awarded for being the top point scoring drivers and teams as well as chassis, engine, and tire manufacturers. Other unique championships included the IMSA Cup, Founder's Cup, Michelin Green X Challenge, and the ALMS Challenge. The Drivers', Teams', Chassis Manufacturers', and Automobile Manufacturers' Championships were awarded since the series began in 1999, while the Tire and Engine Manufacturers' Championships were introduced in the 2000 season. The champions were not formally crowned until the ALMS awards banquet after the season's final race.[4]

Drivers' Championship

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From the start of the American Le Mans Series until the end of the 2002 season, individual drivers were allowed to earn up to three bonus points if they met certain criteria; any driver which led a lap of the race within their category earned one point, whichever driver led the most laps of the race earned one point, and whichever driver set the fastest lap of the race earned one point. From 2003 onward the bonus system was eradicated and drivers earned the same points as their co-drivers.

Season LMP GTS GT
1999 United States Elliott Forbes-Robinson Monaco Olivier Beretta United States Cort Wagner
2000 United Kingdom Allan McNish Monaco Olivier Beretta Germany Dirk Müller
Season LMP900 LMP675 GTS GT
2001 Italy Emanuele Pirro Belgium Didier de Radiguès United States Terry Borcheller Germany Jörg Müller
2002 Denmark Tom Kristensen United States Jon Field Canada Ron Fellows Germany Lucas Luhr
Germany Sascha Maassen
2003 Germany Frank Biela
Germany Marco Werner
United States Chris Dyson Canada Ron Fellows
United States Johnny O'Connell
Germany Lucas Luhr
Germany Sascha Maassen
Season LMP1 LMP2 GTS GT
2004 Germany Marco Werner
Finland JJ Lehto
United Kingdom Ian James Canada Ron Fellows
United States Johnny O'Connell
Germany Timo Bernhard
Season LMP1 LMP2 GT1 GT2
2005 Germany Frank Biela
Italy Emanuele Pirro
United States Clint Field United Kingdom Oliver Gavin
Monaco Olivier Beretta
United States Patrick Long
Germany Jörg Bergmeister
2006 United Kingdom Allan McNish
Italy Rinaldo Capello
Germany Lucas Luhr
Germany Sascha Maassen
United Kingdom Oliver Gavin
Monaco Olivier Beretta
Germany Jörg Bergmeister
2007 United Kingdom Allan McNish
Italy Rinaldo Capello
Germany Timo Bernhard
France Romain Dumas
United Kingdom Oliver Gavin
Monaco Olivier Beretta
Finland Mika Salo
Brazil Jaime Melo
2008 Germany Marco Werner
Germany Lucas Luhr
Germany Timo Bernhard
France Romain Dumas
United States Johnny O'Connell
Denmark Jan Magnussen
Germany Jörg Bergmeister
Germany Wolf Henzler
Season LMP1 LMP2 GT2 Challenge
2009 Australia David Brabham
United States Scott Sharp
Mexico Adrian Fernández
Mexico Luis Díaz
United States Patrick Long
Germany Jörg Bergmeister
United States Martin Snow
United States Melanie Snow
Season LMP LMPC GT GTC
2010 Australia David Brabham
France Simon Pagenaud
United States Scott Tucker United States Patrick Long
Germany Jörg Bergmeister
United States Tim Pappas
Netherlands Jeroen Bleekemolen
Season LMP1 LMP2 LMPC GT GTC
2011 United States Chris Dyson
United Kingdom Guy Smith
France Christophe Bouchut
United States Scott Tucker
Mexico Ricardo González
United States Gunnar Jeannette
United States Eric Lux1
United States Joey Hand
Germany Dirk Müller
United States Tim Pappas
Season P1 P2 PC GT GTC
2012 Germany Klaus Graf
Germany Lucas Luhr
France Christophe Bouchut
United States Scott Tucker
Venezuela Alex Popow United Kingdom Oliver Gavin
United States Tommy Milner
United States Cooper MacNeil
2013 Germany Klaus Graf
Germany Lucas Luhr
United States Scott Tucker United States Mike Guasch Spain Antonio García
Denmark Jan Magnussen
Netherlands Jeroen Bleekemolen
United States Cooper MacNeil
  1. ^ Eric Lux drove for a different team from teammates Ricardo González and Gunnar Jeannette. The three finished the season on equal points, and a tie breaker was not able to be utilized, therefore the three drivers all shared the championship.[5]

Teams' Championship

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Season LMP GTS GT
1999 United States Panoz Motorsports France Dodge Viper Team Oreca United States Prototype Technology Group
2000 Germany Audi Sport North America France Viper Team Oreca United States Dick Barbour Racing
Season LMP900 LMP675 GTS GT
2001 Germany Audi Sport North America United States Dick Barbour Racing United States Corvette Racing Germany BMW Motorsport
2002 Germany Audi Sport North America United States KnightHawk Racing United States Corvette Racing United States Alex Job Racing
2003 Germany Infineon Team Joest United States Dyson Racing Team United States Corvette Racing United States Alex Job Racing
Season LMP1 LMP2 GTS GT
2004 United States ADT Champion Racing United States Miracle Motorsports United States Corvette Racing United States Alex Job Racing
Season LMP1 LMP2 GT1 GT2
2005 United States ADT Champion Racing United States Intersport Racing United States Corvette Racing United States Petersen/White Lightning
2006 United States Audi Sport North America United States Penske Motorsports United States Corvette Racing United States Risi Competizione
2007 United States Audi Sport North America United States Penske Racing United States Corvette Racing United States Risi Competizione
2008 United States Audi Sport North America United States Penske Racing United States Corvette Racing United States Flying Lizard Motorsports
Season LMP1 LMP2 GT2 Challenge
2009 United States Patrón Highcroft Racing Mexico Lowe's Fernández Racing United States Flying Lizard Motorsports United States Snow Racing
Season LMP LMPC GT GTC
2010 United States Patrón Highcroft Racing United States Level 5 Motorsports United States BMW Rahal Letterman Racing United States Black Swan Racing
Season LMP1 LMP2 LMPC GT GTC
2011 United States Dyson Racing Team United States Level 5 Motorsports United States CORE Autosport United States BMW Team RLL United States Black Swan Racing
Season P1 P2 PC GT GTC
2012 United States Muscle Milk Pickett Racing United States Level 5 Motorsports United States CORE Autosport United States Corvette Racing United States Alex Job Racing
2013 United States Muscle Milk Pickett Racing United States Level 5 Motorsports United States CORE Autosport United States Corvette Racing United States Flying Lizard Motorsports

Manufacturer championships

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The Chassis Manufacturers' and Automobile Manufacturers' Championships are combined into a single listing. The grand tourer categories did not have a separate Engine Manufacturers' Championship.

Chassis and Automobile Manufacturers' Championships

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Season LMP GTS GT
1999 United States Panoz Germany Porsche Germany Porsche
2000 Germany Audi Germany DaimlerChrysler Germany Porsche
Season LMP900 LMP675 GTS GT
2001 Germany Audi United Kingdom Lola United States Chevrolet Germany BMW
2002 Germany Audi United Kingdom Lola United States Chevrolet Germany Porsche
2003 Germany Audi United Kingdom Lola United States Chevrolet Germany Porsche
Season LMP1 LMP2 GTS GT
2004 Germany Audi United Kingdom Lola United States Chevrolet Germany Porsche
Season LMP1 LMP2 GT1 GT2
2005 Germany Audi France Courage United States Chevrolet Germany Porsche
2006 Germany Audi Germany Porsche United States Chevrolet Germany Porsche
2007 Germany Audi Germany Porsche United States Chevrolet Italy Ferrari
2008 Germany Audi Germany Porsche United States Chevrolet Germany Porsche
Season LMP1 LMP2 GT2
2009 Japan Acura Japan Acura Germany Porsche
Season LMP GT
2010 United States HPD Germany BMW
Season LMP1 LMP2 GT
2011 United Kingdom Lola United Kingdom Lola Germany BMW
Season P1 P2 GT
2012 United States HPD United States HPD United States Chevrolet
2013 United States HPD United States HPD United States Chevrolet

Engine Manufacturers' Championship

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Season LMP
2000 Germany Audi
Season LMP900 LMP675
2001 Germany Audi Japan Nissan
2002 Germany Audi United Kingdom AER-MG
2003 Germany Audi United Kingdom AER
Season LMP1 LMP2
2004 Germany Audi United Kingdom Judd
2005 Germany Audi United Kingdom AER
2006 Germany Audi Germany Porsche
2007 Germany Audi Germany Porsche
2008 Germany Audi Germany Porsche
2009 Japan Acura Japan Acura
Season LMP
2010 United States HPD
Season LMP1 LMP2
2011 Japan Mazda United States HPD
Season P1 P2
2012 United States HPD United States HPD
2013 United States HPD United States HPD

Tire Manufacturers' Championship

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Season LMP GTS GT
2000 France Michelin France Michelin France Michelin
Season LMP900 LMP675 GTS GT
2001 France Michelin United Kingdom Avon United States Goodyear France Michelin
2002 France Michelin United Kingdom Avon United States Goodyear France Michelin
2003 France Michelin United States Goodyear United States Goodyear France Michelin
Season LMP1 LMP2 GTS GT
2004 France Michelin Italy Pirelli France Michelin France Michelin
Season LMP1 LMP2 GT1 GT2
2005 France Michelin United States Goodyear France Michelin France Michelin
2006 France Michelin France Michelin France Michelin France Michelin
2007 France Michelin France Michelin France Michelin France Michelin
2008 France Michelin France Michelin France Michelin France Michelin
Season LMP1 LMP2 GT2
2009 France Michelin France Michelin France Michelin
Season LMP GT
2010 France Michelin France Michelin
Season LMP1 LMP2 GT
2011 United Kingdom Dunlop France Michelin France Michelin
Season P1 P2 GT
2012 France Michelin United Kingdom Dunlop France Michelin
2013 France Michelin France Michelin France Michelin

Other championships

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IMSA Cup

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The IMSA Cup was a championship for teams which were not designated as being run by an automobile manufacturer. The 2002 championship was awarded to a full team, while from 2003 onward the championship points were awarded to each individual entry. For the 2011 season, due to a lack of manufacturer supported teams in the ALMS, the IMSA Cup was not awarded.

Season LMP900 LMP675 GTS GT
2002 United States Champion Racing United States KnightHawk Racing Germany Konrad Motorsport United States Alex Job Racing
2003 United States ADT Champion Racing United States Intersport Racing United States ACEMCO Motorsports United States Petersen/White Lightning
Season LMP1 LMP2 GTS GT
2004 United States ADT Champion Racing United States Intersport Racing United States ACEMCO Motorsports United States Flying Lizard Motorsports
Season LMP1 LMP2 GT1 GT2
2005 United States ADT Champion Racing United States Intersport Racing United States ACEMCO Motorsports United States Petersen/White Lightning
2006 United States Dyson Racing Team United States Intersport Racing United Kingdom Aston Martin Racing United States Petersen/White Lightning
2007 United States Intersport Racing United States Dyson Racing Team United States Doran Racing United States Risi Competizione
2008 United States Intersport Racing United States Patrón Highcroft Racing United States Bell Motorsports United States Flying Lizard Motorsports
Season LMP1 LMP2 GT2
2009 United States Patrón Highcroft Racing Mexico Lowe's Fernandez Racing United States Flying Lizard Motorsports
Season LMP LMPC GT GTC
2010 United States Patrón Highcroft Racing United States Green Earth Team Gunnar United States Flying Lizard Motorsports United States Black Swan Racing

Founders Cup

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The Founders Cup was an annual award to recognize the accomplishments of a gentleman driver. A single championship is awarded covering all categories.

Season Champion
2008 United States Jon Field
2009 United States Joel Feinberg
2010 United States Bill Sweedler
2011 United States Bill Sweedler
2012 United States Cooper MacNeil
2013 United States Mike Guasch

Michelin Green X Challenge

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The Michelin Green X Challenge was a championship based on energy efficiency over the course of a season. The Green X Challenge debuted at the end of 2008, but the first championship was not awarded until the 2009 season. Two championships were awarded, one for both LMP classes and one for both GT classes.[6]

Manufacturers Championship

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Season LMPs GTs
2009 Japan Acura Germany Porsche
2010 United States HPD Germany Porsche
2011 Japan Mazda Germany BMW
2012 United States HPD United States Chevrolet

Teams Championship

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Season LMPs GTs
2009 Mexico Lowe's Fernández Racing United States Flying Lizard Motorsports
2010 United States Patrón Highcroft Racing United States Flying Lizard Motorsports
2011 United States Dyson Racing Team United States BMW Team RLL
2012 United States Muscle Milk Pickett Racing United States Corvette Racing

References

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  1. ^ a b Smith, Steven Cole (September 4, 2012). "Grand-Am, American Le Mans Series To Merge". Autoweek. Retrieved July 15, 2023.
  2. ^ a b Olson, Jeff (March 14, 2013). "ALMS, Grand-Am merger will be United SportsCar Racing". USA Today. Retrieved July 15, 2023.
  3. ^ Thomas, Phillip (August 7, 2020). "5 chapters from the life of Don Panoz, automotive titan". Hagerty. Retrieved July 15, 2023.
  4. ^ Kjos, Tom (October 2006). "ALMS – Mazda Raceway Laguna Seca – American Le Mans Wraps up its 2006 Amid Some Controversy". DailySportsCar. Retrieved July 15, 2023.
  5. ^ 2011 Rules American Le Mans Series (PDF), International Motor Sports Association, 2011-02-25, p. 40, archived from the original (PDF) on 2011-11-06, retrieved 2011-10-04
  6. ^ "Michelin embraces green racing with Michelin Green X Challenge". American Le Mans Series. Retrieved 2009-08-24.
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