I had been of the impression that the ALMS series was gaining popularity and support. But, others seem to have other, more dire ideas.

These two, from another forum:

All signs point to the ALMS car count being decimated in the next year or two.

Corvette is gone or going, Acura is reducing their car count, Audi is reducing their level of participation...and all signs point to Porsche becoming a customer-only car...Aston-Martin already jumped ship last year.

the level of manufacturer participation will certainly have an effect on car count in a series with a big deficit in the cost of entry vs. prize money.

Was I mistaken to believe the PR stuff I read, or is this poster a bit over negative ?

Series PR will be biased toward the positive, and it's not inconceivable that other reports may be biased (not necessarily intentionally so) toward the negative. In addition, not everything is set in stone.

Regarding those particular items, the rumors as I've heard them are that yes, one Acura is likely to disappear although a replacement is being sought, Penske/Porsche is taking 2009 off to focus on an LMP1 in 2010, and Corvette Racing is leaving GT1 for GT2. However, recent economic developments may certainly have affected those plans.

As far as Audi, I haven't heard any rumors other than they're getting in on the new ICS engines. That could influence their participation in the ALMS, IMO.

Unfortunately, this is an offseason that is not going to be particularly positive for any series based in North America. Penske is indeed likely to be gone for a year, developing the Porsche LMP1. Danske is also correct on Corvette to a degree. Corvette Racing is scheduled to enter two of the first four races (Sebring + 1 (?)) then appear post LM with a GT2 car.

BK Mazda is gone, likely to be replaced by Dyson Mazda with two cars. BMW will have two to four cars.

Acura is accurate as described. Maybe three or four cars.

I am told that a Porsche Spyder will be raced, but we don't know who, and these things have a way of falling apart anyway.

Intersport is rumoured to be gone as well, Drayson Barwell was only one season....

Audi is not going anywhere, nor is their participation on the decline.

You will see a decline in car counts, 09'/08', but I don't think there will be many series that will be in a different boat.

Fogelhund is right.

The car counts in ALMS will be down, but there will still be decent size fields and the quality of entries will be excellent.

The ALMS is definitely a series based on Manufacturer support, and with the economy the way it is, manufacturer support is going to be reduced and so are car counts.

That's life.

OK...How about everyone puts their idea own field in these posts

LMP1
2 Audi
1 Autocon Lola
1/2 Intersport-----Possibly P2 next year
1 Corsa Motorsport
2 Acuras

LMP2
2 Dyson Lolas
2 Porsches ??
1/2 Acura

LMGT1
2 Corvette Temp

LMGT2
2 Risi Competizione
2 Tafel
2 Flying Lizard
2 Farnbacher Loles
2 Corvettes
1 Vici
1 Panoz PTG
1 Rahal BMW
1 Robertson/Black Swan GT40??

But, Porsche did sell their race cars to privateers in the past. Even with factory support down, why not get these developed race cars to privateers who want to race?

Corvette moving to GT2 is a good thing. Watching them parade around racing each other is proving nothing other than giving GM lots of trophies.

Hopefully by March of next year. We will find out how many cars are going to be in the field for the 12 Hours of Sebring.

canciaro - 03 November 2008 09:53 PM

OK...How about everyone puts their idea own field in these posts

LMP1
2 Audi
1 Autocon Lola
1/2 Intersport-----Possibly P2 next year
1 Corsa Motorsport
2 Acuras

LMP2
2 Dyson Lolas
2 Porsches ??
1/2 Acura

LMGT1
2 Corvette Temp

LMGT2
2 Risi Competizione
2 Tafel
2 Flying Lizard
2 Farnbacher Loles
2 Corvettes
1 Vici
1 Panoz PTG
1 Rahal BMW
1 Robertson/Black Swan GT40??

Once you discount Penske and presumably Porsche from P2 and the changeover to GT2 for Pratt Miller, that leaves as few as 24 cars. But if Porsche stays, it not only expands the grids in size but in quality - and maintains another serious player in DHL in a sponsor of note. And there's no reason for Porsche to race in the spec series GA is.