COTA goes green for ALMS event

Sept. 17, 2013

America’s premier environmental motorsports competition will make its Texas debut at the Circuit of The Americas on Saturday September 21 when the Michelin Green X Challenge is held as a race within the race during the American Le Mans Series event at America’s new motorsports facility.

Created in 2009 in cooperation with the U.S. Department of Energy and the Environmental Protection Agency, the Michelin Green X Challenge recognizes the Prototype and GT class entries delivering the best Clean, Fast and Efficient performance in the 2-hour, 45-minute race.

“The objective of Green Racing is to accelerate the development and awareness of new technologies and energy sources through motorsports competition,” said Chris Baker, motorsports director for Michelin North America. “The ALMS provides great opportunities for manufacturers to present innovative technologies and energy sources,” said Baker.

Michelin uses motorsports as a testing lab for new tire shapes, sizes, constructions, materials and compounds to help meet escalating demands for tire technology for automakers and consumers.

Through the five-year history of the Michelin Green X Challenge, awards have been earned by cars using all five permitted energy types: E-10, E-85, isobutanol, bio-diesel and hybrid technologies.

“People should not be surprised if the winners of the race are also the winners of the Michelin Green X Challenge, since being efficient is directly related to being fast,” said Baker.