ALMS 2010 Discussion

[Jonerz]

Originally Posted by Acid09

And that was exactly the mistake that caused LMP numbers to drop. The ALMS chose to mess with the class regulations to make it more exciting and please Porsche, causing all privateer LMP2 entrants (the guys these class was made for) to leave.

That caused their dependency for factory efforts which has put the series into its current state. The ALMS has never understood that endurance racing has to be backed by privateers, not manufacturers. That's why the LMS does so well...you have almost no manufacturer efforts there.

The ALMS is set for the future? If Acura leaves, there`s nothing left... the series is grasping for the final straws, wrapping it in marketing BS.

The argument "LMS does x and it results in y" doesn't make sense for the American Le Mans series. If the ALMS were to be a clone of how the LMS runs, it would be destroyed by Grand-Am because there would be no purpose to the ALMS. The cars would be ludicrously expensive and you'd be better off in Grand-Am as a privateer. Yeah, they'd be faster than DPs, you'd have slightly more technology and advancement but nothing significant and you'd get an invitation to Le Mans and that is not worth the added cost of running an ALMS car. Factory teams, backed private teams, and teams looking to make money in racing are the backbone of the ALMS because that is a niche market. Privateer racing in America you have Grand-Am. Privateer racing in Europe you have the LMS. No reason for privateer-centric thinking in the ALMS.

Chris