2001 Mosport

2001 was the third season for the American Le Mans Series. The rules for the series followed those of the legendary 24 Hour of Le Mans which meant there were four classes of cars competing.

Le Mans Prototype 900 (LMP900) – These were the purpose-built race cars powered by a 6.0-liter normally aspirated or 4.0-liter turbocharged engine. The vehicles could weigh no less than 900-kilograms. Audi, BMW and Cadillac entered two factory supported cars. Privateer teams entered cars manufactured by Riley & Scott, Lola and Panoz.
Le Mans Prototype 675 (LMP675) – Introduced in 2001 was the LMP675 class for cars which could weigh no less than 675-kilograms. The rules for the vehicles were written so that the two LMP classes (LMP900 and LMP675) would be contending for the overall win.
Grand Touring Sport (GTS) – This class included production-based cars such as the Dodge Viper GTS-R, Chevrolet Corvette C5-R, Saleen S7-R and Porsche 911 Turbo. The vehicles were permitted to use 8.0-liter normally aspirated or 4.0-liter turbocharged engines. These cars could weigh no less than 1,100-kilograms.
Grand Touring (GT) – The GT cars were also restricted to an 1,100-kilogram weight rule and had similar engines limitation as the GTS class. These were also production-based cars such as the BMW M3, Porsche GT3RS and Chevrolet Corvette C5-R. Unlike the GTS entries, competitors in this category could not use carbon fiber brakes.

The 2001 ALMS schedule was comprised of ten events. Lowes Motor Speedway was initially included on the calendar but it was later cancelled. The opening round, the Grand Prix of Texas, was held at Texas Motor Speedway which was the only time in ALMS history that the opening event was not the 12 Hours of Sebring. After Sebring, teams travelled to Europe for race weekends at Donington Park, England and Jarama in Spain. The first stop back in North America was at Infineon Raceway and followed Portland International Raceway. Round seven was held in Canada at Mosport International Raceway. One week later the series was at the Mid-Ohio Sports Car Course. The penultimate event took place at Laguna Seca with the championship concluding at Road Atlanta for Petit Le Mans.

Mosport International Raceway hosted round seven of the American Le Mans Series. The 2001 Gran Turismo 3 Grand Prix of Mosport had a total of twenty-six entries. Teams would compete for two-hours, forty-five-minutes around the ten-turn 2.459-mile road course.

Conditions at Mosport were similar to last year’s event, competitors had to contend with a wet track during the race. The field of twenty-six entries heads into Mosport’s corner one for the first lap. Leading the way is Rinaldo Capello in the pole-winning Audi R8. Challenging Capello for the position is the Panoz LMP-1 of third place starter, Jan Magnussen. Trailing these two is Capello’s teammate, Frank Biela in the No. 2 Audi R8.

Audi was dominating the season but encountered their first loss to Panoz in the previous round at Portland. Audi drivers in the No. 2 R8, Frank Biela and Emanuele Pirro started on the outside of the front row. For most of the race, they chased the David Brabham / Jan Magnussen Panoz. A slow pit-stop by the Panoz team took the duo out of contention. The No. 2 Audi grabbed control of the contest and won by a margin of two-laps.

The GTS point’s leaders, Ron Fellows and Johnny O’Connell entered Mosport with three series victories in four starts. Fellows drove the first stint and started from the rear of the field due to a clutch issue in qualifying. During his time behind the wheel, he spun and damaged the Corvette while avoiding a GT car. Despite these challenges, the duo won by a one-lap margin and strengthened their lead in the title chase with three events remaining.

Dick Barbour Racing entered two LMP675 Reynard 01Q. The team was on a class winning streak – capturing three in a row and were looking for a fourth at Mosport. Drivers, Bruno Lambert and Didier de Radigues, qualified on the category pole but failed the tech inspection (diffuser too high) and started from the rear of the grid. It was of little consequence as the duo drove through the field and scored the LMP675 victory.

Another team that failed the post-qualifying technical inspection was the No. 42 BMW M3 GTR driven by J.J. Lehto and Jorg Muller. The BMW was too low and was sent to the back of the grid for the start. Despite this handicap, the two drivers were able to move up the order. A superior race and pit strategy under the direction of Team Schnitzer’s Charly Lamm gave Lehto and Muller their second victory of the season.

The LMP900 podium for round seven of the 2001 American Le Mans Series at Mosport International Raceway. In the center of the rostrum are the winners from Audi Sport North America, Frank Biela and Emanuele Pirro. On the left side are the runner-ups, David Brabham and Jan Magnussen. On the right and giving Cadillac their first podium finish are Emmanuel Collard and Christophe Tinseau.

Panoz Motor Sports started the season with their new Panoz LMP-07. When the car proved to be unreliable and slow, they reverted to the last years LMP-01. It proved to be the right decision as David Brabham and Jan Magnussen was victorious in the previous race at Portland. At Mosport, they struggled after a practice crash. With the car repaired, they qualified third and captured a runner-up finish – albeit two-laps behind the winners.

The only car to beat the dominant Corvette C5.R this year was the Konrad Team Saleen S7-R driven by team owner, Franz Konrad and Terry Borcheller. Konrad and Borcheller along with Oliver Gavin were victorious at Sebring. At Mosport, they started first in class but were unable to match the Corvette’s pace and finished second in GTS. Interestingly, the team started the race on Goodyear rain tires and finished the event on Dunlop slicks.

The No. 43 BMW M3 GTR inherited the class pole position when their teammates failed the post-qualifying technical inspection. The Team Schnitzer BMW was shared by Dirk Mueller and Fredrick Ekblom. Their season did not start until round two at Sebring where they failed to finish. Two races later in Spain, the pair grabbed their first win. At Mosport, Mueller and Ekblom started on the class pole and finished second.

For the fourth time in 2001 Corvette Racing’s, Ron Fellows and Johnny O’Connell stood on the top step of the GTS podium. On the right side of the rostrum are Terry Borcheller and team principal, Franz Konrad who captured the runner-up spot. Completing the podium are Fellows and O’Connell’s teammates from Corvette Racing, Andy Pilgrim and Kelly Collins.

During Saturday’s morning practice session Max Angelelli driving an LMP900 Cadillac Northstar LMP01 made contact the BMW M3 GTR driven by Bill Auberlen. The impact sent Auberlen into the turn nine tire barrier. Precautionary x-rays were taken, and Auberlen checked out fine but he would be unable to race. The car was repaired, and he would be replaced by Joe Foster. Series officials found Angelelli to be at fault and reprimanded him.

The third Audi R8 in the series was entered by Champion Racing and driven by veterans, Andy Wallace and Johnny Herbert. Wallace started fourth and spun the Audi on the first lap but did not damage the car or lose much time. Herbert drove the final stint and chased the Audi of Biela/Pirro and the Panoz of Brabham/Magnussen. When the Panoz fell out of contention, Herbert challenged the leader but in his haste, he crashed out of the contest.

The No. 1 Audi Sport North America Audi R8 shared by Rinaldo Capello and Tom Kristensen started on the pole. Capello and Kristensen entered the Mosport event with four victories (Texas, England, Spain and Sonoma) in 2001. This weekend, they would not be adding to their total. Capello drove the opening stint and crashed the Audi on the first lap. A second accident with Kristensen behind the wheel caused the team to retire.

Boris Said and Hans Stuck shared the No. 6 Prototype Technology Group BMW M3 GTR. Said missed the practice sessions as he was competing in a Trans Am race at Road America. Stuck started the race and demonstrated his wet weather driving abilities by pulling away from the other GT competitors. Said was in second place during the final stint but could not keep the No. 43 Schnitzer BMW at bay and finished third in class.

The No. 7 Cadillac Northstar LMP01 was driven by Christophe Tinseau and Emmanuel Collard. Tinseau was filling in for series regular, Eric Bernard who injured himself in a mountain biking accident. Tinseau and Collard were gridded sixth for the start of the two-hour, forty-five-minute event. Unlike most of their competition the pair drove a clean race and remained on the track. They finished third – giving Cadillac their first podium.

Alex Job drivers, Sascha Maassen and Lucas Luhr led the GT standings based on their performance earlier in the season. With the arrival of the V8 powered BMWs that lead was shrinking. To have any chance of winning the title, they would have to score podium finishes for the remainder of the year. That scenario did not play out for Maassen and Luhr as they finished one-lap behind the top three BMWs in fourth place.

Dyson Racing had not competing in the series since the opening round at Sebring. James Weaver and Butch Leitzinger would be piloting the No. 16 Riley & Scott MKIIIC. As a privateer team, they could compete with larger air restrictors. After qualifying fifth, the team’s times were disallowed as the rear wing was too high and they used unapproved engine air source. Despite starting from the rear of the field, the pair finished fifth.

The LMP675 podium for round seven of the 2001 American Le Mans Series at Mosport International Raceway. In the center of the rostrum are the winners from Dick Barbour Racing, Bruno Lambert and Didier de Radigues. This was the team’s fourth consecutive class victory. On the left side are the runner-ups, also from Dick Barbour Racing, Milka Duno and John Graham. And, on the right are KnightHawk Racings, Steve Knight and Claudia Hurtgen.

POS.	CLASS	DRIVERS	CAR	ENTRANT	LAPS	RETIREMENTS
1	LMP900	Biela / Pirro	Audi R8	Audi Sport North America	115	-
2	LMP900	Magnussen / Brabham	Panoz LMP-1 Roadster S	Panoz Motor Sports	113	-
3	LMP900	Tinseau / Collard	Cadillac Northstar LMP 01	Team Cadillac	112	-
4	LMP900	Taylor / Angelelli	Cadillac Northstar LMP 01	Team Cadillac	112	-
5	LMP900	Weaver / Leitzinger	Riley & Scott Mk III C Lincoln	Dyson Racing	112	-
6	LMP675	de Radigues / Lambert	Reynard 01Q Judd	Dick Barbour Racing	111	-
7	GTs	Fellows / O'Connell	Chevrolet Corvette C5.R	Corvette Racing	109	-
8	GTS	Konrad / Borcheller	Saleen S7-R	Konrad Team Saleen	108	-
9	GTS	Pilgrim / Collins	Chevrolet Corvette C5.R	Corvette Racing	107	-
10	GT	Lehto / Müller	BMW M3 GTR	BMW Motorsport	107	-
11	GT	Ekblom / Mueller	BMW M3 GTR	BMW Motorsport	107	-
12	GT	Stuck / Said	BMW M3 GTR	Prototype Technology Group	107	-
13	GT	Maassen / Luhr	Porsche GT3RS	Alex Job Racing	106	-
14	LMP900	Wallace / Herbert	Audi R8	Champion Racing	104	Accident
15	GTS	Donohue / Lewis	Dodge Viper GTS.R	American Viperacing	103	-
16	GT	Burgess / Wallinder	Porsche GT3RS	Seikel Motorsport	102	-
17	GT	Wankum / Pabst	Porsche GT3R	Kyser Racing	96	-
18	GT	Willingham / Wars	Porsche GT3R	Dick Barbour Racing	95	-
19	LMP675	Graham / Duno	Reynard 01Q Judd	Dick Barbour Racing	95	-
20	GT	Pobst / Menzel	Porsche GT3RS	Alex Job Racing	92	Mechanical
21	GTS	Martindale / Weickardt	Dodge Viper GTS.R	American Viperacing	88	-
22	LMP675	Hurtgen / Knight	Lola B2K/40 Nissan	Roock-KnightHawk Racing	56	Mechanical
23	GT	Jonsson / Foster	BMW M3 GTR	Prototype Technology Group	27	Accident
24	LMP900	Capello / Kristensen	Audi R8	Audi Sport North America	24	Accident
25	GT	Mowlem / Bernhard	Porsche GT3RS	Petersen Motorsports	21	Accident
26	LMP900	Graf / Lagorce	Panoz LMP-1 Roadster S	Panoz Motor Sports	1	Accident

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