American Le Mans Series going greener in 2008

15 January 2008 23:18  [Source: ICIS news]

HOUSTON (ICIS news)--The American Le Mans Series motorsports entity said on Tuesday it would include E85 ethanol as one of its fuel options in the 2008 season in addition to E10, which was introduced in the league two years before

E10 is gasoline blended with 10% ethanol, whereas E85 is a blend of 85% ethanol and 15% gasoline used in US flexible-fuel vehicles.

In addition to ethanol, a Le Mans race team is expected to compete in 2008 with a “clean diesel” powered car that was introduced in the league two years ago.

“This is diesel with zero sulphur,” a Le Mans spokesperson said, adding that the league also planned to include biodiesel as an option in the future.

The American Le Mans Series, based on France’s 24 Hours of Le Mans, features prototype and production-based sports cars that compete in four different classes on the track at the same time.

Le Mans is the second US race league to support the use of alternative fuels in its cars.

In 2007, the Indy Racing League (IRL), home to the word-famous Indianapolis 500, used 100% ethanol as its official race fuel.

A Le Mans official said the league also supported the introduction of an electric hybrid race car in the future.

Bookmark Simon Robinson’s Big Biofuels Blog for some independent thinking on biofuels.

By: William Lemos
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