in Europe for their then separate series, the new class was designated IMSA World Sports Car.

After a period of multiple ownerships, the organization, by then owned by Don Panoz, was eventually renamed Professional Sports Car Racing (PSCR). In 1999, PSCR decided to affiliate with the Automobile Club de l'Ouest and adopt the sanctioning body's rule book, renaming the series the American Le Mans Series. Despite having various official names, the GT series