http://www.roadatlanta.com/ev_petit.lasso
im getting my tickets monday. the epa is suppost to be doing some experiment with bio diesel. 10 hour race should be exciting
American Le Mans Series Announces Green Racing Initiatives in Association with
EPA, DOE and SAE International
DETROIT, Jan. 15 /PRNewswire/ – The American Le Mans Series reaffirmed
its position as motorsports’ global leader in alternative fuels today by
announcing that it is partnering with the U.S. Environmental Protection
Agency, U.S. Department of Energy and SAE International to incorporate “green
racing” principles into its 2008 racing season. The American Le Mans Series
will be the first motorsports series to meet the criteria for green racing
being developed by these groups.
In conjunction with the history-making EPA, DOE and SAE partnerships, the
American Le Mans Series announced the creation of a first-ever, Series-wide
“Green Racing Challenge.” This new competition will encourage manufacturers to
introduce and develop their “green” technologies and will be an incremental
element of the Series’ signature event – the 1,000-mile Petit Le Mans race to
be held Oct. 4 at Road Atlanta. Protocols and criteria for the Green Racing
Challenge award are being developed by the EPA and DOE along with SAE
International and the Series and will be announced later this spring.
The unprecedented association of the United States’ environmental and
energy government agencies, along with the industry’s premier automotive
society dedicated to advancing global technology and information worldwide,
creates a landmark moment for the world’s premium brand of motorsports.
“The auto manufacturers competing in the American Le Mans Series have made
it very clear that this is a direction and an overall initiative that is
important to them,” said Scott Atherton, president and CEO of the Series.
“The opportunity to formally align with the Environmental Protection Agency,
Department of Energy and SAE International makes our platform very special and
unique – to auto manufacturers and ultimately to consumers. At a time when
nearly all of motorsports has lost its relevance regarding progressive
technology or any connection from the race track to the showroom floor, the
American Le Mans Series stands alone in providing a platform of solutions for
our nation’s automotive, transportation and energy needs.”
With a direct link to the world famous 24 Hours of Le Mans in France, the
American Le Mans Series features exotic prototype and production-based sports
cars competing in four different classes on the track at the same time. The
Series has more automobile manufacturers competing head-to-head than any other
series in the world. All race cars in the Series compete on alternative
fuels. For the last two seasons, Audi has competed with a revolutionary clean
diesel powered race car. Last year, the Ethanol Promotion and Information
Council (EPIC) and fuel supplier VP Racing Fuels introduced E10 (10 percent
ethanol, 90 percent gasoline) to all other manufacturers who raced in the
Series. E10 is virtually the same blend that most consumers are able to buy
at their local service station. This season, the Series in conjunction with
EPIC will introduce E85 (85 percent ethanol, 15 percent gasoline) as one of
its fuel options.
American Le Mans Series rules also support the introduction of an electric
hybrid race car and encourage manufacturers to develop new technologies
(through racing) that can be applied to improve the automobiles being built
for consumers. In addition to Audi, other auto marques that currently
participate in the American Le Mans Series include Acura, Aston Martin,
Corvette, Dodge, Ferrari, Ford, Mazda, Panoz, Porsche and Saleen.
The American Le Mans Series, with technical rules that not only allow but
encourage manufacturers to develop cutting-edge innovations, has played an
active role in the development of alternative automotive fuels. The
competitive use of multiple alternative fuels such as bio and cellulosic
ethanol and zero-sulfur clean diesel has been achieved in conjunction with the
automotive manufacturers that race in the American Le Mans Series.
The criteria set forth by SAE in concert with the Environment Protection
Agency and Department of Energy to qualify as a Green Racing series requires
that certain elements in a series be present. These elements focus on three
vital characteristics that measure performance, fuel efficiency and ecological
impact. They include:
– The use of renewable bio-based fuel or fuels
– The use of multiple engines, fuels and powertrain configurations
– The use of regenerative energy powertrain technologies
– The use of well-to-wheel energy analysis and GHG analysis
– The use of emission control strategies and systems