ALMS returns to Long Beach in 2008
The American Le Mans Series returns to Southern California’s iconic car culture April 18-20 with the 34th running of the annual Toyota Grand Prix of Long Beach. The Toyota Grand Prix of Long Beach has announced a special “Super Saturday" package with the return of America’s premier sports car series that had its Long Beach debut earlier this year before a record crowd. Photo by Dan Boyds
“The Grand Prix of Long Beach has such great history," said Scott Atherton, President and CEO of the American Le Mans Series. “Its 34 years of tradition have made it America’s premier street course race. It is more than just a race. It is an event. It is an experience. It is where the greatest street race culture in North America meets the most relevant race car culture in North America.
“Our drivers, team owners, manufacturers and corporate partners all felt our inaugural experience was an unqualified success and a great way to premier our Series in Southern California. We look forward to coming back and making the Saturday show even better."
The famed 1.97-mile street circuit will see the American Le Mans Series be part of an exciting Saturday that also includes the Toyota Pro/Celebrity Race, Champ Car final qualifying, EZ Lube Team Drift Challenge on the track, and the Tecate Rock-N-Roar Concert and Miss Toyota Grand Prix of Long Beach Pageant in the evening. The Saturday-only reserved seat ticket includes all-rows seating in Grandstand #21 (in Turn 10) and Grandstand 26 (at the start of the pit straightaway) for only $57.
“Our fans have made it perfectly clear that the American Le Mans Series was one of the highlights of the 2007 weekend," said Jim Michaelian, president and CEO of the Grand Prix Association of Long Beach. “As a result, we’ve created a Saturday-only reserved seat ticket to accommodate the growing number of Series fans who not only enjoy the best in sports car racing, but plan on remaining for our Saturday evening activities, which are free to race ticket holders."
Southern California boats a density of new car dealerships unmatched in any other North American market. Because a primary focus for American Le Mans Series auto manufacturers is the transfer of technology from its race cars to customer cars, the positioning of the Long Beach event on the race schedule is of critical value.
“We are looking forward to returning to Long Beach," said Robert Clarke, president of Honda Performance Development. “The Grand Prix is in one of the largest U.S. markets and it is in Acura’s backyard (Torrance, CA). We have had great success at Long Beach previously, winning seven straight open-wheel races with Honda and the overall pole in this year’s American Le Mans Series race with Acura. We want to win there in 2008, so we are excited to race the streets of Long Beach again."
“This is one of the most important car markets in the world," continued Atherton. “Southern California is renowned for its car culture. We could not be more pleased to be back at Long Beach." ALMS PR
07/19/07 The fan-favorite American Le Mans Series is roaring back to the 34th Annual Toyota Grand Prix of Long Beach, April 18-20, 2008.
The series, which features four powerful classes racing at once – including such famous marques as Audi, Porsche, Corvette, Ferrari, Acura and Mazda– will top off the April 19 “Super Saturday" on-track activities with a 100-minute battle around the Grand Prix’ famed 1.97-mile street circuit.
It will be part of an exciting Saturday that also includes the Toyota Pro/Celebrity Race, Champ Car final qualifying, EZ Lube Team Drift Challenge on the track and the Tecate Rock-N-Roar Concert and Miss Toyota Grand Prix of Long Beach Pageant in the evening.
“Our fans have made it perfectly clear that the American Le Mans Series was one of the highlights of the 2007 weekend," said Jim Michaelian, president and CEO of the Grand Prix Association of Long Beach. “As a result, we’ve created a Saturday-only reserved seat ticket to accommodate the growing number of ALMS fans who not only enjoy the best in sports car racing, but plan on remaining for our Saturday evening activities, which are free to race ticket holders." The Saturday-only reserved seat ticket includes all-rows seating in grandstand #21 (in Turn 10) and grandstand 26 (at the start of the pit straightaway) for only $57. Toyota GP of Long Beach PR