American Le Mans Series race cars were on display in New York City on Wednesday as the inaugural American Le Mans Series "Festival of Speed" took place at the World Financial Center-Winter Garden in lower Manhattan.
ALMS racing teams and drivers were in the New York area in advance of the July 2-5 New England Grand Prix at Lime Rock Park in nearby Lakeville, Conn.
American Le Mans Series race cars on display at the World Financial Center included two cars from Intersport Racing, the team's LMP1-class Lola B160-Judd as well as the 24 Hours of Le Mans LMP2 class-winning Lola B2K/40-Judd. Clint Field, LMP2 class winner at Le Mans and in the most recent ALMS race at Mid-Ohio Sports Car Course, was also on hand at the Manhattan event.
ALMS driver Leo Hindery, a New York resident who is well-known in the city as Chairman of the YES Network, was at the event with the BAM! Porsche 911 GT3 RSR that he will drive at Lime Rock. Also present was an Audi R8 from ADT Champion Racing, overall-winning team in last week's ALMS event at Mid-Ohio, and the Panoz Motor Sports Panoz Esperante GT-LM of Gunnar Jeannette and Kelly Collins.
In addition to the cars from the ALMS, a select group of exotic cars and motorcycles took positions on the plaza of the prestigious Winter Garden at the World Financial Center early on Wednesday morning. The World Financial Center overlooks the Hudson River and is home to some of the world's most prominent corporations including both American Express and Merrill Lynch.
Exotic cars placed on display included a Rolls-Royce Phantom, Bentley GT Coupe, Lamborghini Gallardo, Lamborghini Murcielago, Porsche GT Carrera, Ferrari 360 Spider and the only Aston Martin DB 9 Coupe and DB 9 Volante in the United States along with very rare AR DB1 Zagato roadster.
A reception was held Wednesday evening at the Grill Room Restaurant, a financial district favorite for Wall Street workers and their clients. Guests toasted to the race teams of the American Le Mans Series for recent wins at the 24 Hours of Le Mans in France and to future success in the ALMS in America. In addition, the event celebrated the 100-year anniversary of Rolls-Royce Motorcars and 50 Years of Ferrari being imported into America. A silent auction benefiting the Arts & Events Program was also held as part of the evening.
