High Quality Content by WIKIPEDIA articles! The 1998 Petit Le Mans was the seventh race for the 1998 IMSA GT Championship season, then known as the Professional SportsCar Racing series. It also served as a prelude to the first American Le Mans Series race held at Sebring in 1999. Don Panoz`s American Le Mans Series was developed with the backing of the Automobile Club de l`Ouest (ACO), the ruling body of the 24 Hours of Le Mans. It took place on October 11, 1998.