# 2008 Monterey Sports Car Championships

The 2008 Monterey Sports Car Championships presented by Patrón was the eleventh and final round of the 2008 American Le Mans Series season. It took place at Mazda Raceway Laguna Seca, California on 18 October 2008. It was the first time the event had a sponsor in its name since the 2004 season.

## Report
### Qualifying

The LMP2 category dominated qualifying, led by the four Acura teams who were able to qualify in the top five positions, led by David Brabham in the Highcroft Racing Acura on pole position. The Acura squads were broken up only by the #7 Penske Porsche which qualified third. In LMP1, the #1 Audi led that class but was only ninth overall in the standings. Among the Corvette teams, the #3 car once again earned pole over its teammate, while GT2 was led by Farnbacher-Loles' Porsche. Tafel Racing meanwhile led among Ferrari squads in third place within the class.

#### Qualifying result

Pole position winners in each class are marked in bold.
| Pos | Class | Team | Qualifying Driver | Time |
| 1 | LMP2 | #9 Patrón Highcroft Racing | David Brabham | 1:10.103 |
| 2 | LMP2 | #15 Lowe's Fernández Racing | Luis Díaz | 1:10.202 |
| 3 | LMP2 | #7 Penske Racing | Timo Bernhard | 1:10.351 |
| 4 | LMP2 | #66 de Ferran Motorsports | Gil de Ferran | 1:10.451 |
| 5 | LMP2 | #26 Andretti Green Racing | Tony Kanaan | 1:10.567 |
| 6 | LMP2 | #6 Penske Racing | Sascha Maassen | 1:10.586 |
| 7 | LMP2 | #5 Penske Motorsports, Inc. | Ryan Briscoe | 1:10.606 |
| 8 | LMP2 | #16 Dyson Racing | Guy Smith | 1:11.010 |
| 9 | LMP1 | #1 Audi Sport North America | Emanuele Pirro | 1:11.264 |
| 10 | LMP1 | #2 Audi Sport North America | Lucas Luhr | 1:11.825 |
| 11 | LMP2 | #20 Dyson Racing | Butch Leitzinger | 1:12.089 |
| 12 | LMP1 | #48 Corsa Motorsports | Johnny Mowlem | 1:12.819 |
| 13 | LMP2 | #8 B-K Motorsports | Ben Devlin | 1:13.321 |
| 14 | LMP1 | #37 Intersport Racing | Jon Field | 1:13.379 |
| 15 | LMP1 | #88 Creation Autosportif | Stephen Simpson | 1:13.481 |
| 16 | LMP1 | #12 Autocon Motorsports | Chris McMurry | 1:14.549 |
| 17 | GT1 | #3 Corvette Racing | Jan Magnussen | 1:19.291 |
| 18 | GT1 | #4 Corvette Racing | Oliver Gavin | 1:19.790 |
| 19 | GT2 | #87 Farnbacher-Loles Motorsport | Dirk Werner | 1:22.060 |
| 20 | GT2 | #45 Flying Lizard Motorsports | Jörg Bergmeister | 1:22.380 |
| 21 | GT2 | #71 Tafel Racing | Dominik Farnbacher | 1:22.701 |
| 22 | GT2 | #46 Flying Lizard Motorsports | Patrick Pilet | 1:22.869 |
| 23 | GT2 | #62 Risi Competizione | Mika Salo | 1:22.962 |
| 24 | GT2 | #99 JMB Racing | Pierre Kaffer | 1:23.243 |
| 25 | GT2 | #61 Risi Competizione | Niclas Jönsson | 1:23.928 |
| 26 | GT2 | #21 Panoz Team PTG | Joey Hand | 1:24.084 |
| 27 | GT2 | #18 VICI Racing | Nicky Pastorelli | 1:24.111 |
| 28 | GT2 | #007 Drayson-Barwell | Jonny Cocker | 1:24.626 |
| 29 | GT2 | #54 Black Swan Racing | Anthony Lazzaro | 1:24.711 |
| 30 | GT2 | #40 Robertson Racing | David Murry | 1:24.727 |
| 31 | GT2 | #73 Tafel Racing | Pierre Ehret | 1:24.970 |
| 32 | GT2 | #11 Primetime Race Group | Chris Hall | 1:26.124 |
| 33 | GT2 | #44 Flying Lizard Motorsports | Seth Neiman | 1:26.704 |
| 34 | LMP1 | #10 ECO Racing | Did Not Participate | No Time |

### Race

The final round of the ALMS season was slowed by a total of twelve caution periods over the four-hour race distance, including four within the first hour alone. This allowed for a variety of pit strategies to come into place as teams chose to make their first pit stops during different caution periods. The Acura teams led early, but Audi was eventually able to take the overall lead, eventually completing the race first and second, led by the #2 car of Marco Werner and Lucas Luhr. In LMP2, Acura's also finished first and second, but the #7 Penske Porsche's finish of third was able to secure Porsche the Manufacturers Championship within the class by a single point.
In GT1, the #4 Corvette of Olivier Beretta and Oliver Gavin earned their third win of the season over their teammates, while the #71 Tafel Racing Ferrari secured its fourth victory in GT2 in 2008. The Risi Competizione Ferrari and Farnbacher-Loles Porsche completed the GT2 podium, while the PTG Panoz had a strong fourth-place finish a lap behind.

#### Race result

Class winners in bold. Cars failing to complete 70% of winner's distance marked as Not Classified (NC).
| Pos | Class | No | Team | Drivers | Chassis | Tire | Laps |
| Pos | Class | No | Team | Drivers | Engine | Tire | Laps |
| 1 | LMP1 | 2 | Audi Sport North America | Marco Werner Lucas Luhr | Audi R10 TDI | M | 145 |
| 1 | LMP1 | 2 | Audi Sport North America | Marco Werner Lucas Luhr | Audi TDI 5.5 L Turbo V12 (Diesel) | M | 145 |
| 2 | LMP1 | 1 | Audi Sport North America | Emanuele Pirro Christijan Albers | Audi R10 TDI | M | 145 |
| 2 | LMP1 | 1 | Audi Sport North America | Emanuele Pirro Christijan Albers | Audi TDI 5.5 L Turbo V12 (Diesel) | M | 145 |
| 3 | LMP2 | 26 | Andretti Green Racing | Franck Montagny Tony Kanaan | Acura ARX-01B | M | 145 |
| 3 | LMP2 | 26 | Andretti Green Racing | Franck Montagny Tony Kanaan | Acura AL7R 3.4 L V8 | M | 145 |
| 4 | LMP2 | 66 | de Ferran Motorsports | Gil de Ferran Simon Pagenaud | Acura ARX-01B | M | 145 |
| 4 | LMP2 | 66 | de Ferran Motorsports | Gil de Ferran Simon Pagenaud | Acura AL7R 3.4 L V8 | M | 145 |
| 5 | LMP2 | 7 | Penske Racing | Timo Bernhard Romain Dumas | Porsche RS Spyder Evo | M | 145 |
| 5 | LMP2 | 7 | Penske Racing | Timo Bernhard Romain Dumas | Porsche MR6 3.4 L V8 | M | 145 |
| 6 | LMP2 | 5 | Penske Motorsports, Inc. | Hélio Castroneves Ryan Briscoe | Porsche RS Spyder Evo | M | 145 |
| 6 | LMP2 | 5 | Penske Motorsports, Inc. | Hélio Castroneves Ryan Briscoe | Porsche MR6 3.4 L V8 | M | 145 |
| 7 | LMP2 | 16 | Dyson Racing | Chris Dyson Guy Smith | Porsche RS Spyder Evo | M | 145 |
| 7 | LMP2 | 16 | Dyson Racing | Chris Dyson Guy Smith | Porsche MR6 3.4 L V8 | M | 145 |
| 8 | LMP2 | 20 | Dyson Racing | Butch Leitzinger Marino Franchitti | Porsche RS Spyder Evo | M | 144 |
| 8 | LMP2 | 20 | Dyson Racing | Butch Leitzinger Marino Franchitti | Porsche MR6 3.4 L V8 | M | 144 |
| 9 | LMP2 | 15 | Lowe's Fernández Racing | Adrian Fernández Luis Díaz | Acura ARX-01B | M | 144 |
| 9 | LMP2 | 15 | Lowe's Fernández Racing | Adrian Fernández Luis Díaz | Acura AL7R 3.4 L V8 | M | 144 |
| 10 | LMP2 | 6 | Penske Racing | Patrick Long Sascha Maassen | Porsche RS Spyder Evo | M | 144 |
| 10 | LMP2 | 6 | Penske Racing | Patrick Long Sascha Maassen | Porsche MR6 3.4 L V8 | M | 144 |
| 11 | LMP1 | 48 | Corsa Motorsports | Gunnar Jeannette Johnny Mowlem Stefan Johansson | Ginetta-Zytek 07S | D | 142 |
| 11 | LMP1 | 48 | Corsa Motorsports | Gunnar Jeannette Johnny Mowlem Stefan Johansson | Zytek 4.5 L V8 | D | 142 |
| 12 | GT1 | 4 | Corvette Racing | Oliver Gavin Olivier Beretta | Chevrolet Corvette C6.R | M | 139 |
| 12 | GT1 | 4 | Corvette Racing | Oliver Gavin Olivier Beretta | Chevrolet LS7-R 7.0 L V8 (E85 ethanol) | M | 139 |
| 13 | GT1 | 3 | Corvette Racing | Johnny O'Connell Jan Magnussen | Chevrolet Corvette C6.R | M | 139 |
| 13 | GT1 | 3 | Corvette Racing | Johnny O'Connell Jan Magnussen | Chevrolet LS7-R 7.0 L V8 (E85 ethanol) | M | 139 |
| 14 | GT2 | 71 | Tafel Racing | Dominik Farnbacher Dirk Müller | Ferrari F430GT | M | 139 |
| 14 | GT2 | 71 | Tafel Racing | Dominik Farnbacher Dirk Müller | Ferrari 4.0 L V8 | M | 139 |
| 15 | LMP2 | 9 | Patrón Highcroft Racing | Scott Sharp David Brabham | Acura ARX-01B | M | 139 |
| 15 | LMP2 | 9 | Patrón Highcroft Racing | Scott Sharp David Brabham | Acura AL7R 3.4 L V8 | M | 139 |
| 16 | GT2 | 62 | Risi Competizione | Jaime Melo Mika Salo | Ferrari F430GT | M | 139 |
| 16 | GT2 | 62 | Risi Competizione | Jaime Melo Mika Salo | Ferrari 4.0 L V8 | M | 139 |
| 17 | GT2 | 87 | Farnbacher-Loles Motorsports | Dirk Werner Bryce Miller | Porsche 997 GT3-RSR | M | 138 |
| 17 | GT2 | 87 | Farnbacher-Loles Motorsports | Dirk Werner Bryce Miller | Porsche 4.0 L Flat-6 | M | 138 |
| 18 | LMP1 | 88 | Creation Autosportif | Jamie Campbell-Walter Stephen Simpson Liz Halliday | Creation CA07 | D | 138 |
| 18 | LMP1 | 88 | Creation Autosportif | Jamie Campbell-Walter Stephen Simpson Liz Halliday | AIM (Judd) YS5.5 5.5 L V10 (E85 ethanol) | D | 138 |
| 19 | GT2 | 21 | Panoz Team PTG | Tommy Milner Joey Hand | Panoz Esperante GT-LM | Y | 137 |
| 19 | GT2 | 21 | Panoz Team PTG | Tommy Milner Joey Hand | Ford (Élan) 5.0 L V8 | Y | 137 |
| 20 | GT2 | 46 | Flying Lizard Motorsports | Johannes van Overbeek Patrick Pilet | Porsche 997 GT3-RSR | M | 137 |
| 20 | GT2 | 46 | Flying Lizard Motorsports | Johannes van Overbeek Patrick Pilet | Porsche 4.0 L Flat-6 | M | 137 |
| 21 | GT2 | 44 | Flying Lizard Motorsports | Darren Law Seth Neiman Lonnie Pechnik | Porsche 997 GT3-RSR | M | 135 |
| 21 | GT2 | 44 | Flying Lizard Motorsports | Darren Law Seth Neiman Lonnie Pechnik | Porsche 4.0 L Flat-6 | M | 135 |
| 22 | GT2 | 99 | JMB Racing Aucott Racing | Ben Aucott Pierre Kaffer | Ferrari F430GT | D | 134 |
| 22 | GT2 | 99 | JMB Racing Aucott Racing | Ben Aucott Pierre Kaffer | Ferrari 4.0 L V8 | D | 134 |
| 23 | GT2 | 007 | Drayson-Barwell | Paul Drayson Jonny Cocker | Aston Martin V8 Vantage GT2 | D | 134 |
| 23 | GT2 | 007 | Drayson-Barwell | Paul Drayson Jonny Cocker | Aston Martin 4.5 L V8 (E85 ethanol) | D | 134 |
| 24 | GT2 | 54 | Black Swan Racing | Tim Pappas Anthony Lazzaro Andy Pilgrim | Ford GT-R Mk.VII | F | 133 |
| 24 | GT2 | 54 | Black Swan Racing | Tim Pappas Anthony Lazzaro Andy Pilgrim | Ford 5.0 L V8 | F | 133 |
| 25 | GT2 | 45 | Flying Lizard Motorsports | Jörg Bergmeister Wolf Henzler | Porsche 997 GT3-RSR | M | 133 |
| 25 | GT2 | 45 | Flying Lizard Motorsports | Jörg Bergmeister Wolf Henzler | Porsche 4.0 L Flat-6 | M | 133 |
| 26 | GT2 | 73 | Tafel Racing | Harrison Brix Alex Figge Pierre Ehret | Ferrari F430GT | M | 132 |
| 26 | GT2 | 73 | Tafel Racing | Harrison Brix Alex Figge Pierre Ehret | Ferrari 4.0 L V8 | M | 132 |
| 27 | GT2 | 61 | Risi Competizione Krohn Racing | Tracy Krohn Niclas Jönsson | Ferrari F430GT | M | 129 |
| 27 | GT2 | 61 | Risi Competizione Krohn Racing | Tracy Krohn Niclas Jönsson | Ferrari 4.0 L V8 | M | 129 |
| 28 | GT2 | 40 | Robertson Racing | David Robertson Andrea Robertson David Murry | Ford GT-R Mk.VII | D | 129 |
| 28 | GT2 | 40 | Robertson Racing | David Robertson Andrea Robertson David Murry | Ford 5.0 L V8 | D | 129 |
| 29 | GT2 | 11 | Primetime Race Group | Joel Feinberg Chris Hall | Dodge Viper Competition Coupe | H | 112 |
| 29 | GT2 | 11 | Primetime Race Group | Joel Feinberg Chris Hall | Dodge 8.3 L V10 | H | 112 |
| 30 | LMP2 | 8 | B-K Motorsports | Gerardo Bonilla Ben Devlin Raphael Matos | Lola B08/86 | D | 106 |
| 30 | LMP2 | 8 | B-K Motorsports | Gerardo Bonilla Ben Devlin Raphael Matos | Mazda MZR-R 2.0 L Turbo I4 (E85 ethanol) | D | 106 |
| 31 DNF | LMP1 | 37 | Intersport Racing | Jon Field Ryan Lewis Richard Berry | Lola B06/10 | D | 102 |
| 31 DNF | LMP1 | 37 | Intersport Racing | Jon Field Ryan Lewis Richard Berry | AER P32C 4.0 L Turbo V8 (E85 ethanol) | D | 102 |
| 32 NC | LMP1 | 12 | Autocon Motorsports | Chris McMurry Tony Burgess | Lola B06/10 | D | 87 |
| 32 NC | LMP1 | 12 | Autocon Motorsports | Chris McMurry Tony Burgess | AER P32C 4.0 L Turbo V8 | D | 87 |
| 33 DNF | LMP1 | 10 | ECO Racing | Andrew Prendeville Hideki Noda | Radical SR10 | D | 46 |
| 33 DNF | LMP1 | 10 | ECO Racing | Andrew Prendeville Hideki Noda | ECO (AER) 5.0 L Turbo V10 (Diesel) | D | 46 |
| 34 DNF | GT2 | 18 | VICI Racing | Nicky Pastorelli Francesco Pastorelli Marc Basseng | Porsche 997 GT3-RSR | K | 17 |
| 34 DNF | GT2 | 18 | VICI Racing | Nicky Pastorelli Francesco Pastorelli Marc Basseng | Porsche 4.0 L Flat-6 | K | 17 |