Laguna Seca Race Preview

Laguna Seca Race Preview

Posted: October 19th, 2006 in American Le Mans
Author: Joe Martin
Photo By: Joe Martin

The American Le Mans Series comes to a close with the legendary Laguna Seca racing circuit. It will be a four-hour event that will race into darkness for only a couple of minutes this year with sunset right around 6:30pm. There are championships on the line and a vast number of rumors of what is going on with next year.

Audi North America has rapped up the LMP1 championship already and we wait to see if any teams are up to the challenge of giving Audi their first lost. It has been a spectacular year in giving the American public a great view of this new technology. It is time to get down to business in 2007 and gasoline is ready to prove that is not completely out of the picture. Team Creation will have another practice run this race for next year as they throw down a challenge against Audi.It is Penske Racing’s championship to win or loss with them leading the championship over the Intersport Racing Team. Both Porsche’s would have to DNF if Intersport to have a chance of winning the championship. It is doubtful that Penske will have them pushing as hard for the overall win like last year at the debut of this car.Corvette Racing and Aston Martin have battling all season and it will come down to the last race of the season. Lot’s of controversy has surround both teams arguing their points when rules were adjusted through the season. The ACO and American Le Mans Series are in talks to solve these issues for next season and create limited adjustments periods when both sides agree. It has been an interesting year and we wait for the final to finalize who will take home the championship.

In the GT2 class Flying Lizards Van Overbeek leads Bergmeister of Petersen White Lightning by 4 points. Team championship points are also very close with the Risi Ferrari’s leading the Flying Lizards by 6 points and Petersen White Lightning by 10 points. It will come down to the line to see who has the speed and endurance to complete the 4-hour event to bring home the 2006 championship.

A lot of exciting news should come out of this weekend with more team announcements for the 2007 season. Rahal Letterman Racing has announced today that they will be running a Porsche 997 GT2 program. Stay tuned to PitJournal.com for all of your American Le Mans Series announcements.

Joe Martin

PitJournal.com