This past weekend marked the 11th anniversary of the Petit Le Mans in Braselton, GA. This 10 hour American Le Mans Series (ALMS) race contests automobiles from brands such as Audi, Porsche, Acura, Chevrolet, Ferrari, Dodge, Aston Martin, Panoz, and Ford, in both prototype (LMP1/LMP2) and modified sports car (GT1/GT2) variations.
Part of the ALMS charm is that all four types of cars race their own individual races at the same time. This multi-tiered style of racing allows for awesome high speed passes on the straight-aways, and knuckle-biting tension in the corners. Another part of the charm is the ability for fans to easily identify with the racecars. Unlike some other forms of racing, ALMS has production-based cars that look very similar to those that can be bought on a showroom floor, depending upon how big your wallet is, that is.
Many pre-teens can visually recognize a Porsche, Corvette, Ford GT, Aston Martin, Viper, or Ferrari from a poster on their bedroom wall as it races past the terrace seating, entering the Turn 10 complex. The better-trained aficionado can id the buzzy baritone of a Porsche RS Spyder, the guttural bass of the Aston Martin Vantage, or the savage scream of a Ferrari F430 speeding down the hill well before any of them come into sight. As they brake for Turn 10A, the squeals of ceramic brakes and tires well beyond their limits of adhesion fill the air while plumes of white smoke verify such events. Then back on the gas with the whistling of turbo-chargers and the aforementioned exhaust signaling a successful exit out of 10B.
The sensory overload that is received every couple of minutes is yet another part of the racing charm. SPEED Channel aired most of the race that day, giving viewers a front row seat at every corner, but there is nothing like actually being there. However, I do not need to tell ALMS fans about that. Ladies and gentlemen wearing prancing horse hats, children in strollers holding flags with four overlapping-rings, and campers wearing crossed-flag t-shirts identified each family member’s presence and allegiance – everyone enjoying himself.
And to top it all off, this Petit Le Mans, in particular, will have a place in history. Not only were teams racing for points and podium finishes in the Series, but they were also competing in what was called the Green Challenge. Established by the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency and U.S. Department of Energy in conjunction with SAE International, racers were scored using highly technically derived data that calculates overall performance, fuel efficiency, and environmental impact. The Green Challenge boasted three different types of alternative fuel for its racecars: clean sulfur-free diesel, cellulosic E85, and E10 ethanol-enriched gasoline. An electric hybrid racecar was supposed to debut during the race, but was not on the grid with little explanation. A Porsche RS Spyder was the Green Challenge winner for the prototype class and an E85 powered Corvette won, not only the 1,000 mile Petit Lemans in its class, but also the Green Challenge for the GT cars.
Auto racing has been around in one form or another since the beginning of cars with individuals and families alike enjoying it. It’s nice to see that even in these modern times the charm is still there.
Enjoy a highly compressed amateur video of one of the many caution laps (which will explain the slower than race pace) that day.
