No matter how emphatically a driver marches to a dominant victory, nothing matches the thrill of a showdown between two world class drivers. On the 10th of October 2009 at Mazda Raceway Laguna Seca, Jörg Bergmeister and Jan Magnussen locked horns in a duel which arguably remains the fiercest and most dramatic in American Le Mans Series (ALMS) history.

Arriving at the final round of the 2009 ALMS season, Jörg Bergmeister and Patrick Long held a commanding lead in the ALMS GT2 championship. If Porsche’s perfect pair could finish ninth or better, they would be champions. Although Bergmeister and Long claimed five consecutive wins earlier in the season, the #45 Flying Lizard Porsche crew were now stuck in an unfamiliar dry spell.

Despite qualifying fifth, Patrick Long radiated confidence during a pre-race interview with Speed channel’s Justin Bell: “To stay out of the race for the lead like we have here in GT2, first of all wouldn’t be fun, but it wouldn’t be smart either” explained the Californian. “We have to do our job. Be consistent and not make any mistakes. That’s really what’s got us to the points lead that we have. We just have to keep doing what we’re doing.”

“Our pace has been good. We’ve led a lot of the practice sessions and we’re very confident. The minimal straights, all the switchbacks and slow natured corners are really an advantage for the 911. Some of the other manufacturers have a little bit of a horsepower strong suit. For us, it’s about handling. We’re really confident” beamed Long.

As Bergmeister folded his lanky frame into the silver and red 911 GT3 RSR ready for the start, a flying salute of Californian National Guard F16 jets added to an already tantalising atmosphere.

From the outset of the four-hour encounter, the pole sitting #3 Corvette of Jan Magnussen set a rapid benchmark that only teammate Ollie Gavin could match in the #4 C6.RGT. Meanwhile, Bergmeister settled into a rhythm, taking no unnecessary risks. Little did the Porsche factory ace know what lay ahead a few hours later.

Approaching the top of the opening hour, a stricken ALMS Porsche challenge car brought out the pace car. Thus, ensuing a chaotic rush into the pit lane for almost every team. On cue, Bergmeister pulled up to the Flying Lizard pit box and vacated the cockpit for the diminutive Patrick Long.

After a succession of yellow flag interruptions, Patrick Long began reeling in the leaders. Unperturbed by an inconvenient understeer issue that plagued his RSR in traffic, the Porsche star was at his vintage best. While Long ascended through the field, the championship contending #62 Risi Competizione Ferrari also made progress. Through a chaotic cycle of full course cautions, Pierre Kaffer’s scarlet red F430 GTC now led from the bumblebee yellow #3 Corvette.

With the #62 Ferrari threatening to score maximum points, the pressure reverted to the cockpit of the #45 Porsche. However, following a season in the intense environment of Team Penske in 2008, Patrick Long was fully prepared for the task.

Unfortunately, Risi Ferrari’s slim hope of pinching the championship eroded with two hours and thirty minutes to go. An awkward tangle with a slow-moving Jaguar XKR had inflicted damage to the front left of the Maranello machine. Furthermore, a more sinister issue lurked beneath the scars. A punctured radiator ended the chase for the Risi squad.

Immediately, confirmation reached the cockpit of the Flying Lizard 997 GT3 RSR. Bergmeister’s fourth and Long’s second ALMS title was now secure. Almost instantly, the body language of the #45 car changed completely. Long was now into full attack mode and desperate to sign off the season with a win. Not even the leading prototype Acuras, engaged in their own brawl, were given the slightest consideration by the tenacious Californian.

At the halfway mark, the Flying Lizard pit crew ratcheted up the pressure on the factory Corvette squad under a brief full course caution period. After switching Jan Magnussen for Johnny O’Connell, an uncharacteristic problem firing up the #3 Corvette handed the lead to Long in the #45 Porsche for the first time. Game on.

While Long scampered away at the front, O’Connell endured a frustrating sequence of laps stuck behind double Porsche Supercup champion, Richard Westbrook. Eventually, the gritty Georgian barged through and finally set off in pursuit of the #45 Porsche.

As the final hour began, a blanket of fog began lingering above Laguna Seca. An already cool day quickly descended into an uncomfortable chill, particularly for the Michelin tyres. At the final pit stops, Patrick Long jumped out of the #45 Flying Lizard Porsche after yet another flawless stint. Porsche’s only American factory driver had fulfilled all his promises once again. Now, it was down to Bergmeister.

Yet another fumble in pit lane cost the Corvette #3 crew dearly. An issue with the driver’s door netting causing further unnecessary delay. For Corvette Racing, one error on pit lane is a rarity. A second error is simply unfathomable for the most finely tuned squad.

Nevertheless, the fury from the pit lane blunders fuelled Jan Magnussen’s extraordinary late charge. With thirty-two minutes to go, the Danish ace faced an eleven-second gap to Bergmeister. Twenty minutes later, the bright yellow headlights of the menacing Corvette filled the mirrors of Bergmeister’s Porsche.

Considering the rapid rate in which Magnussen devoured Bergmeister’s advantage, it seemed inevitable that the #3 Corvette would cruise past with ease. The happy, yet uncompromising German had other plans.

With Bergmeister refusing to roll over, Magnussen began swarming around the Flying Lizard Porsche like a rabid wasp. “Start flashing him!” growled Dan Binks across the Corvette radio.

All championship honours were now sealed up. Therefore, this would be a gloves off battle between two heavyweights of endurance racing. Only this time, any shred of etiquette or restraint was abandoned.

Charging towards the Andretti hairpin, Magnussen deployed his first decisive move. A deep lunge on the brakes gave the Corvette man an edge into the double apex left hander. However, the slightest margin left by Magnussen was too much to resist for Bergmeister. Rotating the nimble 911 on the spot, Bergmeister pinched the inside and closed the door firmly. Tensions continued to rise. “Keep digging! Get in there!” screamed Binks again. Magnussen duly obliged with a firm thump to the rear of the #45 Porsche at turn three. Once again, Bergmeister refused to be rattled in this lawless encounter.

Next time around, Magnussen chose the Andretti hairpin to pounce once more. On approach to the devilishly tricky braking zone, a slower Ford GT occupied the middle of the road. Utilising the instant instinct only possessed by world class racers, Magnussen dived for the outside, Bergmeister to the inside. Enjoying a slightly clearer path, Magnussen swept around the outside and appeared to have the lead. Slam. Bergmeister closed the door once again with even greater ferocity. Tempers were now flaring to boiling point on a cool Californian Autumn evening.

Just two and half minutes remained. Back in the pits, Magnussen’s Corvette stablemate Johnny O’Connell remained glued to the TV screens with a trademark steely glare. After two failed attempts, Magnussen went all in yet again at the Andretti hairpin. Taking a dastardly line through the pit lane exit, Magnussen squeezed to the inside of Bergmeister. This time, the multiple Le Mans winner made the move stick, sparking an eruption on the Corvette Racing pit wall. Surely, Magnussen had now done enough to claim an important win for Corvette Racing’s fledgling GT2 program after so many dominant years in GT1 competition.

Less than a minute later, a radio call from ALMS officials who deemed Magnussen’s move to be illegal. The penalty? Let Bergmeister reclaim the lead and recommence battle. Magnussen duly obliged on the penultimate lap, setting up a last lap showdown.

On a day where the stars continued aligning for an all-time classic motor race, Bergmeister and Magnussen were the final cars to begin their last lap. Immediately behind this epic encounter, Gil de Ferran signed off a wonderful career by taking the checkered flag after a similarly intense battle with Adrian Fernandez for outright honours.

All eyes now focused on Bergmeister and Magnussen’s slugfest as fireworks screeched into the air in the background to welcome Gil de Ferran at the finish line. Yet again, the Andretti hairpin provided the scene for Magnussen’s next assault. As Bergmeister occupied the inside line, Magnussen went for the outside, hoping for the inside line at the right hander of turn three. Exiting the corner, Bergmeister began closing the door once more, only to receive another clip to the rear from the nose of the #3 Corvette. A huge wiggle for Bergmeister’s Porsche and a trip through the gravel for Magnussen’s Corvette did little to diffuse the situation.

Throughout the final lap, Magnussen extracted every remaining ounce of performance from his Pratt and Miller built machine. However, approaching the tight left-handed final corner, the Dane appeared too far back to pounce on Bergmeister. Enjoying a gap of two car lengths when stamping on the brake pedal, Bergmeister felt home and dry. Applying a textbook slow in and fast out technique honed from nearly a decade of racing rear engine Porsches, Bergmeister slowed the #45 machine to an optimal pace and prepared to turn in and power the flag. Then, bang. Throwing a last-ditch hail Mary, Magnussen careered into the rear of Bergmeister’s machine.

Incredibly, both drivers hauled their wounded machines around, ready for the sprint to the checkered flag. Following the contact with Bergmeister, Magnussen took the inside lane and opened up his Corvette’s rumbling V8. Swiftly re-grouping from the contact, Bergmeister joined Magnussen for the drag race to the line. Immediately sensing his rival’s intention, Bergmeister rushed to close the gap between his #45 machine and the solid concrete pit wall.

Despite Bergmeister continuing to squeeze the door shut, Magnussen refused to lift the throttle in a multimillion-dollar game of dare. However, neither driver appeared in any mood to relent, and the inevitable clash ensued.

Hooking into Bergmeister’s Porsche, the bright yellow Corvette speared violently across the circuit, ploughing into the right-hand trackside wall. On impact, the front end of the exotic Corvette disintegrated in front of a packed grandstand.

By only a few metres, Bergmeister had claimed a 29th ALMS win and Porsche’s 100th ALMS win in the most dramatic circumstances. After such a barnstorming finish, the SPEED TV broadcast team couldn’t wait to hear from the winner of a brutal and uncompromising tussle. Bergmeister’s pursed lips and pained look revealed a driver with nothing left in the tank following a battle royale: “I was clearly ahead going into the last corner and he just drilled me. I didn’t want it to end like that, but he started it and I wasn’t giving that one away. I am still shaking. It was so hard on the last couple of laps. I hope he is OK, that’s all I can say right now.” When quizzed by pit reporter Justin Bell about a potential chat with the stewards, Bergmeister appeared unperturbed: “Well, we will see. I think Jan has to go there as well and we’ll talk about it and figure it out.”

After the action, Magnussen shared his own view with the clarity of hindsight. “It was really good, hard racing,” said Magnussen. “I didn’t think I even had a chance after I had to give the position back. Going into the last corner I was too far away to make a proper attack, but Jörg parked the car. I didn’t see that, so I slid up and hit him a little – he went sideways and I managed to get on the inside. It was a drag race up the hill, and I managed to get ahead of him. Then he turned me into the wall, and he kept turning in. Then I spun around the nose of his car.”

Jörg Bergmeister and Jan Magnussen’s chaotic Californian conflict is one which will remain in the memory of race fans for generations. Only rarely do we see two drivers of all-star pedigree able to contest a win so fiercely. On that chilly October day in 2009, without championship implications, a wonderfully unbridled contest unfolded. Prepared to step into a domain normally left undiscovered during the constraints of championship campaign, Jörg Bergmeister and Jan Magnussen provided a vivid display of what bubbles close to the surface of any great racing driver.