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First six-hour race draws 36 cars from prototype and GT classes
The American Le Mans Series presented by Tequila Patrón’s first six-hour race at Mazda Raceway Laguna Seca will feature the biggest grid for a Series event at the famed Monterey, Calif., venue in a decade and one of the largest for any professional championship at the circuit. It marks the third consecutive race that the Series has seen significant entry increases over the previous year.
Thirty-six cars representing four classes are on the initial entry list for the American Le Mans Series Monterey presented by Patrón. In addition to a new six-hour format – compared to four hours from 2004 to 2009 – the event date shifts from fall to spring: May 20-23.
All totaled, 10 auto and chassis marques dot the entry – BMW, Chevrolet, Ferrari, Ford, Honda Performance Development, Jaguar, Lola, ORECA, Porsche and Mazda – in addition to tire manufacturers Dunlop, Falken, Michelin and Yokohama.
The six-hour race means additional points are at stake with 25 points going to class winners (compared to 20 at standard-length events). Three of the four classes feature championship ties – LMP, GT and LMPC.
Mazda Raceway Laguna Seca is one of four venues to play host to a race during each of the American Le Mans Series’ previous 11 seasons. Fourteen different drivers have won overall at the track including Patrón Highcroft Racing’s Simon Pagenaud, who last year for de Ferran Motorsports.
The American Le Mans Series Monterey presented by Patrón is set for 2:30 p.m. PT on Saturday, May 22 from Mazda Raceway Laguna Seca. CBS Sports will broadcast the race from 1:30 to 3:30 p.m. ET on Saturday, May 29. Live radio coverage will be available on American Le Mans Radio presented by Porsche – a production of Radio Show Limited – as well as Sirius Channel 127 and XM Channel 242. Visit the Series’ schedule page for ticket and accommodation information on all Series events. Live Timing and Scoring, track schedule, entry list and much, much more will be available on Racehub at americanlemans.com.
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