The 2001 American Le Mans Series season was the third season for the IMSA American Le Mans Series, and the 31st overall season of the IMSA GT Championship. It was a series for Le Mans Prototypes (LMP) and Grand Touring (GT) race cars divided into 4 classes: LMP900, LMP675, GTS, and GT. It began March 4, 2001 and ended October 6, 2001 after 10 races.
This season shared events with the new European Le Mans Series, with two events being held in Europe.
Schedule Rd. RaceLength CircuitLocation Date 1 Grand Prix of Texas2 Hours 45 Minutes Texas Motor SpeedwayFort Worth, Texas March 4 2 12 Hours of Sebring†12 hours Sebring International RacewaySebring, Florida March 17 3 ELMS Race at Donington Park†2 Hours 45 Minutes Donington ParkCastle Donington, Leicestershire April 14 4 ELMS Race at Jarama†2 Hours 45 Minutes Circuito Permanente Del JaramaSan Sebastián de los Reyes May 20 5 Grand Prix of Sonoma2 Hours 45 Minutes Sears Point RacewaySonoma, California July 22 6 Grand Prix of Portland2 Hours 45 Minutes Portland International RacewayPortland, Oregon August 5 7 Grand Prix of Mosport2 Hours 45 Minutes MosportBowmanville, Ontario August 19 8 Grand Prix of Mid-Ohio2 Hours 45 Minutes Mid-OhioLexington, Ohio August 25 9 Monterey Sports Car Championships2 Hours 45 Minutes Mazda Raceway Laguna SecaMonterey, California September 9 10 Petit Le Mans†1000 Miles or 10 Hours Road AtlantaBraselton, Georgia October 6Sources:
† - Joint event with ELMS.
The following rounds were included on the original calendar but were later cancelled. +RaceLengthCircuitLocationDateCancellation reason Mont-Tremblant2 Hours 45 MinutesCircuit Mont-TremblantMont-Tremblant, QuebecAugust 25Contractual issues Grand Prix of Charlotte2 Hours 45 MinutesLowe's Motor SpeedwayConcord, North CarolinaOctober 21Series lost interest Le Mans Series Race of Champions4/6 hoursSepang International CircuitSepang, SelangorNovember 11Logistical issues Adelaide6 hoursAdelaide Street CircuitAdelaide, South AustraliaDecember 2Government withdrawal
Schedule changes The ALMS initially announced a 13 race schedule for the 2001 season in September 2000. For the only time in ALMS history, the season opener was not held at Sebring International Raceway but instead being preceded by the Grand Prix of Texas. After Sebring, two European races were held in collaboration with the ELMS and were optional for ALMS teams as the next North American event was not until after Le Mans. The British round was held at Donington Park after Silverstone and Brands Hatch's plans fell through due to scheduling issues. The second European round would be held at Circuito Permanente Del Jarama in Spain.
A second Canadian round was planned to be held at Circuit Mont-Tremblant in Quebec on August 25. This was cancelled after circuit owner Lawrence Stroll communicated to the ALMS “an inability to comply with the terms of the event agreement”. Mid-Ohio Sports Car Course would replace the event, marking the first time the ALMS would visit the Midwest.
Three races were planned after Petit Le Mans but all were cancelled and not replaced. Charlotte Motor Speedway planned to host a race on October 21st but was cancelled in August.
The final two rounds were to be exhibition events for the planned Asia-Pacific Le Mans Series (APLMS) with races at Sepang International Circuit on November 11th and the Adelaide Street Circuit on December 2nd. The South Australian government cancelled the Adelaide event in early 2001 and while the ALMS received offers from several locations around Australia to hold a replacement event, with the most likely candidate being a street circuit in Sydney, however the series ran out of time for a replacement. The Malaysian round was increased from 4 to 6 hours to compensate. This event would also be cancelled after logistical issues caused by the September 11th Terrorist attacks.
the Nürburgring and Las Vegas Motor Speedway were both dropped from the schedule after 2000 with no reason given. This was the last season to feature events held on road courses at oval circuits.
There had also been plans to hold the season opener on the Island of Aruba at the Palo Marga International Raceway but this failed to materialize. Entry list Source: Le Mans Prototype 900 (LMP900) TeamChassisEngineTyreNo.DriversRnds. Audi Sport North AmericaAudi R8Audi 3.6 L Turbo V81 Rinaldo CapelloAll Tom Kristensen1, 3–10 Michele Alboreto2 Laurent Aïello22 Frank BielaAll Emanuele PirroAll Tom Kristensen2 Team AscariAscari A410Judd GV4 4.0 L V103 Werner Lupberger3 Ben Collins34 Patrick Lemarié3 Klaas Zwart3 Harri Toivonen3 Team PlayStationChrysler LMPMopar 6.0L V86 Olivier Beretta3, 10* Yannick Dalmas3, 10* Pedro Lamy10* Johansson MotorsportAudi R8Audi 3.6 L Turbo V87 18 Stefan Johansson2–4, 9–10 Guy Smith2–4 Patrick Lemarié9–10 Team CadillacCadillac Northstar LMP01Cadillac Northstar 4.0 L Turbo V87 Emmanuel Collard5, 7–10 Christophe Tinseau5, 7–9 Marc Goossens10 Éric Bernard10*8 Max Angelelli5, 7–10 Wayne Taylor5, 7–10 Christophe Tinseau10 Philip Creighton Motorsport Ltd.Lola B2K/10Ford (Roush) 6.0 L V88 Scott Schubot1* Rick Sutherland1* Westward RacingPanoz LMP-1 Roadster-SÉlan 6L8 6.0L V88 Jay Cochran3 Peter Boss3 Dyson Racing TeamRiley & Scott Mk III CLincoln (Élan) 6.0L V816 Butch Leitzinger2, 7–10 James Weaver2, 7–10 Elliot Forbes-Robinson2, 10 Intersport RacingLola B2K/10Judd GV4 4.0 L V1036 Earl Goddard10 Duncan Dayton10Lola B2K/10 (Rd. 2, 5–6) Lola B2K/10B (Rd. 8–10)37 Jon Field2, 5–6, 8–10 Rick Sutherland2, 5–6, 9–10 Duncan Dayton2 Joel Field8 Clint Field8 Mark Neuhaus10 Champion RacingAudi R8Audi 3.6 L Turbo V838 Andy Wallace1–2, 5–10 Dorsey Schroeder1–2 Ralf Kelleners2 Johnny Herbert5–10 Panoz Motor SportsPanoz LMP-1 Roadster-SÉlan 6L8 6.0L V849 Jay Cochran1 Richard Dean1Panoz LMP07 (Rd. 1–4) Panoz LMP-1 Roadster-S (Rd. 5–10)Élan (Zytek) 4.0L V8 (Rd. 1–4) Élan 6L8 6.0L V8 (Rd. 5–10)50 Jan MagnussenAll David BrabhamAllPanoz LMP-1 Roadster-S (Rd. 1, 5–10) Panoz LMP07 (Rd. 2–4)Élan 6L8 6.0L V8 (Rd. 1–11) Élan (Zytek) 4.0L V8 (Rd. 12)51 Klaus GrafAll Gaulter Salles1–3 Franck Lagorce4–10 Pescarolo SportCourage C60Peugeot A32 3.2L Turbo V672 Jean-Christophe Boullion2–3 Laurent Redon2–3 Sébastien Bourdais2
Le Mans Prototype 675 (LMP675) TeamChassisEngineTyreNo.DriversRnds. Dick Barbour RacingReynard 01QJudd GV675 3.4L V85 Didier de Radigues3–4, 7–10 Eric van de Poele3–4 Bruno Lambert7–8, 10 Milka Duno9 Earl Goddard1057 John Graham3–10 Milka Duno3–8, 10 Didier de Radigues5–6 Scott Maxwell9–10 Roock-KnightHawk RacingLola B2K/40Nissan (AER) VQL 3.0L V613 Mel Hawkins1–2, 4, 9–10 Steven Knight1–2, 7–10 Claudia Hürtgen2, 7–10 Earl Goddard4 Tomás Saldaña4 Rowan RacingPilbeam MP84Nissan (AER) VQL 3.0L V621 Martin O'Connell3–4 Warren Carway3–4 Archangel MotorsportsLola B2K/40Nissan (AER) VQL 3.0L V621 Ben Devlin10 Andrew Davis10 Jason Workman10 Swara RacingPilbeam MP84Nissan (AER) VQL 3.0L V624 Robert Schirle3* Stephen Earle3* Ben McLoughlin3* Simon Wiseman4* Michael Mallock4* Team Bucknum RacingPilbeam MP84Nissan (AER) VQL 3.0L V631 Chris McMurry10 Bret Arsenault10 Bryan Willman10 Racing Organisation CourseReynard 2KQ-LMVolkswagen 2.0L Turbo I439 Jordi Gené10 Yannick Schroeder10 Jean-Denis Délétraz10 Southern Comfort RacingPilbeam MP84Nissan (AER) VQL 3.0L V648 Jimmy Adams8 Joe Blacker8 Team Spencer MotorsportsLola B2K/40Mazda 1.3 L Turbo 2-Rotor62 Dennis Spencer10* Rich Grupp10* Gunnar RacingLola B2K/40Porsche F6 2.0L Turbo77 Wayne Jackson2* Gunnar Jeannette2* Bill Adam2*
Grand Touring Sport (GTS) TeamChassisEngineTyreNo.DriversRnds. Park Place Racing Fordahl MotorsportsSaleen S7-RFord 7.0L V805 Chris Bingham10 Oliver Gavin10 Ron Johnson10 Corvette RacingChevrolet Corvette C5-RChevrolet 7.0 L V83 Johnny O'Connell1–2, 5–10 Ron Fellows1–2, 5–10 Chris Kneifel2 Franck Fréon104 Andy Pilgrim1–2, 5–10 Kelly Collins1–2, 5–10 Franck Fréon2 Scott Pruett10 BrookspeedDodge Viper GTS-RDodge 8.0L V1019 Dino Steiner10 Joe Ellis10 John Cooper10 Konrad MotorsportSaleen S7-RFord 7.0L V825 Walter Brun10 Toni Seiler10 Konrad Team Saleen26 Franz Konrad2–10 Oliver Gavin2–3 Terry Borcheller2, 5–10 Walter Brun4 Toni Seiler4 Charles Slater10 Konrad MotorsportPorsche 911 GT2Porsche 3.8 L Turbo Flat-644 Bernardo Sá Nogueira4 Maciej Stanco4 RMLSaleen S7-RFord 7.0L V841 Ian McKellar3–4 Bruno Lambert3–4 American ViperacingDodge Viper GTS-RDodge 8.0L V1044 Tom Weickardt1–2, 5–10 Joe Ellis1–2, 8 Andy Pardoe2 Gene Martindale5 Kevin Allen6–7, 10 Mike Silcox9 Rick Fairbanks1045 Erik Messley1–2 Terry Borcheller1 Jeff Altenburg2, 5–6 Stu Hayner2 Shane Lewis5–9 David Donohue7–8 Darren Law9 Mike Hezemans10 Anthony Kumpen10 Prodrive AllstarsFerrari 550-GTS MaranelloFerrari 5.9L V1288 Peter Kox10 Rickard Rydell10 Marc Duez10
Grand Touring (GT) TeamChassisEngineTyreNo.DriversRnds. Larbre CompétitionPorsche 996 GT3-RSPorsche 3.6 L Flat-600 Christophe Bouchut2 Patrice Goueslard2 Sébastien Dumez2 RWS MotorsportPorsche 996 GT3-RPorsche 3.6 L Flat-607 Norman Simon2 Dieter Quester2 Philipp Peter2 Cirtek MotorsportPorsche 996 GT3-RSPorsche 3.6 L Flat-609 Keith Alexander2 Gavin Pickering2 Chris Gleason2 BMW Team PTGBMW M3 E46 (Rd. 1–2) BMW M3 E46 GTR (Rd. 5–10)BMW 3.2 L I6 (Rd. 1–2) BMW 4.0L V8 (Rd. 5–10)6 Hans-Joachim Stuck1–2, 5–10 Boris Said1–2, 5–8, 10 Peter Cunningham2 Niclas Jönsson9 Bill Auberlen10BMW M3 E46BMW 3.2 L I69 Bill Auberlen10* Boris Said10*BMW M3 E46 (Rd. 1–2) BMW M3 E46 GTR (Rd. 5–10)BMW 3.2 L I6 (Rd. 1–2) BMW 4.0L V8 (Rd. 5–10)10 Niclas Jönsson1–2, 5–8, 10 Bill Auberlen1–2, 5–7, 9 Joey Hand2 Joe Foster7 Peter Cunningham8 Boris Said9 David Murry10 Brian Cunningham10 Aspen Knolls/MCRCallaway C12-RChevrolet 7.0L V812 Shane Lewis1–2, 5*, 7*, 10 Vic Rice1–2, 5* Bob Mazzuoccola2, 7*, 10 Cort Wagner7*, 10 Dick Barbour RacingPorsche 996 GT3-RPorsche 3.6 L Flat-615 Randy Wars2, 5–9 Grady Willingham2, 5, 7, 10 Mark Neuhaus2, 6, 8–9 Dave McEntee5 Taz Harvey10 Sam Hancock10 Trinkler Racing, LLCChevrolet Corvette C5Chevrolet 5.7 L V817 Owen Trinkler1–2 Jeff Altenburg1 Andy Lally2 B. J. Zacharias2 Alex Job RacingPorsche 996 GT3-RSPorsche 3.6 L Flat-622 Randy PobstAll Christian Menzel1–3, 5–10 Timo Bernhard2 Emmanuel Collard423 Lucas LührAll Sascha MaassenAll Emmanuel Collard2 SebahPorsche 996 GT3-RPorsche 3.6 L Flat-629 64 Stephen Earle3–4, 10 Bart Hayden3–4, 10 Hugh Hayden10 Petersen MotorsportsPorsche 996 GT3-R (Rd. 1) Porsche 996 GT3-RS (Rd. 2, 5–10)Porsche 3.6 L Flat-630 Johnny Mowlem1–2, 5–10 Bob Wollek1, 2† Michael Petersen2 Timo Bernhard5–7, 9 Mike Fitzgerald8, 10 Jean-Christophe Boullion10 OrbitPorsche 996 GT3-RSPorsche 3.6 L Flat-632 Scooter Gabel10 Gary Schultheis10 Doc Lowman1034 Peter Baron2, 10 Leo Hindery2, 10 Gian Luigi Buitoni2 Tony Kester1035 Tommy Byrne2, 10 Richard Millman2, 10 Tony Kester2 MSB MotorsportFerrari 360 Modena GTFerrari 3.6L V833 Marino Franchitti10 Kelvin Burt10 Ralf Kelleners10 Jürgen Alzen MotorsportPorsche 996 GT3-RSPorsche 3.6 L Flat-636 Jürgen Alzen2 Ulli Richter2 BMW Motorsport Team SchnitzerBMW M3 E46 (Rd. 1) BMW M3 E46 GTR (Rd. 2–10)BMW 3.2 L I6 (Rd. 1) BMW 4.0L V8 (Rd. 2–10)42 J.J. LehtoAll Jörg Müller1–9 Fredrik Ekblom10 Karl Wendlinger10BMW M3 E46 (Rd. 2) BMW M3 E46 GTR (Rd. 3–10)BMW 3.2 L I6 (Rd. 2) BMW 4.0L V8 (Rd. 3–10)43 Dirk Müller2–10 Fredrik Ekblom2–9 Jörg Müller10 Broadfoot RacingPorsche 996 GT3-RPorsche 3.6 L Flat-647 John Warner2, 10 Paco Orti2 Allan Ziegelman2 Doc Lowman10 Seikel MotorsportPorsche 996 GT3-RSPorsche 3.6 L Flat-652 Tony Burgess1, 3–10 Stefano Buttiero1, 10 Philip Collin2, 5–6, 8 Andrew Bagnall2, 9 Brian Burgess2 Johnny Mowlem3 Max Cohen-Olivar4 Magnus Wallinder7 Hugh Plumb1053 Gabrio Rosa2–3 Alex Caffi2 Fabio Babini2 Luca Drudi3 Freisinger MotorsportPorsche 996 GT3-RPorsche 3.6 L Flat-657 Nigel Smith2 Klaus Horn2Porsche 996 GT3-RS58 Wolfgang Kaufmann2 Stéphane Ortelli2 P.K. SportPorsche 996 GT3-RSPorsche 3.6 L Flat-660 Mike Youles3–4 Robin Liddell3–4Porsche 996 GT3-R (Rd. 3)