American Le Mans Series

26 Entered for ALMS Grand Prix of Atlanta

Twenty-six cars will take the green flag on April 17 at Road Atlanta for the renewal of the spring sports car race at the 12-turn circuit. The race, long ago a tradition at the circuit, was not on the 2004 schedule for the series.

The race, a two hour, forty-five minute timed-event sponsored by Sportsbook.com, will premier the LMP2-class Courage Mazda campaigned by BK Motorsports (also sponsored by Sportsbook.com).

The Mazda effort marks the return of Mazda to the top levels of Sports Car racing. Mazda won the 1991 24 Hours of Le Mans with a full factory effort. This time, the team is privately funded effort executed by Wisconsin-based BK Motorsports. The car will feature a three-rotor version of the Mazda Renesis rotary engine.

Mazda will face competition in LMP2 from 12 Hour of Sebring Champions Miracle Motorsports, in an AER-powered Courage. Lolas from Intersport and van der Steur will complete LMP2.

The rest of the field looks very similar to the American Le Mans Series fields of last year.

The Champion Audi team will bring two R8’s to Atlanta to face off against the Dyson Lolas in LMP1.

A trio of Corvettes, two from the factory team, and a third from Pacific Coast Motorsports will contest GT1. Returning after the Sebring event is the Maserati MC12 of Maserati Corse, as well as the ACEMCO Saleen and the Carsport Viper.

GT2 will be the largest group in the race, with eleven cars expected. Teams from Alex Job, Peterson, BAM!, Flying Lizard, The Racer’s Group, and J3 Racing will all field Porsche 911’s. Two Panoz Esperantes will round out the starters in GT2.