Launched in early 2009 as a “race within the race” during the American Le Mans Series (ALMS), the Michelin Green X Challenge is returning for the 2010 season.
Using a formula developed by the Argonne National Laboratory that includes more than 30 different factors, automakers and racing crews win the Challenge by delivering the best overall performance, fuel efficiency and smallest environmental impact.
Prototype and GT category winners are determined at each race and in a season-long championship.
It is the only series currently recognized as “Green Racing” by the U. S. Department of Energy (DOE), the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) and SAE International.
Last year the entries ran with E10 ethanol blended gasoline, E85R gasoline blended ethanol, GTL (natural gas to liquid) biodiesel or E10-electric hybrid power.
Another fuel option and possibly a new factor for tire use may be introduced for 2010, according to Michelin North America research director Dr. Forrest Patterson.
“The diversity of manufacturers, cars, engines, fuels and circuits – along with the opportunity for technical innovation – makes the ALMS particularly relevant,” Patterson points out.
“Thanks to the efforts of the ALMS and the Green Racing working group, important baseline data have been captured during the 2009 season,” he says. “In the future, we hope to gain comparative data showing a reduction in the energy used and the emissions created without a reduction in overall performance.”
During the 2009 running of the 24 Hours of Le Mans, 41 of the 55 tire maker’s “technical partner entries” covered more than 100,000 racing miles while using 13 percent fewer tires per car than in 2008.
At the conclusion of the 2009 season, nine cars from eight teams representing five manufacturers and using three different fuels had claimed Challenge trophies at individual races.
The overall winners were the Lowe’s Fernandez Acura with drivers Adrian Fernandez and Luis Diaz in the prototype category, and the Flying Lizard Porsche team of Seth Neiman and Johannes van Overbeek, who finished first in the GT class.
The bases of the trophies are made of rubber recycled from Michelin’s Green X line of tires.
For more information, visit www.michelinman.com.
