What Is 2009 American Le Mans Series season

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Last updated: April 15, 2026

Quick Answer: The 2009 American Le Mans Series season was the 41st season of the series, running from March 21 to October 10, featuring 10 rounds and the 24 Hours of Daytona as the opening race. It included four primary classes: LMP1, LMP2, GT1, and GT2, with Audi, Porsche, and BMW among top manufacturers.

Key Facts

The 2009 season began on March 21 with the Rolex 24 at Daytona and ended on October 10 in Mexico.
There were 10 rounds in the championship, down from 12 in previous years.
Audi Sport North America won the LMP1 Teams' Championship with the Audi R15 TDI.
Porsche won the GT2 Manufacturers' Championship, edging out BMW and Ferrari.
The series featured hybrid technology for the first time, with the introduction of the Acura ARX-02a hybrid LMP1 car.

Overview

The 2009 American Le Mans Series (ALMS) marked the 41st season of endurance sports car racing in the United States, continuing the legacy of the IMSA GT Championship. This season featured a streamlined 10-race calendar, beginning with the Rolex 24 at Daytona on March 21 and concluding with the season finale at the Autódromo Hermanos Rodríguez in Mexico City on October 10.

ALMS maintained its focus on technological innovation, particularly in fuel efficiency and hybrid powertrains, aligning with its 'Green Challenge' initiative launched in 2008. The series attracted top international teams and manufacturers such as Audi, Porsche, BMW, and Acura, competing across four primary classes: LMP1, LMP2, GT1, and GT2.

LMP1 class: Audi dominated with the diesel-powered Audi R15 TDI, winning 7 of 10 races and securing the Teams' and Drivers' Championships.
LMP2 class: The de Ferran Motorsports Acura ARX-02a claimed the title, with drivers Simon Pagenaud and Gil de Ferran amassing consistent podium finishes.
GT1 class:Corvette Racing swept the season, winning all 10 races with the Chevrolet Corvette C6.R, driven by Antonio Garcia and Jan Magnussen.
GT2 class: Porsche took the Manufacturers' title, with Petit Le Mans and Sebring among key victories for the factory-backed teams.
Green Challenge: Introduced in 2008, this initiative awarded points for efficiency; Acura won the 2009 award for lowest emissions and best fuel economy.

How It Works

The American Le Mans Series followed a format similar to European endurance racing, with races lasting 2.5 to 12 hours and requiring multiple drivers per car. Points were awarded based on finishing position and class, with bonus points for the Green Challenge metrics.

Endurance Format:Races ranged from 2.45 hours (Long Beach) to 12 hours (Petit Le Mans), testing durability, strategy, and driver stamina across multiple stints.
Class Structure:Four main classes (LMP1, LMP2, GT1, GT2) allowed diverse vehicles to compete simultaneously under performance-based balancing rules.
Driver Rotation: Each car required at least two drivers, with mandatory pit stops for driver changes and refueling every 45–60 minutes.
Scoring System:350 points for a win, decreasing by 10 per position, with additional points awarded for pole position and leading a lap.
Green Challenge: Introduced in 2008, it measured CO2 emissions, fuel consumption, and noise, rewarding eco-friendly performance with bonus championship points.
Manufacturer Involvement:Audi, Porsche, BMW, and Acura fielded factory or factory-supported teams, investing heavily in R&D and marketing through motorsport.

Comparison at a Glance

The 2009 ALMS season can be compared across classes to highlight performance trends and manufacturer dominance.

Class	Champion Team	Champion Drivers	Wins	Manufacturer
LMP1	Audi Sport North America	Rinaldo Capello, Allan McNish, Tom Kristensen	7	Audi
LMP2	de Ferran Motorsports	Simon Pagenaud, Gil de Ferran	4	Acura
GT1	Corvette Racing	Antonio Garcia, Jan Magnussen	10	Chevrolet
GT2	Petit Engineering	Marc Lieb, Wolf Henzler	3	Porsche
Overall Wins	—	—	24 total	—

The table illustrates the dominance of factory-backed teams, particularly Corvette Racing’s perfect 10-win season in GT1 and Audi’s superiority in LMP1. Porsche’s GT2 title was hard-fought, with only a narrow margin over BMW and Ferrari in the final standings.

Why It Matters

The 2009 ALMS season was a pivotal moment in American sports car racing, showcasing technological innovation and setting the stage for future hybrid and electric prototypes. It also reinforced the U.S. as a key market for global manufacturers seeking to demonstrate performance and efficiency.

Hybrid Technology: The Acura ARX-02a hybrid prototype debuted in 2009, marking a shift toward electrified endurance racing.
Manufacturer Rivalry:Audi vs. Porsche vs. BMW battles increased visibility and investment in the series.
Green Innovation: The Green Challenge encouraged eco-conscious engineering, influencing later FIA WEC regulations.
Driver Development: Young talents like Simon Pagenaud gained exposure, later moving to IndyCar and Formula 1.
Global Reach: Races in Mexico and the U.S. expanded ALMS’s international footprint.
Legacy: The 2009 season helped lay groundwork for the 2014 merger with Grand-Am to form the IMSA WeatherTech SportsCar Championship.

Ultimately, the 2009 American Le Mans Series blended high-speed competition with environmental responsibility, shaping the future of endurance racing in North America.