ALMS - State of the Union Address
High Points and Comments

I will not attempt to recap the entire one hour presentation by Scott Atherton and crew, but there were some interesting bits of information that are worth noting.

Atherton opened by introducing the other dignitaries present for the address. Conspicuously place in the front row and introduced first was Jim France, Grand Am’s founder and NASCAR V.P. Alongside France and introduced next was Ed Bennett, Grand Am’s President and CEO. Following these two in introductions were the heads of the ACO and WEC.

Much time and words were devoted to attendance figures, TV rating and marketing research.  All were favorable in reporting and forecasting the growth of the ALMS.  The most significant announcement in this arena was the that Tequila Patron would return as series presenting sponsor for the 2013 season.  This is fairly significant on a few fronts.  Firstly it gives next season some credibility in what is perceived to be a ‘lame duck’ year as the merger between Grand Am and the ALMS is underway and will be implemented in the 2014 season. Also Atherton noted that Patron Spirits is not only committed to the ALMS for 2013 but for ‘many years to come'. That is significant as Patron’s boss, Ed Brown, not only is the title sponsor but an owner and driver of a two-car team in the coveted GT class. Can we take some reassurance in the future of our beloved GT class if Patron is willing to put their name on the last year of the ALMS and indicate continued support into the future?  If the initial talks merger talks were to eliminate, or change drastically the current ALMS GT class would Patron be willing to put anymore of their money into the series?

The television package for next year will remain mostly unchanged with ABC/ESPN3 getting the bulk of the work, but the was one very significant change. An agreement with Fox Sports was crafted so that both of the premier events, 12 Hours of Sebring and the Petit LeMans will be broadcast live in their full length on SPEED.  Atherton made it clear that this agreement, where ABC/ESPN has given up the rights to the two biggest sportscar events in North America but kept all the other ones, was “a direct result of the merger”.  Atherton also noted that the ABC/ESPN coverage has stepped up to show half of the sprint races live, and many of them will also be in their full length. 

It’s hard to believe I’m saying this, but it appears the marketing strength of NASCAR, which has a HUGE influence on Fox Sports and SPEED, has used their leverage to the benefit of the ALMS and it’s fans. 

There were three points about new technology coming to the series in 2013 that were noteworthy.  Patrick Racing has natural gas power PC engine that is running on the dyno and should be on the race track sometime in 2013.  Mazda is expected to debut it’s new power plant, the Skyactiv diesel, at Sebring.  Although the Delta-Wing is not ‘new’ anymore, it fits in this category.  The Delta-Wing will race in the ALMS in 2013 and will compete for points and a championship.  No details were given about which class the D-W would compete in. 

Atherton ended with some details about the ongoing merger with Grand Am.  It was reiterated again that this is a merger, not a take-over and that both sides have equal input.  Atherton also noted that he expected to have class structure and technical regulations for the new series ready by year end.  The new series name, logo and other branding was slated for completion by the first quarter of 2013.

And the last bit of positive foreshadowing for ALMS fans came from Grand Am’s Ed Bennett.  Bennett and Jim France have traveled to France along with the ALMS gang to meet at Le Mans with the ACO.  Combine that with a comments from Bennett that he wants the Rolex 24 to “regain the international flair that it used to have” and that he “expects to have the best sportscars from around the world competing there in 2014.”

The willingness to include the ACO, the acknowledgement of the degradation of the Rolex 24 in recent years, and the recognition of the relevance sportscars outside of their current offering I believe bodes well for the future.

RW