ALMS S1

GT Drivers' Champion: C. Marnell

ALMS S1 was the first ALMS (American Le Mans Series) season hosted by XRACE, and was based off the 2011 season. It started at Sebring on the 19th of December 2021 and ended at Road Atlanta on the 6th of February 2022. The championship consisted of seven races, all of which were in the USA.

## S1 Announcements

### Classes and cars introduced

* LMP and GT would be the two classes for Season 1.
* Audi entered as an engine supplier to Porsche LMP teams.
* Aston Martin entered as an engine supplier to Lola LMP teams.
* BMW entered as both an engine supplier to Lola LMP teams as well as a manufacturer providing GT Class cars, with their BMW M3 GT2.
* Corvette entered soley as a GT manufacturer with the Corvette ZR1.
* Ferrari entered as a GT manufacturer with their Ferrari 458 GTC
* Jaguar was a suprise entry with a single Jaguar XKR.
* Lola joined as a chassis provider in LMP with their Lola B09/86.
* Porsche were the only manufacturer to truely join both classes, probiving both an LMP chassis with their Porsche RS Spyder Evo and a GT car with the Porsche 911 997 RSR.

### Team news

LMP

* Porsche+Audi WeatherTech Racing were the first LMP team confirmed. They confirmed they would run two RS Spyder Evos with Audi powerplants.
* DHL Team Penske would become the other two car Porsche LMP team, also running two RS Spyder Evos.
* FRA Mazda Motorsport initially entered with a single Lola B09/86, before upping to two cars.
* Aston Martin Racing entered with a single LMP Lola B09/86 powered by an Aston Martin engine.
* Stella Artois Racing Team Belgium came over from Europe to race with a single Porsche LMP.
* Apple Computer Racing would race in the LMP class witha Mazda powered Lola.
* Joest Racing entered with a single Porsche powered RS Spyder Evo.
* SRT entered the LMP class with one Porsche RS Spyder Evo.
* IFEA would join with a single Lola B09/86, powered by a BMW engine.
* Grey Goat Motorsport would be the last entry to join the LMP class for S1.

GT

* Corvette Racing Europe (Team IRA) entered the season with two GT Corvette ZR1.
* Onestar Racing BMW would run two M3 GT2s.
* WeatherTech Racing would also enter two Ferrari 458 GTCs.
* BMW Team DAF were the first single car team to be cornfirmed with an M3.
* Corvette Team N.A.R.T. intially announced they would enter a ZR1, but pulled out after failing to enter the first two races.
* Jaguar APEX Racing would be the only team to enter a Jaguar.
* BMW Team USA with SRT would enter a single BMW.
* BMW Team IFEA also ran a single M3.
* DOR Porsche Racing would be the only team to run a 997 Porsche.
* Onestar Racing BMW Junior Team would be a single M3 entered under the wing of Onestar Racing.
* Porsche Team England would run one 911 RSR.
* FRA also joined into GT late in the season with two Corvettes.
* NY Racing would be the team to run both Lamboghinis, but failed to attend a single race.

**Driver News**

LMP

* Porsche+Audi signed rookie P. McCormick in the #19 and former XRACE HHS Class 2 champion, R. Garcia to their team in the #91, bringing a nice blend of youth and experience.
* DHL Team Penske signed two Simpson Academy rookies; B. Keuick and B. Rance.
* FRA Mazda Motorsport would sign A. Tal to their first Lola B09/86.
* H. Phillips would make his return to XRACE with Aston Martin Racing after a brief stint in Indycar.
* Former HHS winner D. Vaanderstrukken would star in his own team, Racing Team Belgium.
* Apple Computer Racing would sign G. Hadley to their one and only Lola.
* Joest's single RS Spyder Evo would be piloted by rookie H. Raynor.
* Long time XRACE driver A. Reiser would constest the season in SRT's Porsche.
* IFEA team principle K. Mabey would compete in a BMW powered Lola for S1.

GT

* Multi-time XRACE champion and Indy 500 winner C. Marnell was announced as the first Corvette Team Europe driver, after it was revealed that his own organisation, Team IRA, would provide technical support for the the factory Corvette team.
* Long time NASCAR driver G. Lamar was signed to the second factory ZR1.
* A. Malone was signed to IFEA's sole GT entry
* I. Stone and S. Paskahlis were originally slated to drive for WeatherTech Racing Ferrari, but after a DNF at the season opener at Sebring, Stone left the team.
* Daytona 500 winner H. Crooks was signed by Apex Racing to drive their sole Jaguar XKR for the season.
* Seasoned XRACE driver D. Antony would drive for his own team, DAF Racing, in a BMW M3 GT2.
* Onestar would confirm their two full time drivers to be M. Miharu and H. Tanaka.
* C. Rance would be the last confirmed entry prior to the start of the season, competing for Porsche Team England in a 911 RSR.

### Mid season changes

* After Sebring FRA announced its intention to expand in both LMP and GT. D. Gore would run in the second LMP Lola while S. Crum and S. Moore would run the teams Corvette ZR1s in GT.
* Live Wire Racing would confirm former XRACE champion and historic Group C racer A. Bennett as their driver after Sebring.
* I. Stone and T. Pforzheimer were named as the two drivers for NY Racing's Gallardos. Sadly, the team which won an Indycar title, never made the grid.
* Onestar's Junior driver was confirmed to be I. McDaniel, competing on a part time basis, starting at Long Beach.
* I. Stone was replaced at WeatherTech Racing Ferrari by R. Simpson.
* J. Hull was signed to the second WeatherTech Porsche after P. McCormick had a falling out with the team.
* Team America would enter a third Corvette under IRA as a one off entry for James Upton.

## Season summary

The first round of the ALMS season took place at Sebring. The 150 Mile race was the longest on the calander, running from dusk into darkness. The entry size for the race was lower than many anticipated, with just 5 LMPs and 9 GTs. Due to this, the race itself was fairly calm, with LMP pole sitter K. Mabey leading from lights to flag in LMP, Phillips and Hadley wold round out the podium. GT pole went to H. Crooks in the XKR, much to the surprise of most in attendance. Despite the Jaguar's impressive qualifying, order would shortly be resumed as within a few laps A. Malone would capture the lead for IFEA, making in a double win for the organisation in their first ever outing. Crooks and Marnell would end up second and third respectively.

Round Two would see the teams head out west to the tight and tricky Long Beach street circuit. Once again it would be total domination from Mabey leading lights to flag in LMP. Bennett and Garcia would have a tight battle over the remaining podium spots, with the latter winning out on this occasion. In GT there was a shock as Sebring race winner Malone was unable to race due to an undisclosed mechanical fault with his car. This would mean that Paskahlis and Marnell would set the pace. Sadly for Paskahlis a mistake on lap one would see him drop from pole position, right down the order. The mean that Marnell was able to stretch his legs at the front of the field, taking his first victory of the season. Paskahlis would recover to second while Crum would score a podium on debut for FRA.

Round Three would see the teams head to the smallest track on the calendar, Lime Rock. Misfortune would befall IFEA once again, this time for their Lola BMW, which suffered an ECU malfunction, sidelining Mabey from the event. A titanic battle would ensue between GGM's Bennett and FRA's debut driver D. Gore. Bennett's Porsche had the grip, while Gore's Mazda had the power. This led to the pair trading places throughout the first half of the race. Eventually however, Alex would begin to stretch his legs out front, taking a statement victory. D. Gore and another debut driver, B. Rance would round out the LMP podium. In the Malone was back and looking for redemption after his car let him down at Long Beach. However, he would not find it here as Corvette would win the strategy battle, after they decided to pit under an early safety car. Despite his tyres being cooked by the end of the race, the advantage of the free pitstop was enough for Marnell to be able to take his second victory in a row. Malone would have to settle for second, while Crum would continue his impressive streak with another podium.

The halfway point in the season would see us head to Sonoma. Mabey held a fairly comfortable lead in LMP, many of which expect to grow as the season progressed. However, he wasn't able to fully capitalise in the wine country. He was pipped to both the pole and the race win, as B. Keuick would win on his debut for Penske in an impressive showing. He held on despite pressure from the pack of seven LMPs behind him on a late race restart. In GT, Marnell had a comfortable 20 point gap to Malone, but despite this many still put their money on Malone, expecting Marnell to unable to keep up his early form. This prediction started to look like the right bet, as Malone took his first Pole in GT. He converted this to a race win. Marnell would end up second even though he had fresher tyres than Malone at the end. Paskahlis would grab his second podium.

The fifth round of the championship would see the grid head to Road America in Wisconsin . Once again the straight-line advantage of Mabey's BMW Lola was evident as he took a commanding victory. There was. a titanic battle between 3 Porsches for the podium spots, as Keuick, Bennett and Garcia finished 2,3,4. In GT Malone was unchallenged for the win, with Marnell ending up P2.

Round Six would be the throwback weekend at Laguna Seca. Mabey would once again take victory in in LMP, despite being pushed hard by XRACE debutant J. Hull. In GT it was another commanding victory for Malone. A damaged Marnell limped home in second, narrowly beating out Corvette Racing Europe teammate G. Lamar, who ended up 3rd.

The season finale would see us head to Road Atlanta in Georgia or Petit Le Mans. Heading into the final round of the season, Mabey held a 24 point lead in LMP. This meant that with a maximum of 23 points up for grabs, he had clinched the title prior to entering the round. Due to this, he was granted permission to run a special one-off #1 rather than his usual 30. The victory celebrations didn't quite go as planned however, as while leading Mabey's engine began to lose power, eventually causing him to retire and finish P8 in class. This meant the it was a titanic and tactical scrap for the win. Keuick, Bennett and Garcia were all in the mix once again. As well as this Hull was looking quick again, while Phillip's Lola Aston Martin was suited to the fast nature of Road Atlanta. Keuick ended up taking victory after a late caution played into his hands strategy wise. Hull and Phillips who had been fighting over second ended up colliding, and tumbled down the order. This meant it was between Bennett and Garcia in their RS Spyder's to battle for the top spot. In the end it would be settled off track as Garcia was handed a time penalty for a unsafe move while lapping GT traffic. In GT Marnell had racked up enough second places against Malone's wins to keep him ahead in the fight. This meant that Marnell just needed to finish in P4 to secure the title, even if Malone won. With six GT cars taking to the field, nothing was settled heading into the 125 Mile event. Malone started off well, doing all he could do by leading the GT field once again. Unfortunately for the BMW driver, Marnell was holding up his end of the bargain for Corvette, lying in P2. When Crooks was forced to retire his Jaguar due to gear selection issues, it triggered a huge cheer from the faithful Corvette fans, who had come in droves to root the American manufacturer on in their native championship. This guaranteed Marnell P4 in class, clinching him the title, no matter where Malone finished. Even after being spun by an LMP on the frantic final restart, Marnell calmly guided the car home to P3. D. Anthony and DAF Racing also had cause for celebration as their P2 was their first podium of the season, and elevated Anthony to P3 in the Drivers' Championship. Despite winning yet another crown jewel event, the celebrations were stifled for Malone, knowing that he came so close to a title with so many wins, yet ended up second best.

## Teams and drivers

The teams and drivers that took part in ALMS S1 were:

\*Mabey ran #1 at Road Atlanta due to him winning the title prior to the race.

## Championship standings

### Points system

**LMP Drivers' Championship**

**LMP Teams' Championship**

**LMP Chassis' Championship**

 2

**LMP Manufacturer's Championship**

**GT Drivers' Championship**

**GT Teams' Championship**

**GT Manufacturers' Championship**