American Le Mans Series

- Both Audi R10 TDI cars involved in collisions just before the end
- Lucas Luhr / Marco Werner win LM P1 class
- Frank Biela / Emanuele Pirro third in class despite premature exit within the race

Ingolstadt/Salt Lake City, 18 May 2008 – Team Audi Sport North America’s pair of Audi R10 TDI prototypes had the chance to clinch another overall victory in the exciting fourth round of the American Le Mans Series near Salt Lake City (US state of Utah). After a dramatic finish, however, Audi had to be content with victory in the LM P1 class.

Audi R10 at Salt Lake: Photo credit: Robin Thompson

Prior to May 18 American Le Mans Race

AUBURN HILLS, Mich., 14 May 2008 -- Audi of America, Inc. announced today a motorsports gathering in partnership with Strong Audi in downtown Salt Lake City on Thursday evening, May 15, 2008. Local customers and prospects will be hosted to welcome world champion race car drivers Emanuele Pirro and Frank Biela.

In preparation for Sunday’s American LeMans race at Miller Motorsports Park, the Audi drivers have already hit the ground running to practice for the race and also interact with local Audi customers and race fans to share their enthusiasm for TDI clean diesel racing and road technology.

BMW of North America to partner with Rahal Letterman Racing for 2009 season

Chicago, IL/Woodcliff Lake, NJ, February 6, 2008 -- BMW presented the racing version of the new BMW M3 at the Chicago Auto Show. Powered by a 485 bhp eight cylinder engine, this impressive race car has been designed to compete in the American Le Mans Series (ALMS) beginning in 2009. The car is based on the fourth generation of the BMW M3, the high-performance sports car produced by BMW M GmbH.

2009 BMW M3: BMW returns to the American Le Mans Series (ALMS) in 2009 with the latest generation BMW M3

New Drivers Christian Fittipaldi, Scott Sharp Join Acura Regulars In LMP2 Class

SEBRING, Fla, January 30, 2008 – The new Acura ARX-01b prototype cars made their maiden voyage this week in American Le Mans Series winter testing at the famed Sebring International Raceway, in preparation for the 56th annual Mobil 1 12 Hours of Sebring set for March 15.

The defending Sebring champions in the LMP2 class, the No. 26 XM Satellite Radio Acura team from Andretti Green Racing returned to the 3.7-mile, 17-turn road course with sensational speed from drivers Bryan Herta and Christian Fittipaldi. Fittipaldi, a longtime open-wheel racing star, moved to the AGR team this winter and quickly showed the speed needed to challenge the Penske Racing Porsche, the defending series winners.

2008 ALMS Effort a Three-Way Partnership

SEBRING, Fla., Jan. 29, 2008 /PRNewswire/ -- MAZDASPEED Motorsports Development used the American Le Mans Series (ALMS) Winter Test to unveil their 2008 colors, reflecting the addition of two new partners. BP and Yokohama Tire Corporation have joined the B-K Motorsports Lola B07/46-Mazda MZR-R LMP2 team with multi-year partnerships.

2008 Mazda entry for the American Le Mans Series features new partners BP, Castrol, and Yokohama Tire Corporation.: (PRNewsFoto/Mazda North American Operations, John Thawley)

Sebring, Fla., January 29, 2008 – In a technological breakthrough in both the renewable fuels arena and racing, KL Process Design Group (KL) of Rapid City, SD, will supply the American Le Mans Series with cellulosic E85 racing ethanol for the 2008 season. The fuel, produced from waste wood, will be used for the first time during the season opener — Mobil 1 Twelve Hours of Sebring on March 15, 2008. Consumer E85 is a blend of 85 percent ethanol and 15 percent gasoline. Cellulosic ethanol is produced from biomass such as wood waste, switchgrass or citrus. Corvette Racing will be the first team to use the cellulosic-based flex-fuel ethanol in competition.

Woodcliff Lake, NJ., January 17, 2008... Drivers entering the 2008 Formula BMW Americas Championship will face the most challenging and diverse schedule in the series' five year history.

Chevrolet Factory Team to Demonstrate Performance and Environmental Benefits of E85 Ethanol in 12-Race Series

2008-01-15, DETROIT - Corvette Racing will be powered by E85 ethanol, a high-octane, renewable alternative fuel, in the 2008 American Le Mans Series. As part of the series' "green racing" initiative, the most successful team in ALMS history will use a blend of 85 percent ethanol and 15 percent gasoline in the demanding arena of endurance road racing.

After winning its seventh consecutive GT1 manufacturers and team championships in 2007 using E10 (10 percent ethanol), Corvette Racing's twin Compuware C6.R race cars will make the transition to E85 for the 2008 season.

DETROIT, Jan. 14 /PRNewswire/ -- NAIAS Racing Day will commence at the 2008 North American International Auto Show (NAIAS) in Detroit on Friday, Jan. 25 during NAIAS Public Days. Presented by Sprint, and in its third year, the event offers motorsports fans the rare opportunity to meet American Le Mans Series, IndyCar Series and NASCAR Sprint Cup Series superstars and walk away with exclusive NASCAR Sprint Cup Series and Sprint-branded giveaways.

From the Race Track to the Filling Station, Spotlight on Ethanol in Atlanta on October 2

Sept. 27, 2007 -- Atlanta motorists can follow in the footsteps of the highly-technical race cars in the American Le Mans Series and make a choice at the pump for higher performance and cleaner air. E10, a blend of 10 percent ethanol and 90 percent gasoline, will be available for $2.25 per gallon. The event will take place from 11:30 a.m. – 1:00 p.m. on Tuesday, Oct. 2, 2007 at the Sam’s Mart/Shell station located at 5640 New Northside Drive NW, Atlanta, GA 30328.