Question: What's going on between the ACO & ALMS, and inmplications for Corvette's Grand AM entry?

[raisin man]

The ACO has now made Petit Lemans a second-class road race by scheduling a round of the World Endurance Championship elsewhere on the same weekend (in Bahrain, I think). Does the ACO now believe the U.S. and ALMS merit only one road race (Sebring) as part of the World Endurance Championship series?

Put another way, does Corvette's recent entry in the France family-controlled Grand American Road Racing Series indicate Chevrolet/GM is disappointed with the ACO, and looking to diversify away from the ACO/ALMS road racing series?


What do you guys think?

 

[Mark Watkins]

The ACO has now made Petit Lemans a second-class road race by scheduling a round of the World Endurance Championship elsewhere on the same weekend (in Bahrain, I think). Does the ACO now believe the U.S. and ALMS merit only one road race (Sebring) as part of the World Endurance Championship series?

Put another way, does Corvette's recent entry in the France family-controlled Grand American Road Racing Series indicate Chevrolet/GM is disappointed with the ACO, and looking to diversify away from the ACO/ALMS road racing series?


What do you guys think?

I havn't seen anything recently, but I seem to remember something about ALMS and the ACO splitting somewhat on rules this year. Since National Speed Sport News stopped printing, I don't keep up on road racing as well.

Mark

 

[Tuna]

GM wants to play in both series. GM lobbied long and hard to get the France family to change the DP cars and allow them to look more like real cars and make the green house smaller.

Corvette racing is still playing in GT in the ALMS.

Also, the ACO/WEC official web site that they moved the Bahrain race to the weekend before Petit Le Mans.

But, you're right in that the ACO and the ALMS are not getting along as much as they used to.

 

[raisin man]

GM wants to play in both series. GM lobbied long and hard to get the France family to change the DP cars and allow them to look more like real cars and make the green house smaller.

Corvette racing is still playing in GT in the ALMS.

Also, the ACO/WEC official web site that they moved the Bahrain race to the weekend before Petit Le Mans.

But, you're right in that the ACO and the ALMS are not getting along as much as they used to.

Agreed - but moving Bahrain's date still only leaves the U.S. with one road race that really counts in the WEC.

Although I have no privileged information, I'm sensing Corvette Racing is (a little?) irritated with the ACO. At the 2011 Corvette Corral at Petit, Fehan indicated he was headed to France later in 2011 armed with some data on Corvette versus the competition - presumably to persuade the ACO to lessen weight penalties favoring the competition. From my perspective, Fehan and Corvette seem have taken the good with the bad and have not complained too much - but this isn't the first time we've heard these concerns.

Additionally - and despite ALMS CEO Atherton's statements to the contrary - I think ALMS remains in the weeds on television/media coverage. If I ran GM Motorsports, I would be concerned about the impact of fewer viewers for ALMS events and a Corvette Grand Am entry is a sensible hedge against other unfavorable developments. Chevrolet already competes in the GT series that currently runs alongside Grand Am which probably adds to the business case for a bigger footprint in Grand Am.

In spite of what Atherton says, authoritative data on ALMS viewership via these alternative channels is elusive. Atherton's long term view of the future of autosport media coverage might have some merit - but I suspect technology and economics will conspire to move it in another, unforeseen direction. The Wall Street Journal has had a couple of recent articles on potential moves to unbundle ESPN and other sports-related channels to offset rising cable/ SAT TV bills which would add to the broadcast/online programming confusion.

See also Steven Cole Smith's excellent column on ALMS in the 12/26/11 edition of Autoweek.

 

[Mark Watkins]

Something else that might be the reason to go to Grand AM is TV. I believe ALMS is strictly internet.

Mark

 

[Tuna]

Something else that might be the reason to go to Grand AM is TV. I believe ALMS is strictly internet.

Mark

Not completely internet but the only TV time this past year were tape delayed recaps of the races. It really sucked.

NASCAR/Grand AM own the TV coverage in the good ole USA so GM wants to play in Grand AM and with something that looks like a Corvette. Can't blame them.