STRONG CONTENDERS; The ALMS season should be good, with or without Audi.(Competition)

Byline: GARY WATKINS

The 2008 American Le Mans Series begins with a bang, and then it could turn into something even bigger and better. Audi's and Peugeot's LMP1-class turbo-diesels go head-to-head in the season-opening 12 Hours of Sebring on March 15, effectively a dry run for the big one at Le Mans in June. If Audi stays out of the ALMS for the remainder of the season, which is entirely possible, the battle for the overall win at each race will be fought by the LMP2 teams from Porsche and Acura.

The sports-car world has waited for an Audi-versus-Peugeot battle ever since Audi began an unprecedented period of domination back in 2000. Peugeot learned about winning at Le Mans during the early 1990s and now is leaving no stone unturned-or euro unspent-in pursuit of another Le Mans title, something it failed to achieve in its return to the 24-hour classic last year. Peugeot's participation at Sebring, in a country where it does not sell cars, is testament to that.

Sebring likely will give fans their only chance to witness the Peugeot 908 HDi up against Audi's R10 TDI on U.S. soil this year. The lone 908 entered for Sebring will return to Europe after the race. Remarkably, Audi could join Peugeot on the absentee list, bringing an end to its unbroken streak of ALMS participation, which dates back eight seasons.

As of AutoWeek's press time, Audi had not confirmed its intention to race in the ALMS after Sebring. It will use the race as a dry run for Le Mans, as it always does, which means the German Joest team will run the cars. Champion Racing will return only if Audi signs up for further races.

Audi may stay away because it believes the rules are slanted in favor of lighter LMP2 competitors, which won eight of 12 races last season. The ALMS and its sanctioning body, IMSA, had a chance to make sure that LMP1 cars have a clear advantage over the LMP2s yet decided not to implement rule changes made by the Le Mans organizer to do that.

In Europe, the Automobile Club de l'Ouest reduced LMP2 performance by increasing the cars' weight limit and mandating smaller fuel tanks. Additionally, LMP1s at Le Mans can run 55 pounds lighter than in 2007. The ALMS and IMSA raised the LMP2s' minimum weight by 55 of the 110 pounds mandated in Europe; so far, they have not tinkered with fuel capacity. In ALMS, the LMP1 cars will run at the higher 2007 weight limit this season.