Michelin is continuing its sponsorship of the Michelin Green X Challenge in the American Le Mans Series (ALMS) for the 2010 season.
“We have exceeded all of our initial expectations and expect to further build and grow (the race) in our second season,” says motorsports manager Silvia Mammone.
“Michelin is an environmental and technological leader, and the ALMS is the global leader in ‘Green Racing,’ so this is an excellent fit,” she notes
Launched earlier this year as a “race within the race” at every ALMS event, the challenge “has quickly gained support from manufacturers, teams and media,” Mammone reports.
ALMS is the only series currently recognized as official Green Racing by the U. S. Department of Energy, the Environmental Protection Agency and SAE International.
Using a formula developed by the Argonne National Laboratories that includes more than 30 different factors, ALMS vehicle manufacturers and racing teams win the challenge by delivering the best overall performance, fuel efficiency and smallest environmental impact throughout the race. Prototype and GT category winners are determined at each race, and there is also a season-long championship competition.
“Michelin has brought a very valuable element to the Michelin Green X Challenge,” says ALMS President and CEO Scott Atherton. “This race-within-a-race has become the cornerstone of our Green Racing initiatives for our fans at each event and those watching on television,” he continues.
“Not only has Michelin helped us spread this vital message, but their involvement has also provided an opportunity for fans to understand such things as how essential tire rolling resistance is to being fuel efficient,” Atherton adds. “Michelin’s renewed commitment to help us develop this message will continue to reinforce our position as the global leader in Green Racing.”
The ALMS entries run on 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 factor for tire use, may be considered for inclusion in the 2010 formula.
“The diversity of manufacturers, cars, engines, fuels and circuits along with the opportunity for technical innovation makes the ALMS particularly relevant,” says Dr. Forrest Patterson, Michelin North America’s director of research for replacement market car and light truck tires.
“Thanks to the efforts of the ALMS and the Green Racing working group, important baseline data has been captured during the 2009 season,” he reports. “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, the 41 (of 55) Michelin technical partner entries covered more than 100,00 race miles while using 13 percent fewer tires per car than in 2008.
Michelin supports similar challenge awards at the 24 Hours of Le Mans and the European-based Le Msn Series; the company anticipates extending the program to an Asian-based series.
For more information, visit www.michelinman.com.
