The 1971 SCCA L&M Continental 5000 Championship was the fifth annual running of the Sports Car Club of America's professional open wheel racing series.^[1] Liggett & Myers increased its support of the championship for 1971 through its L&M cigarette brand and now had series naming rights.^[2]

The championship was won by David Hobbs, driving a McLaren M10B Chevrolet.^[3]

The championship was contested over eight races with two heats per race.^[3]

Round	Date	Event name	Event location	Duration	Winning driver	Vehicle
1	25 April	Riverside Grand Prix	Riverside International Raceway	77 laps	Frank Matich	McLaren M10B – Repco Holden V8
2	2 May	Monterey Grand Prix	Laguna Seca Raceway	80 laps	David Hobbs	McLaren M10B – Chevrolet V8
3	23 May	Seattle Grand Prix	Seattle International Raceway	80 laps	David Hobbs	McLaren M10B – Chevrolet V8
4	5 July	Mid-Ohio Grand Prix	Mid-Ohio Sports Car Course	60 laps	Sam Posey	Surtees TS8 – Chevrolet V8
5	18 July	Road America Grand Prix	Road America	48 laps	David Hobbs	McLaren M10B – Chevrolet V8
6	1 August	Lucerne 100	Edmonton International Speedway	50 laps	David Hobbs	McLaren M10B – Chevrolet V8
7	15 August	Minnesota Grand Prix	Brainerd International Raceway	60 laps	Brett Lunger	Lola T192 – Chevrolet V8
8	6 September	Lime Rock Grand Prix	Lime Rock Park	66 laps	David Hobbs	McLaren M10B – Chevrolet V8

Championship points were awarded to drivers on a 20-15-12-10-8-6-4-3-2-1 basis for the first ten places in each race, those places having been determined from the results of the two heats.^[3] Total points for each driver were based on the best six finishes.^[3]

Position [4][5]	Driver [4][5]	Car [4][5][3]	Points [4][5]
1	David Hobbs	McLaren M10B Chevrolet	119
2	Sam Posey	Surtees TS8 Chevrolet	70
3	Brett Lunger	Lola T192 Chevrolet	64
4	Eppie Wietzes	McLaren M18 Chevrolet	59
5	Jim Dittemore	Lola T192 Chevrolet	41
6	Frank Matich	McLaren M10B Repco Holden	35
7	Ron Grable	Lola T190 Chevrolet & American Mk1 Chevrolet	30
8	Gregg Young	Surtees TS7 Ford Cosworth DFV	28
9	Lothar Motschenbacher	McLaren M18 Chevrolet	26
10	Bill Brack	Lotus 70 Chevrolet	23
11	Gerard Raney	Eagle Chevrolet	21
12	John Gunn	Eagle Chevrolet	20
13	Skip Barber	March 701 Ford Cosworth DFV & March 711 Ford Cosworth DFV	18
14	Jerry Hansen	Lola T192 Chevrolet	17
15	Evan Noyes	McLaren M18 Chevrolet	10
16	Horst Kroll	Lola T142 Chevrolet	9
=	Jack Eiteljorg	Lola T192 Chevrolet	9
18	Monte Shelton	Eagle Chevrolet	8
=	Merle Brennan	McLaren M10A Chevrolet	8
20	Pete Lovely	Lotus 49B Ford Cosworth DFV	6
21	Jon Milledge	McLaren M10A Chevrolet	4
=	Barry Blackmore	McLaren M10A Chevrolet	4
=	Bud Morley	Lola T192 Chevrolet	4
24	Dave Jordan	Eagle Chevrolet	3
=	Dennis Ott	McLaren M10B Chevrolet	3
26	Ed Felter	Lola T190 Chevrolet	2
=	Bill Gubelmann	March 712M Ford BDA[6]	2
28	Jon Ward	Nova Mk 1 Chevrolet	1
=	Mike Brockman	Lola T190 Chevrolet	1
=	Ronnie Bucknum	Lola T190 Chevrolet	1
=	Nick Dioguardi	Surtees TS5 Chevrolet	1
=	Chris Cook	Surtees TS5 Chevrolet	1

• 1971 Questor Grand Prix - Many Continental Championship competitors also raced in this non-championship race

• Old Racing Cars Formula 5000 page