Series (ALMS – American Le Mans Series)
The American Le Mans Series (ALMS) was a premier sports car racing championship that operated in the United States and Canada from 1999 to 2013. The series was known for its endurance races and featured a diverse range of sports cars and prototypes competing in various classes. The ALMS was founded in 1999 by entrepreneur and former IMSA (International Motor Sports Association) president Don Panoz. The series aimed to bring the spirit of endurance racing, inspired by the iconic 24 Hours of Le Mans in France, to North America. The ALMS was primarily focused on endurance racing, with races lasting several hours, including events like the 12 Hours of Sebring, 6 Hours of Watkins Glen, and Petit Le Mans, which was a 10-hour race held at Road Atlanta. One of the distinguishing features of the ALMS was its multiclass racing format. In 2013, the ALMS merged with the Grand-Am Rolex Sports Car Series to form the United SportsCar Championship (USCC), which later became the IMSA WeatherTech SportsCar Championship. The merger resulted in the creation of a unified sports car racing championship under the IMSA (International Motor Sports Association) banner. The new series continued the tradition of endurance racing and multiclass competition while incorporating elements from both the ALMS and Grand-Am series.
