Michelin The Alley asked a number of ALMS drivers and a few team principals about how they got started in racing, big breaks and favorite racing memories. Here is what we found:

What was your big break?

Bryan Sellers
“My first big break was when I received the Skip Barber Karting Scholarship in 1999. It allowed me to take the step out of Karting and into race cars.”

Antonio Garcia
“I did a few sports car races and won my first sports car race in 2001 at Spa. That was a race that told me that there is motorsport life outside of Formula One.”

Jan Magnussen
“The really big season that made it for me was my Formula 3 season when I won 14 times in 18 races. It led me to a Formula One testing contract with McLaren.” Editor’s Note: Magnussen’s son Kevin is currently a member of the McLaren Young Driver Development Program and in two F1 test outings has been fastest on both occasions.

Dominik Farnbacher (pictured above with teammate Marc Goosens)
“2004 when I raced Porsche Supercup with Wolf Henzler and Dirk Werner. That’s where I learned the most and got strong.”

Cooper MacNeil
“Big break – we had some success in the Porsche GT3 Cup series and made the decision to move-up to the ALMS GTC category last year.”

Bobby Rahal
“Being born into a family that raced was probably the biggest break. Although, I think that meeting, getting to know and then becoming a partner with Jim Trueman would have to be looked upon as perhaps the biggest break. What he did for me over the years as a sponsor, and then together as the team owner was huge. Jim was the guy that gave me my big break.”

Klaus Graf
“First was when I won the German Formula Ford title in 1993. Suddenly I came on the radar and people were interested that I drive F3 for them. Secondly, when I started driving for Don Panoz. I tested for Panoz at the end of 1998 and got the job based on that test. Third, was my championship in the Trans Am series. That was the beginning of my friendship and relationship with Greg Pickett. Greg gave me the tools and confidence to finally showcase my talent.”

Marc Goossens (pictured above with teammate Dominik Farnbacher)
“Moving up to open wheel cars. My family didn’t have the money to do this but I pulled off a couple of sponsorship deals which made it possible for me to go racing in Formula Ford.”