# Petit Le Mans Saved Endurance Racing

> Don Panoz's 1998 Petit Le Mans revived sports car racing by bypassing FIA conflicts.
- Title: Petit Le Mans Saved Endurance Racing · Autoweek | Shortify
- Summary: Don Panoz's 1998 Petit Le Mans revived sports car racing by bypassing FIA conflicts. Don Panoz's 1998 Petit Le Mans created a pathway for American teams to…
- Keywords: don panoz, petit le mans, fia, le mans, imsa, world endurance championship, gt3, acoh, syndicat mixte, elms, cars, sports
- Source: Autoweek — https://autoweek.com/racing/more-racing/a73987194/how-petit-le-mans-helped-save-endurance-racing
- Author: Jonathan Ingram
- Published: 2026-10-02T01:49:44+00:00
- Read time: 1 min
- Topics: don panoz, petit le mans, fia, le mans, imsa, world endurance championship, gt3, acoh, syndicat mixte, elms, cars, sports
## New FIA-Le Mans Contract
A 10-year FIA-Le Mans contract extends the World Endurance Championship through 2037.
## Petit Le Mans 1998
Don Panoz held the first Petit Le Mans in 1998 with a $550,000 licensing agreement for Le Mans rules.
## FIA and Le Mans Conflict
The FIA and Bernie Ecclestone attacked Le Mans rulebooks starting in 1990, killing Group C and the World Sports Car Championship.
## Panoz's Role
Panoz bypassed the France family to directly work with the ACO and Le Mans organizers.
## American Le Mans Series
Panoz launched the American Le Mans Series in 1999 and bought IMSA for $30 million in 2012.
## European Le Mans Series
Panoz financed the inaugural European Le Mans Series in 2001 despite low car counts.
## FIA's Shift
The FIA focused on Formula 1 after Panoz's financial support for Le Mans.
## GT3 Category
The FIA's 2006 GT3 concept helped develop fair competition with Le Mans and is now booming.
## Key takeaway

Don Panoz's 1998 Petit Le Mans created a pathway for American teams to compete at Le Mans, saving endurance racing from FIA interference.