American Le Mans Series President and CEO Scott Atherton unveils the 2011 ALMS schedule in the Road America press room.

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In a departure from the usual statement of the next year’s schedule at the American Le Mans Series’ “State of the Series” meeting at Petit Le Mans, this morning ALMS President and CEO Scott Atherton revealed the 10-race schedule for the 2011 ALMS season.

The 10-race schedule is a one-race expansion from 2010 and a number that Atherton calls “ideal.”

Eight races of the 10 have been officially broadcasted, with one TBD {to be determined} on July 3 and one TBA {to be announced} on September 3. The difference between the two, Atherton explained, is that the TBA just needs to be announced while there are still several details to be worked out with the TBD date.

Races at Mosport International Raceway in Bowmanville, Ontario, Canada and Mazda Raceway Laguna Seca in Monterey, Calif. swap dates from their 2010 dates. Mosport moves from August to July 31, Monterey from May to September 17. Traditionally, the race in Monterey takes place in fall and was moved to May this year.

“Repositioning dates that have been successful in the past is always a risk,” Atherton said. “But we feel sure that racing at Mosport a month earlier will be a positive for all involved with record-breaking crowds and weather that will make us all thankful. The same can be said for moving our race at Mazda Raceway back to the fall – frankly, where it belongs – for another six-hour Race into Darkness. We had a persuasive reason for moving the Mazda Raceway date this year, but it was a mistake. I take the blame for that and look forward to returning to Monterey in September.”

Book-ending the season are the two longest events and races for the Intercontinental Le Mans Cup, the series of events that contain races in the American, Asian and Le Mans Series in Europe. The 12 Hours of Sebring begin the year with the 10-hour or 1,000-mile Petit Le Mans wrapping up the calendar.

Official race times and the TBD and TBA dates are yet to be specified, but should be announced within the next month, Atherton said.

The entire schedule is below:
•    February 9-10, Sebring International Raceway, Sebring, Fla. Winter Test {Wed – Thurs}
•    March 19, Sebring International Raceway, Sebring, Fla.
•    April 16, Long Beach Street Circuit, Long Beach, Calif.
•    July 9, Northeast Grand Prix, Lakeville, Conn.
•    July 24, Mosport International Raceway, Bowmanville, Ontario
•    August 6, Mid-Ohio Sports Car Course, Lexington, Ohio
•    August 20, Road America, Elkhart Lake, Wis.
•    September 3,Baltimore Grand Prix, Baltimore, MD
•    September 17, Mazda Raceway Laguna Seca, Monterey, Calif.
•    October 1, Petit Le Mans, Road Atlanta, Braselton, Ga.