Michelin's racing teams are gearing up for this weekend’s American Le Mans Series (ALMS) and the GREEN X Challenge at the Mid-Ohio Sports Car Course.
“The world is not standing still. Manufacturers are looking to motorsports as way to test and accelerate the development of new, robust technologies– especially as a means of improving energy efficiency and fuel economy,” says motorsports manager Silvia Mammone.
“The road isn’t always smooth, and progress sometimes comes in starts and stops,” she notes. “But part of the purpose of the Michelin GREEN X Challenge is to provide a measure of the progress in cleaner, more efficient, higher-performing cars.”
As a result, says Mammone, ALMS- and Le Mans-style racing “has become the tip of the spear toward more relevant racing,” with 15 different manufacturers participating this year.
Technologies such as direct injection, turbocharged diesels, traditional hybrids and a flywheel hybrid with electric wheel motors have already competed in the ALMS
or at
Le Mans. Diesel hybrids, various high-efficiency new engines and a radically designed “DeltaWing” car are all expected to enter competition in the next two years.
“The changes are not just taking place in sports car and endurance racing,” Mammone continues. “In recent months, both F1 (2014) and IndyCar (2012) have announced plans to switch from V8 to six-cylinder, turbocharged engines. Even
NASCAR, where carburetors still reign, is not immune to change, as it is now testing electronic fuel injection for 2012.”
The GREEN X Challenge is part of that change, she points out. Developed in cooperation with the U.S. Department of Energy, the Environmental Protection Agency and SAE International, the formula for the event recognizes the Prototype and GT cars that can deliver the cleanest, fastest and most efficient performance at each ALMS race. The 2011 season champions will receive invitations to compete at the 2012 running of the 24 Hours of Le Mans.
Similar awards are awarded at the 24 Hours of Le Mans, European, Asian and Intercontinental Le Mans Cup series events.
For more information, visit www.michelinman.com.
