[JAG]

When Pescarolo, a team who are the archetypal small constructor, say their 2011 LMS campaign is a stop gap to entering the ILMC as a World Championship is what the top level of the sport needs it seems obvious the long term roles of both series are quite different.

LMS P1 numbers are minimal before you remove Pescarolo and Rebellion, you also have to think privateer Astons from Jota etc. will be destined for the ILMC/ALMS while the example of Hope Polevision wshows a team moving straight from LMPC to P1 in the ILMC.

This is the first year of new LMP regulations and ILMC entrants number near 30 before you consider any local entrants. From day one the LMS have had entries near the 40 car mark and focused more upon the needs of teams stepping up from national series. The make-up of such grids are not only very different they cannot be hosted at most circuits.

I believe the ILMC and ALMS are destined to be the two major professional sportscar series like FIA WSC and IMSA GTP enabling the LMS to return to it's pro/am roots and develop teams. Free from juggling the calander for the ILMC and LMS the ACO will have more options to host races in the likes of South America.