The 2008 American Le Mans Series season was the 38th season for the IMSA GT Championship, with the tenth season known as the American Le Mans Series. It was a series for Le Mans Prototypes (LMP) and Grand Tourer (GT) race cars divided into four classes: LMP1, LMP2, GT1, and GT2. It began March 15 and ended October 18 after eleven races.
The Audi Sport North America team wrapped up its title defence of LMP1 class Teams Championship with three races in hand after the Sports Car Challenge of Mid-Ohio in August. Drivers Marco Werner and Lucas Luhr also secured the Drivers Championship after the Detroit Sports Car Challenge. It was a record fifth ALMS drivers title for Luhr and a fourth for Werner.
The Petit Le Mans saw the drivers title for GT1 decided with Jan Magnussen and Johnny O'Connell taking the title while Jörg Bergmeister and Wolf Henzler likewise secured the GT2 drivers championship. It was O'Connell's fourth GT1 title and Bergmeisters third GT2 title.
Schedule Rnd Race Length CircuitLocation Date 1 Mobil 1 12 Hours of Sebring 12 Hours Sebring International RacewaySebring, Florida March 15 2 Acura Sports Car Challenge of St. Petersburg 1 Hour 55 Minutes St. Petersburg Street CircuitSt. Petersburg, Florida April 5 3 Tequila Patrón American Le Mans Series at Long Beach 1 Hour 40 Minutes Long Beach Street CircuitLong Beach, California April 19C Lone Star Grand Prix2 Hours 45 MinutesReliant ParkHouston, TexasApril 26 4 Larry H. Miller Dealerships Utah Grand Prix 2 Hours 45 Minutes Miller Motorsports ParkGrantsville, Utah May 18 5 Northeast Grand Prix 2 Hours 45 Minutes Lime Rock ParkLakeville, Connecticut July 12 6 Acura Sports Car Challenge of Mid-Ohio 2 Hours 45 Minutes Mid-Ohio Sports Car CourseLexington, Ohio July 19 7 Generac 500 at Road America 4 Hours Road AmericaElkhart Lake, Wisconsin August 9 8 Grand Prix of Mosport 2 Hours 45 Minutes Mosport International RacewayBowmanville, Ontario August 24 9 Detroit Sports Car Challenge 2 Hours 45 Minutes Belle Isle Street CircuitDetroit, Michigan August 30 10 Petit Le Mans 1000 Miles or 10 Hours Road AtlantaBraselton, Georgia October 4 11 Monterey Sports Car Championships 4 Hours Mazda Raceway Laguna SecaMonterey, California October 18Source: The schedule initially consisted of the same 12 races as the previous season. The Lone Star Grand Prix was originally scheduled to take place on April 26. However, following the merger of the Champ Car World Series and Indy Racing League, the Champ Car Grand Prix of Houston event was initially cancelled. The American Le Mans Series race, as well as the support races, were later cancelled on March 3.
Entry list
Le Mans Prototype 1 (LMP1) TeamChassisEngineTyreNo.DriversRnds. Equipe Peugeot TotalPeugeot 908 HDi FAPPeugeot HDi 5.5 L Turbo V12 (Diesel)07 Nicolas Minassian1, 10 Stéphane Sarrazin1, 10 Pedro Lamy1 Christian Klien1008 Stéphane Sarrazin10* Pedro Lamy10* Alexander Wurz10* Audi Sport North AmericaAudi R10 TDIAudi TDI 5.5L Turbo V12 (Diesel)1 Rinaldo Capello1, 5–6, 8, 10 Allan McNish1, 10 Tom Kristensen1 Emanuele Pirro2–11 Frank Biela2–4 Marcel Fässler7, 9 Christijan Albers112 Marco WernerAll Lucas LuhrAll Mike Rockenfeller1 ECO RacingRadical SR10ECO (AER) 5.0 L Turbo V10 (Diesel)10 Ben Collins1*, 10* Harri Toivonen1*, 10* Simon Wright1*, 10* Hideki Noda11 Andrew Prendeville11 Autocon MotorsportsCreation CA06/H(1, 3, 6-8) Lola B06/10(11-12)Judd GV5 S2 5.0L V10(1, 3, 6-8) AER P32C 4.0L Turbo V8(11-12)12 Chris McMurry1, 3, 6–8, 10–11 Tony Burgess1, 8, 10–11 Bryan Willman1, 6–7, 10 Michael Lewis3, 7 Tomy Drissi3* Intersport RacingLola B06/10(6-8) Lola B07/17 (10)AER P32C 3.6 L Turbo V8(6-8) Judd GV5.5 S2 5.5 L V10 (10)30 Ryan Lewis6–8, 10 John Faulkner6–8 Gregor Fisken7 Luke Hines10 Georges Forgeois10Lola B06/10AER P32C 4.0L Turbo V8 (E85 ethanol)37 Jon FieldAll Clint FieldAll Richard BerryAll Corsa MotorsportsZytek 07SZytek 2ZG408 4.0L V848 Johnny Mowlem10–11 Stefan Johansson10–11 Gunnar Jeannette10 Team LNT Conquest RacingGinetta-Zytek 07SZytek ZJ458 4.5L V850 Danny Watts10 Olivier Pla10 Creation AutosportifCreation CA07AIM (Judd) YS5.5 5.5 L V10 (E85 ethanol)88 Stephen Simpson10–11 Jamie Campbell-Walter10–11 Harold Primat10 Liz Halliday11888 Stuart Hall10 Liz Halliday10 Dean Stirling10
Le Mans Prototype 2 (LMP2) TeamChassisEngineTyreNo.DriversRnds. Penske RacingPorsche RS Spyder EvoPorsche MR6 3.4L V85 Ryan Briscoe10–11 Hélio Castroneves10–116 Patrick LongAll Sascha Maassen1–8, 10–11 Ryan Briscoe1, 97 Timo BernhardAll Romain DumasAll Emmanuel Collard1 B-K Motorsports MazdaspeedLola B07/46(1-9) Lola B08/86(10-11)Mazda MZR-R 2.0 L Turbo I4 (E85 ethanol)8 Ben DevlinAll Gerardo BonillaAll Raphael Matos1, 11* Patrón Highcroft RacingAcura ARX-01BAcura AL7R 3.4 L V89 David BrabhamAll Scott SharpAll Stefan Johansson1 Dario Franchitti10 Lowe's Fernández RacingAcura ARX-01BAcura AL7R 3.4 L V815 Adrian FernandezAll Luis DiazAll Michel Jourdain Jr.10 Dyson Racing TeamPorsche RS Spyder EvoPorsche MR6 3.4L V816 Chris DysonAll Guy SmithAll20 Marino FranchittiAll Butch LeitzingerAll Andy Lally1, 10 Van der Steur RacingRadical SR9AER P07 2.0L Turbo I419 Adam Pecorari2 Gunnar van der Steur2 Andretti Green RacingAcura ARX-01BAcura AL7R 3.4 L V826 Bryan Herta1–4 Christian Fittipaldi1–4 Marco Andretti1, 5, 10 Franck Montagny5–11 Raphael Matos6 James Rossiter7–9 Tony Kanaan10–11 Horag Lista RacingPorsche RS Spyder EvoPorsche MR6 3.4L V827 Fredy Lienhard1 Didier Theys1 Jan Lammers1 Barazi-EpsilonZytek 07S/2Zytek ZG348 3.4 L V832 Juan Barazi1 Michael Vergers1 Jean-Christophe Ravier1 de Ferran MotorsportAcura ARX-01BAcura AL7R 3.4 L V866 Gil de Ferran4–11 Simon Pagenaud4–11 Scott Dixon10
Grand Touring 1 (GT1) TeamChassisEngineTyreNo.DriversRnds. Bell MotorsportsAston Martin DBR9Aston Martin 6.0 L V12008 Terry Borcheller1–2, 5, 7–9 Chapman Ducote1–2, 5, 7–9 Antonio García1 Corvette RacingChevrolet Corvette C6.RChevrolet LS7.r 7.0L V83 Johnny O'ConnellAll Jan MagnussenAll Ron Fellows1, 104 Oliver GavinAll Olivier BerettaAll Max Papis1, 10
Grand Touring 2 (GT2) TeamChassisEngineTyreNo.DriversRnds. Drayson-BarwellAston Martin DBRS9(1-2) Aston Martin V8 Vantage GT2(3-11)Aston Martin 6.0 L V12 (E85 ethanol)(1-2) Aston Martin 4.5 L V8 (E85 ethanol)(3-11)007 Paul DraysonAll Jonathan CockerAll Tim Sugden1 Darren Turner10 VICI RacingPorsche 997 GT3-RSRPorsche 3.8L Flat-65 Craig Stanton1–4 Nathan Swartzbaugh1–4 Uwe Alzen1 Ruben Carrapatoso218 Nicky Pastorelli4, 6–11 Ruben Carrapatoso4 Francisco Pastorelli6–11 Marc Basseng7–11 Primetime Race GroupDodge Viper Competition CoupeDodge 8.3L V1011 Joel FeinbergAll Chris HallAll Panoz Team PTGPanoz Esperante GT-LMFord (Elan) 5.0 L V821 Tommy MilnerAll Tom Sutherland1–6, 8–9 Joey Hand1, 7, 10–11 LG MotorsportsChevrolet Corvette C6Chevrolet LS3 6.0 L V828 Lou Gigliotti1–4, 10 Doug Peterson1–3, 10 Marc Goossens1, 10 Eric Curran4 Tomy Drissi10 Robertson RacingFord GT-R Mk. VIIFord Cammer 5.0 L V840 David MurryAll Andrea Robertson1–2, 4–11 David Robertson1, 3–11 Flying Lizard MotorsportsPorsche 997 GT3-RSRPorsche 3.8L Flat-644 Seth Neiman1–8, 10–11 Darren Law1–2, 4–5, 7, 10–11 Alex Davison1 Lonnie Pechnik3, 6, 8–10 Martin Ragginger945 Wolf HenzlerAll Jörg BergmeisterAll Marc Lieb1, 1046 Johannes van OverbeekAll Patrick PiletAll Richard Lietz1 Corsa MotorsportFerrari F430 GTCFerrari F136 GT 4.0L V848 Gunnar Jeannette1–4 Johnny Mowlem1–4 Ralf Kelleners1 Black Swan RacingFord GT-R Mk. VIIFord Cammer 5.0 L V854 Tim Pappas5–7, 9–11 Anthony Lazzaro5–7, 9–11 Andy Pilgrim10 Risi CompetizioneFerrari F430 GTCFerrari F136 GT 4.0L V861 Niclas Jönsson1, 10–11 Tracy Krohn1, 10–11 Eric van de Poele1, 10 Harrison Brix2–7, 9 Patrick Friesacher2–6 Robert Bell7, 962 Jaime MeloAll Mika SaloAll Gianmaria Bruni1 Tafel RacingFerrari F430 GTCFerrari F136 GT 4.0L V871 Dirk MüllerAll Dominik FarnbacherAll Robert Bell173 Jim Tafel1, 4–11 Allan Simonsen1 Pierre Ehret1 Alex Figge4–11 Harrison Brix11 Autoracing Club BratislavaPorsche 996 GT3-RPorsche 3.8 L Flat-677 Miro Konôpka1 Miroslav Hornak1 Mauro Casadei1 Farnbacher-Loles MotorsportsPorsche 997 GT3-RSRPorsche 3.8 L Flat-687 Marc Basseng1–4 Dirk Werner1–2, 4–8, 10–11 Bryce Miller1, 7, 10–11 Alex Davison3 Richard Westbrook5–7 Pierre Kaffer8 Jörg Hardt10 JMB Racing Aucott RacingFerrari F430 GTCFerrari F136 GT 4.0L V899 Ben Aucott10–11 Pierre Kaffer10–11 Stéphane Daoudi10 * Was on the entry list but did not participate in the event.
Season results
Overall winner in bold.
Rnd Circuit LMP1 Winning Team LMP2 Winning Team GT1 Winning Team GT2 Winning Team Results LMP1 Winning Drivers LMP2 Winning Drivers GT1 Winning Drivers GT2 Winning Drivers 1 Sebring #1 Audi Sport North America #7 Penske Racing #3 Corvette Racing #45 Flying Lizard Motorsports Results Rinaldo Capello Tom Kristensen Allan McNish Timo Bernhard Romain Dumas Emmanuel Collard Johnny O'Connell Jan Magnussen Ron Fellows Jörg Bergmeister Wolf Henzler Marc Lieb 2 St. Petersburg #2 Audi Sport North America #7 Penske Racing #4 Corvette Racing #71 Tafel Racing Results Marco Werner Lucas Luhr Timo Bernhard Romain Dumas Olivier Beretta Oliver Gavin Dominik Farnbacher Dirk Müller 3 Long Beach #2 Audi Sport North America #9 Highcroft Racing #3 Corvette Racing #71 Tafel Racing Results Marco Werner Lucas Luhr David Brabham Scott Sharp Johnny O'Connell Jan Magnussen Dominik Farnbacher Dirk Müller 4 Miller #2 Audi Sport North America #7 Penske Racing #3 Corvette Racing #45 Flying Lizard Motorsports Results Marco Werner Lucas Luhr Timo Bernhard Romain Dumas Johnny O'Connell Jan Magnussen Jörg Bergmeister Wolf Henzler 5 Lime Rock #2 Audi Sport North America #9 Highcroft Racing #3 Corvette Racing #45 Flying Lizard Motorsports Results Marco Werner Lucas Luhr David Brabham Scott Sharp Johnny O'Connell Jan Magnussen Jörg Bergmeister Wolf Henzler 6 Mid-Ohio #2 Audi Sport North America #7 Penske Racing #3 Corvette Racing #71 Tafel Racing Results Marco Werner Lucas Luhr Timo Bernhard Romain Dumas Johnny O'Connell Jan Magnussen Dominik Farnbacher Dirk Müller 7 Road America #2 Audi Sport North America #9 Highcroft Racing #3 Corvette Racing #87 Farnbacher-Loles Results Marco Werner Lucas Luhr David Brabham Scott Sharp Johnny O'Connell Jan Magnussen Dirk Werner Richard Westbrook Bryce Miller 8 Mosport #2 Audi Sport North America #9 Highcroft Racing #3 Corvette Racing #62 Risi Competizione Results Marco Werner Lucas Luhr David Brabham Scott Sharp Johnny O'Connell Jan Magnussen Jaime Melo Mika Salo 9 Belle Isle #37 Intersport Racing #26 Andretti Green Racing #4 Corvette Racing #45 Flying Lizard Motorsports Results Jon Field Clint Field Richard Berry Franck Montagny James Rossiter Olivier Beretta Oliver Gavin Jörg Bergmeister Wolf Henzler 10 Road Atlanta #1 Audi Sport North America #5 Penske Motorsports #3 Corvette Racing #62 Risi Competizione Results Allan McNish Rinaldo Capello Emanuele Pirro Ryan Briscoe Hélio Castroneves Johnny O'Connell Jan Magnussen Ron Fellows Jaime Melo Mika Salo 11 Laguna Seca #2 Audi Sport North America #26 Andretti Green Racing #4 Corvette Racing #71 Tafel Racing Results Marco Werner Lucas Luhr Franck Montagny Tony Kanaan Olivier Beretta Oliver Gavin Dominik Farnbacher Dirk Müller Championship results
For races under three hours, points are awarded to the top 10 finishers in the following order: 20-16-13-10-8-6-4-3-2-1 For races between four hours and eight hours, points are awarded in the following order: 25-21-18-15-13-11-9-8-7-6 For races longer than eight hours, points are awarded in the following order: 30-26-23-20-18-16-14-13-12-11
Cars failing to complete 70% of the winner's distance are not awarded points. Drivers failing to drive for at least 45 minutes in the race are not awarded points, with the exception of the Long Beach round where drivers need only 30 minutes minimum.
LMP1 Drivers' Championship