LAKEVILLE, Conn. (July 5, 2012) – As America celebrates the July 4th holiday with parades and fireworks, manufacturers and teams competing in the MICHELIN® GREEN X® Challenge - the race within the race at Saturday’s (July 7th) American Le Mans Series (ALMS) Northeast Grand Prix at Lime Rock Park - are helping to accelerate the path to cleaner fuels and energy independence.
The MICHELIN GREEN X Challenge and the ALMS approach to “Green Racing” provides manufacturers and energy providers an opportunity to evaluate new technologies, including energies, in the rigors of competition and shows consumers that with these new technologies performance and clean energy are not mutually exclusive.
Unlike other forms of motorsports competition featuring a single specification car or fuel, the American Le Mans Series
and the MICHELIN GREEN X Challenge in the ALMS and a companion program at the 24 Hours of Le Mans have seen competitors use E10 (ethanol), second-generation E85R, gas-to-liquid diesel, isobutanol and at the recent 24 Hours of Le Mans – Audi flywheel diesel hybrids and Toyota gasoline capacitor hybrid power.
In addition, the ALMS has recently announced that natural gas may fuel the ALMS Prototype Challenge class in 2013.
“New technologies like direct injection, advanced electronics and lighter weight designs, together with the permitted use of new energies in the MICHELIN GREEN X Challenge competition, allow the manufacturers and teams to learn a great deal about the energy content, operating and refueling considerations and environmental impacts of various energies,” said Silvia Mammone, Michelin motorsports manager.
“The Green Racing steering team captures the data and uses it to assess the cleanliness, efficiency and performance of each. The more diverse the energy portfolio, the more independent the energy needs. The manufacturers, teams, fans and the environment all win.” said Mammone.
Now in its fourth season of competition, the MICHELIN GREEN X Challenge recognizes cars that complete the two-hour 45-minute race on the picturesque 1.54-mile circuit with the best scores for “clean, fast and efficient” performance. The program is overseen by the Green Racing steering group comprised of representatives of the U.S. Department of Energy, the Environmental Protection Agency, SAE International and the sanctioning International Motor Sports Association.
Twelve different manufacturers have claimed MICHELIN GREEN X Challenge honors to date, including: Acura, Aston Martin, Audi, BMW, Chevrolet, Ferrari, Ford, HPD Honda, Lola/Judd, Mazda, Peugeot and Porsche.
Twenty-eight of the 62 MICHELIN GREEN X Challenge winners in the ALMS have also won their respective classes on the track.
MICHELIN® GREEN X® CHALLENGE WINNERS – LIME ROCK PARK, CT
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YEAR
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CLASS
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WIN (Manufacturer/Team/Car/Drivers)
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2011
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Prototype
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Aston Martin – Muscle Milk Aston Martin – AM Lola Coupe B08/62 – Luhr/Graf
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2011
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GT
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Ford – Robertson Racing – Doran Ford GT – Murry/Lazarro
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2010
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Prototype
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Porsche – Muscle Milk Team CytoSport – Porsche RS Spyder – Pickett/Graf
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2010
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GT
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Ferrari – Risi Competizione – Ferrari F430 GT – Salo/Kaffer
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2009
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Prototype
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Acura – de Ferran Motorsports – Acura ARX-02a – de Ferran/Pagenaud
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2009
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GT
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Porsche – Flying Lizard Motorsports – Porsche 911 GT3 RSR – Bergmeister/Long
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ABOUT THE MICHELIN GREEN X CHALLENGE
The American Le Mans Series is the only series currently recognized as “Green Racing” by the U. S. Department of Energy, the Environmental Protection Agency and SAE International.
In 2010, the season-ending Petit Le Mans event at Road Atlanta marked the first time that all five energy sources identified in the U.S. Department of Energy’s National Energy policy were represented in competition. The five energies are E10 ethanol-blended gasoline, E85R second-generation cellulosic ethanol, GTL (natural gas to liquid) biodiesel, E10-electric hybrid power and Iso-butanol gasoline.
The MICHELIN GREEN X Challenge trophies are presented to the respective Prototype and GT winners. The bases for the unique MICHELIN GREEN X Challenge trophies are made of rubber recycled from MICHELIN GREEN X labeled consumer tires.
ABOUT MICHELIN GREEN X TIRES
MICHELIN GREEN X labeled consumer tires are optimized for fuel economy by reducing their rolling resistance and weight without compromising other key performance factors such as traction, grip and tread wear. Each tire is marked with Michelin’s “GREEN X” symbol on the sidewall, indicating to consumers a level of energy-efficiency that reduces CO2 emissions.
For over 20 years, Michelinhas been dedicated to the research and development of energy-efficient tires and now, a complete line of fuel-efficient tires is available to fit the most immediate consumer needs. Please visit www.michelinman.com for a complete list.
Dedicated to the improvement of sustainable mobility, Michelin designs, manufactures and sells tires for every type of vehicle, including airplanes, automobiles, bicycles, earthmovers, farm equipment, heavy-duty trucks and motorcycles. The company also publishes travel guides, hotel and restaurant guides, maps and road atlases. Headquartered in Greenville, S.C., Michelin North America (www.michelinman.com) employs more than 22,200 and operates 18 major manufacturing plants in 16 locations.
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For more information, visit www.michelinmedia.com or contact:
Lynne Fowler John Love
MichelinNorth America EMC Strategic Communications
office: 1 864 458 6365 office: 1 248 816 0106
mobile: 1 864 561 9914 mobile: 1 313 506 2114
lynne.fowler@us.michelin.com john@emcstrategic.com