 The
American Le
Mans Series was started in 1999. A unique format
where four different classes of vehicles compete simultaneously,
each class has its own championship within the ALMS framework.
In 2004, nine races were held between March 20 (Sebring) and October
16 (Mazda Raceway).
The four different classes are:
LMP1 represents the premiere, high-tech Le Mans prototypes
capable of reaching speeds well over 200 MPH and with horesepower
ranging from 750 - 800.
LMP2 has smaller and less powerful prototypes with top speeds in
the 180 - 200 MPH range with 550 - 600 horsepower.
GTS vehicles are production-based, two-wheel drive highly
modified cars with horsepower in the 550 - 600 horsepower range and
top speeds of 180 - 195 MPH, but with less cornering and braking
abilities than the prototypes.
GT automobiles are production-based cars only slightly modified
which can reach 170 - 180 MPH wih horsepower of more than 450.
Within each class, a set of lights on the side of the car
indicates the leader (one light lit), 2nd place (two lights lit) and
3rd place (3 lights lit). If you are in the LMP1 class, your
lights are red; LMP2 class...blue; GTS...green and GT...yellow.
 The
C5-R Corvettes race in the GTS class which they dominate.
 In
2003, C5-Rs were painted a special Le Mans blue (which was offered
on production Corvettes) as Corvette, unsuccessfully, tried for its
3rd successive "24 Heures de Le Mans" victory.
 With
the C6 generation of Corvettes, the C6-R is being readied for the
next ALMS. ...looks like lethal black!
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