ALMS: Live Qualifying Online Saturday, 2:35PM ET

[Wouter Melissen]

SPEEDtv.com breaks new ground with the ALMS and Radio Le Mans to deliver the first-ever live streaming Series qualifying session online.
AUTO-RACING - ALMS: Live Qualifying Online Saturday, 2:35PM ET - SPEEDtv.com

SPEEDtv.com is set to raise the bar for online coverage of the American Le Mans Series this weekend with a one hour live streaming video of qualifying from the daunting 2.5 mile Mosport track just outside of Toronto, Canada.

Done in partnership with the ALMS and American Le Mans Radio Web/Radio Le Mans, fans of the series will get the chance to watch live qualifying as it happens with the expert commentary of John Hindhaugh and Jeremy Shaw.

“Qualifying in the American Le Mans Series is almost a second event—like a special feature during each round," Hindhaugh said. "Races are almost three hours long, and some people might think that the drivers take it easy during the qualifying session, but as we’ve seen all year the GT and the prototype cars leave no margin of error whatsoever while chasing pole position.”
Log into the Acura On-Board Pass Player Saturday at 2:35 PM ET to watch live qualifying video with commentary provided by Radio Le Mans. » More Photos

With round after round of last ditch qualifying battles, Hindhaugh expects the same at Mosport. “Pole position usually goes right down to the last lap—the final seconds of the session. The man on top of the time sheets when the checkered flag waves isn’t always the pole sitter—we’ve seen more than once this year where another car a few corners behind comes through and steals pole right out from under him. It’s brilliant stuff.”

After calling almost every session ever held in the ten year history of the American Le Mans Series, Hindhaugh is uniquely placed to speak on the first live video of qualifying to be aired on SPEEDtv.com. “I hope people tune in and get their friends to watch one of the most amazing experiences in sportscar racing. We’re in the booth shouting until our voices give out because of the excitement, so to now marry the sounds of the American Le Mans Radio Web with SPEED’s streaming video online is just perfect. I can only hope this becomes a regular feature.”

Presented by Acura, qualifying at the rolling Mosport track is expected to feature the cars of Acura, Aston Martin, Audi, Corvette, Dodge, Ferrari, Ford, Mazda, Panoz and Porsche as they all vie for pole position in the unique four-class sportscar racing series.

To watch live streaming video from Mosport:

¤ Click This Link (SPEEDTV.com :: Free Online Videos) just before qualifying is due to start at 2:35 PM ET/11:35AM PT to access our Acura On-Board Pass Player.

¤ Click ‘Play’ on the video player, turn up your speakers, and enjoy the thrilling sights and sounds of qualifying from Mosport.

[Dino Scuderia]

I hope they get their technical act together soon for this net vid feed.

[Dino Scuderia]

Ouch. The team running the GT2 Vantage have been through 12 engines.

[Kitdy]

Is the feed working for anyone? I get a blank screen.

The additional audio link works though.

EDIT: Haven't heard Hindy since Le Mans and forgot how entertaining and energetic he is - he is straining his voice during qualifying - I love it. I really like when commentators are passionate and excited about the event - so often in sport here in the GTA the commentators are completely dry.

I really dig the South American football commentators when they go crazy after goals or fan commentary available in the EPL on Sky.

Back to Hindy - he and Murray Walker are the best English race commentators I've heard.

[Dino Scuderia]

Working good now.

Melo shatters record with a 1'16.8..and a nice drift in T1.

[Dino Scuderia]

The GT2 drifting through the kink at Road America was very exciting....but here there's a lot of 5th-6th gear turns....way exciting.

Johnny O' on pole in GT1.

Melo on pole GT2 then Werner's RSR 2 tenths back.

[Kitdy]

Originally Posted by Dino Scuderia

The GT2 drifting through the kink at Road America was very exciting....but here there's a lot of 5th-6th gear turns....way exciting.

Johnny O' on pole in GT1.

Melo on pole GT2 then Werner's RSR 2 tenths back.

What surprises me is that even with the new motor the Porsches aren't beating the Ferraris solidly - they were basically par with the Ferraris with the old 3.8 block and yet after a .2L increase - something to shake a stick at - not much has changed.

Hindy just said that Mosport was the fastest average speed track in the ALMS - I remember earlier we were discussing what was fastest.

EDIT: What great racing the ALMS has been this year, right now the top 10 protos are within 1.2 seconds.

[Dino Scuderia]

Average qualy lap speed:

GT2 - 115.XXX mph

P1 - 137.9xx mph

[RacingManiac]

OMG that was epic....they found 1.8 sec in 12 month on a tiny track like Mosport.....

avg 138mph....fastest in ALMS now...

[MPME]

I'd welcome any/all feedback on the stream--how it went, what was good or bad, what can be improved, if you want more... marshall.pruett@speedtv.com

[RacingManiac]

Couldn't have been nicer.....Radio LM crew as always is top notch, and the fact that there were picture to go with it was awesome.....although obviously its not the same as being there, it was the next best thing....top notch effort from Speed's ALMS crew...

[Kitdy]

Originally Posted by MPME

I'd welcome any/all feedback on the stream--how it went, what was good or bad, what can be improved, if you want more... marshall.pruett@speedtv.com

I actually have a concern but it appears to be only my problem on this machine - the audio worked but the picture unfortunately didn't come through and I have the appropriate software as best I know - was the most recent version of WMP needed? I have a pretty new if not brand new version of the program.

Also, the in car footage available online during Sebring was great.

[MPME]

Originally Posted by Kitdy

I actually have a concern but it appears to be only my problem on this machine - the audio worked but the picture unfortunately didn't come through and I have the appropriate software as best I know - was the most recent version of WMP needed? I have a pretty new if not brand new version of the program.

Also, the in car footage available online during Sebring was great.

Um, could you email such things as requested?

[MPME]

Originally Posted by Kitdy

Also, the in car footage available online during Sebring was great.

You'll have that tomorrow! Story to follow, but tune back in to the same player. And yes, update your player.

[Kitdy]

Originally Posted by MPME

Um, could you email such things as requested?

Sure I'll fire over that email - I guess I shoulda realised that you need this sorta thing to share with the SPEED TV management.