The 2000 American Le Mans Series was the second running of the IMSA American Le Mans Series, and overall the 30th season of an IMSA GT Championship, dating back to the 1971 edition. It was a series for Le Mans Prototypes (LMP) and Grand Touring (GT) race cars divided into 3 classes: LMP, GTS, and GT. It began March 18, 2000 and ended December 31, 2000 after 12 races.
This season was the first time that the ALMS held races outside of North America, with two events held in Europe and one in Australia. These events helped with the creation of the 2001 European Le Mans Series season, although it was short-lived. An Asian Le Mans Series was also discussed but not developed.
The LMP class champion was Allan McNish, the GTS champion was Olivier Beretta and the GT champion was Dirk Müller. Audi won the Manufacturers championship.
Schedule
Rnd Race Length CircuitLocation Date 1 12 Hours of Sebring 12 Hours Sebring International RacewaySebring, Florida March 18 2 Grand Prix of Charlotte 2 Hours 45 Minutes Lowe's Motor SpeedwayConcord, North Carolina April 1 3 Silverstone 500 USA Challenge 500 Kilometers Silverstone CircuitSilverstone, Northamptonshire May 13 4 1000 km of Nürburgring 1000 Kilometers NürburgringNürburg, Rhineland-Palatinate July 9 5 Grand Prix of Sonoma 2 Hours 45 Minutes Sears Point RacewaySonoma, California July 23 6 Grand Prix of Mosport 2 Hours 45 Minutes Mosport ParkBowmanville, Ontario August 6 7 Grand Prix of Texas 2 Hours 45 Minutes Texas Motor SpeedwayFort Worth, Texas September 2 8 Rose City Grand Prix 2 Hours 45 Minutes Portland International RacewayPortland, Oregon September 10 9 Petit Le Mans 1000 Miles or 10 Hours Road AtlantaBraselton, Georgia September 30 10 Monterey Sports Car Championships 2 Hours 45 Minutes Laguna Seca RacewayMonterey, California October 15 11 Grand Prix of Las Vegas 2 Hours 45 Minutes Las Vegas Motor SpeedwayLas Vegas, Nevada October 29 12 Race of a Thousand Years 1000 Kilometers or 6 Hours Adelaide Street CircuitAdelaide, South Australia December 31Sources: The following rounds was included on the original calendar but were later cancelled. +RaceLengthCircuitLocationDateCancellation reason San Diego Grand Prix2 Hours 45 MinutesStreets of San DiegoSan Diego, CaliforniaFeb. 27/Nov. 5Switched to Trans-Am SeriesPlanned Asian round??????August 6Never materialized
Schedule changes The 2000 schedule greatly expanded from the previous season, adding not only three races outside North America, but an additional North American round as well. Silverstone Circuit and the Nürburgring were scheduled before and after the 24 Hours of Le Mans, while the Race of a Thousand Years in Australia was held long after the North American season ended. Road courses at Charlotte Motor Speedway and Texas Motor Speedway replaced the previous year's Grand Prix of Atlanta at Road Atlanta. There were plans to have a 13th round held in Asia but this failed to materialize.
The San Diego Grand Prix which had initially been on the 1999 calendar before cancellation was once again planning on hosting a race at the former Naval Training Center, initially for November 7th, but then rescheduled to February 27, which would have made it the season opener. The race was once again cancelled and replaced by the Las Vegas Motor Speedway like the previous season. The San Diego Grand Prix would instead host the season finale of the Trans-Am Series. Entry list Sources: Le Mans Prototype (LMP) TeamChassisEngineTyreNo.DriversRnds. Team Rafanelli SRLLola B2K/10Judd (Rafanelli) GV4 4.0 L V100 Mimmo Schiattarella1–3, 5–12 Didier de Radigues1–3, 5–12 Pierluigi Martini1 Norman Simon9, 12 Pole TeamRiley & Scott Mk IIIJudd GV4 4.0 L V1002 Norman Simon1–4 Günther Blieninger1–4 Mark Simo1–4 Multimatic MotorsportsLola B98/10Ford Cosworth XD 2.6 L Turbo V806 Scott Maxwell1 John Graham1 David Empringham1 Panoz Motor SportsPanoz LMP-1 Roadster-S (Rd. 1–11) Panoz LMP07 (Rd. 12)Élan 6L8 6.0L V8 (Rd. 1–11) Élan (Zytek) 4.0L V8 (Rd. 12)1 Jan MagnussenAll David Brabham1–11 Pierre-Henri Raphanel1 Klaus Graf12Panoz LMP-1 Roadster-SÉlan 6L8 6.0L V82 Johnny O'ConnellAll Hiroki KatoAll Klaus Graf1, 4, 9, 1212 David Brabham12 Greg Murphy12 Jason Bright12 Philip Creighton Motorsport Ltd.Lola B2K/10Ford (Roush) 6.0 L V88 Scott Schubot1*, 6 Henry Camferdam1* Claude Bourbonnais6 Team CadillacCadillac Northstar LMPCadillac Northstar 4.0 L Turbo V89 Franck Lagorce1, 9 Andy Wallace1, 9 Butch Leitzinger1, 919 Wayne Taylor1, 8–10 Max Angelelli1, 8–10 Eric van de Poele1, 9 Phillips Motorsports, Inc. Knight Hawk RacingLola B2K/40Nissan (AER) VQL 3.0L V613 Mel Hawkins8, 10–11 Steven Knight8, 10–11 Pescarolo SportCourage C52Peugeot A32 3.2 L Turbo V616 Sébastien Bourdais3–4 Olivier Grouillard3–4 Emmanuel Clérico3–4 SMGCourage C60Judd GV4 4.0 L V1017 Philippe Gache3–4 Gary Formato3 Didier Cottaz4 Thomas Bscher PromotionBMW V12 LMBMW S70 6.0 L V1218 Thomas Bscher3* Geoff Lees3* GLV RacingFerrari 333 SPFerrari F310E 4.0 L V1218 Giovanni Lavaggi4 Nicolás Filiberti4 Kremer RacingLola B98/K2000Ford (Roush) 6.0 L V820 Christian Gläsel3–4 Christian Vann3 Christophe Bouchut4 Team AscariAscari A410Judd GV4 4.0 L V1024 Klaas Zwart3–4 Max Wilson3 Werner Lupberger4 Jeffrey van Hooydonck4 Johansson-Matthews RacingReynard 2KQ-LMJudd GV4 4.0L V1024 39 Jim Matthews5–9 Mark Simo5–936 Stefan Johansson1, 3–11 Guy Smith1, 3–11 Jim Matthews1* ConreroRiley & Scott Mk IIIFord Cosworth 4.0 L V825 Beppe Gabbiani4 Angelo Lancelotti4 Felipe Ortiz4 Doran Lista RacingFerrari 333 SPJudd GV4 4.0 L V1027 Didier Theys1 Mauro Baldi1 Fredy Lienhard1 Konrad MotorsportLola B2K/10Ford (Roush) 6.0L V828 Franz Konrad4, 9–12 Enzo Calderari4 Lilian Bryner4 Charles Slater9–12 Terry Borcheller9 Alan Heath1235 Jan Lammers3* Tom Coronel3* Motorola DAMSCadillac Northstar LMPCadillac Northstar 4.0L Turbo V831 Emmanuel Collard1, 3–4, 9, 12 Eric Bernard1, 3–4, 9, 12 Christophe Tinseau1*32 Christophe Tinseau1*, 3–4, 9, 12 Marc Goossens1*, 3–4, 9, 12 Franck Montagny4 Intersport RacingLola B98/10 (Rd. 1) Lola B2K/10 (Rd. 5, 7–11)Ford 5.1 L V8 (Rd. 1) Judd GV4 4.0 L V10 (Rd. 5, 7–11)37 Jon Field1, 5, 7–11 Dale Whittington1 Don Whittington1 Rick Sutherland5, 7–11 Oliver Gavin9 Champion RacingLola B2K/10Porsche 3.6 L Turbo Flat-638 James Weaver1, 3, 5 Dorsey Schroeder1, 3, 5 Ralf Kelleners1 BMW Motorsport Schnitzer MotorsportBMW V12 LMRBMW S70 6.0 L V1242 J.J. Lehto1-11 Jörg Müller1-1143 Bill Auberlen1-11 Jean-Marc Gounon1-11 Steve Soper1 ROCReynard 2KQ-LMVolkswagen 2.0 L Turbo I453 Ralf Kelleners4 Jérôme Policand454 Jean-Christophe Boullion4 Jordi Gené4 R&M Endurance Racing SRLRiley & Scott Mk IIIJudd GV4 4.0 L V10?55 Fabio Montani4* Marco Zadra4* Gary Formato4* Martin Snow RacingLola B2K/40Nissan (AER) VQL 3.0L V656 Martin Snow10–11 Gunnar Jeannette10–11 East Belgian Racing TeamPilbeam MP84Nissan (AER) VQL 3.0L V6?58 Pierre Merche4* Alexander van der Lof4* Martin Henderson4* Project 2000 RaceworksPilbeam MP84Nissan (AER) VQL 3.0L V667 Jim Cornish12 Jamie Wall12 Michael Mallock12 Robinson RacingReynard 2KQJudd GV4 4.0 L V1074 George Robinson1 Jack Baldwin1 Irv Hoerr1 Audi Sport North AmericaAudi R8 (Rd. 1, 4–12) Audi R8R (Rd. 2–3)Audi 3.6 L Turbo V877 Rinaldo CapelloAll Allan McNishAll Michele Alboreto1–3, 9 Brad Jones12*78 Frank BielaAll Emanuele PirroAll Tom Kristensen1, 9 Sezio Florida Racing TeamNorma M-2000-01Mader 4.0 L V879 Patrice Roussel1* John Macaluso1* PiR CompetitionDebora LMP299BMW 3.0L I699 Pierre Bruneau4 Marc Rostan4
Grand Touring Sport (GTS) TeamChassisEngineTyreNo.DriversRnds. Roock Motorsport North AmericaPorsche 911 GT2Porsche 3.8 L Turbo Flat-608 Vic Rice1–11 Hubert Haupt1, 3–4 Claudia Hürtgen1 Zak Brown2–11 Mike Fitzgerald8 Martin Snow909 Zak Brown1 Mandfred Jurasz1 Stephen Earle1 Mike Fitzgerald7, 9 Jürgen Lorenz7 Spencer Trenery9 Corvette RacingChevrolet Corvette C5-RChevrolet 7.0 L V83 Ron Fellows1, 6–7, 9–11 Justin Bell1, 7*, 9 Chris Kneifel1, 9 Andy Pilgrim6–7, 9–114 Kelly Collins1, 9–10 Andy Pilgrim1, 9 Franck Fréon1, 9 Justin Bell10–11 Chris Kneifel10–11 Patriot MotorsportsDodge Viper GTS-RDodge 8.0L V1011 Tom Weickardt9* Bret Parker9*12 John Paul, Jr.9 Neil Hanneman9 Bret Parker9 Henry Gilbert9* Konrad MotorsportPorsche 911 GT2Porsche 3.8 L Turbo Flat-633 Franz Konrad1, 3 Charles Slater1, 4 John Paul, Jr.1 Jürgen von Gartzen3 Manfred Jurasz4 Michel Neugarten4 Proton CompetitionPorsche 911 GT2Porsche 3.6 L Turbo Flat-635 Christian Ried4 Gerold Ried4 Intersport RacingPorsche 911 GT2Porsche 3.8 L Turbo Flat-637 Vic Rice12 Kevin Buckler12 DonMcGill.com Porsche RacingPorsche 911 GT2Porsche 3.8 L Turbo Flat-640 Bertrand Godin2 Sam Shalala2 BVB MotorsportPorsche 911 GT2Porsche 3.8 L Turbo Flat-644 Geoff Lister3 Max Beaverbroock3 Freisinger MotorsportPorsche 911 GT2Porsche 3.8 L Turbo Flat-649 Stéphane Ortelli3–4 Wolfgang Kaufmann3–4 Saleen/Allen SpeedlabSaleen S7-RFord 7.0L V855 Tommy Kendall10 Terry Borcheller10 Ron Johnson10 Carsport HollandChrysler Viper GTS-RChrysler 8.0 L V1025 Tom Coronel11 Mike Hezemans11 ZakspeedChrysler Viper GTS-RChrysler 8.0 L V1060 Peter Zakowski4* Chamberlain MotorsportChrysler Viper GTS-RChrysler 8.0 L V1061 Walter Brun3, 11 Toni Seiler3 Stephen Watson4, 9–10, 12 Xavier Pompidou4, 9 Thomas Erdos4 Milka Duno9–10, 12 Didier Defourny11 Ray Lintott1262 Horst Felbermayr Jr.3 Michael Culver3 Multimatic MotorsportsPorsche 911 GT2Porsche 3.6 L Turbo Flat-673 David Lacey6, 10 Greg Willkins6, 10 Viper Team OrecaDodge Viper GTS-RDodge 8.0 L V1091 Olivier BerettaAll Karl WendlingerAll Dominique Dupuy1, 12 Marc Duez4, 992 Tommy Archer1–11 David Donohue1–8, 10–11 Marc Duez1 Jean-Philippe Belloc4, 12 Boris Derichebourg9 Patrick Huisman9 Ni Amorim1293 Jean-Philippe Belloc1, 9 Ni Amorim1 Anthony Beltoise1 David Donohue9 Dominique Dupuy9 Grand Touring (GT) TeamChassisEngineTyreNo.DriversRnds. Reiser Callas RennsportPorsche 996 GT3-RPorsche 3.6 L Flat-602 Craig Stanton1 Hurley Haywood1 Joel Reiser1 RWS Red Bull MotorsportPorsche 996 GT3-RPorsche 3.6 L Flat-607 Luca Riccitelli1, 3–4 Dieter Quester1, 3–4 Philipp Peter1 Hans-Jörg Hofer3–4 Cirtek MotorsportPorsche 996 GT3-RPorsche 3.6 L Flat-6?09 Jürgen Lorenz12* Dick Barbour RacingPorsche 996 GT3-RPorsche 3.6 L Flat-65 Dirk MüllerAll Lucas LührAll15 Randy Wars7–9, 12 Jennifer Tumminelli7–8 Terry Borcheller7–8 Mike Brockman9 Paul Newman9 Christian Menzel12 John Graham1251 Sascha MaassenAll Bob WollekAll Prototype Technology GroupBMW M3 (E46)BMW 3.2 L I66 Johannes van Overbeek1–6, 10–11 Hans-Joachim Stuck1–4 Boris Said1–4 Peter Cunningham5, 10–11 Brian Simo6 Terry Borcheller12 Anthony Lazzaro127 Boris Said5–12 Hans-Joachim Stuck5–7, 9, 11–12 Johannes van Overbeek7–10, 12BMW M3 (E36) (Rd. 1–2)