Over the past weekend, the Muscle Milk Aston Martin captured its fourth consecutive victory in the prototype category in Michelin Green's X Challenge at Mid-Ohio, almost guaranteeing the vehicle's entry in the 2012 24 Hours of Le Mans.
Prototypes competing in the Michelin Green X Challenge are awarded points in Clean, Fast and Efficient categories at each American Le Mans Series (ALMS) event. Muscle Milk's key to victory in the two-hour, 45-minute race at Mid-Ohio was its lowest-in-class Clean score, attributable in part to its use of E85.
Finishing second on the initially dry, then extremely wet track, was the number four, GT-class Corvette Racing team. The Vette's lowest-in-the-GT-class Clean score was the result of both its energy efficiency and, again, burning some cellulosic E85.
Manufacturers use the ALMS and the Michelin Green X Challenge to accelerate the development of advanced technologies and to test clean energy sources in competition. Torrential rain, which some attendees described as biblical, played a major role in the Mid-Ohio race, but much like consumer vehicles, ALMS racers must perform in a wide range of conditions.
Prototypes competing in the Michelin Green X Challenge are awarded points in Clean, Fast and Efficient categories at each American Le Mans Series (ALMS) event. Muscle Milk's key to victory in the two-hour, 45-minute race at Mid-Ohio was its lowest-in-class Clean score, attributable in part to its use of E85.
Finishing second on the initially dry, then extremely wet track, was the number four, GT-class Corvette Racing team. The Vette's lowest-in-the-GT-class Clean score was the result of both its energy efficiency and, again, burning some cellulosic E85.
Manufacturers use the ALMS and the Michelin Green X Challenge to accelerate the development of advanced technologies and to test clean energy sources in competition. Torrential rain, which some attendees described as biblical, played a major role in the Mid-Ohio race, but much like consumer vehicles, ALMS racers must perform in a wide range of conditions.
E85* FUELS MICHELIN® GREEN X® CHALLENGE WINNERS
Aston Martin, Corvette Racing Claim Mid-Ohio Honors
LEXINGTON, OH. (August 6, 2011) – The Muscle Milk Aston Martin took a big step toward a guaranteed entry at the 2012 24 Hours of Le Mans with its fourth consecutive MICHELIN® GREEN X® Challenge Prototype category victory of the season here at the Mid-Ohio Sports Car Challenge.
Prototype and GT teams can win the MICHELIN GREEN X Challenge awards by having the lowest total of the Clean, Fast, and Efficient scores at each American Le Mans Series event.
According to officials of the Green Racing steering group, the key to victory for the overall running car in the two-hour , 45 minute race was Muscle Milk Aston Martin's lowest-in-class Clean score attributable to its use of E85 racing fuel and its energy efficiency due to its greater weight and race winning speed. The Benicia, Calif. based car was driven by Lucas Luhr and Klaus Graf.
The Green Racing group is comprised of members of the U.S. Department of Energy, the EPA, SAE International, and the sanctioning International Motor Sports Association.
Finishing second in GT on the dry, then very wet track, the Corvette Racing car #4 scored its second consecutive GT category victory. Its lowest-in-class Clean score was the result of both its energy efficiency and choice of cellulosic E85 fuel according to the Green Racing group. The Michigan based car was driven by Oliver Gavin and Jan Magnussen.
"We were well positioned for a victory, and certainly we're satisfied with second when weather is such a factor. Most importantly, we've captured the MICHELIN® GREEN X® Challenge again, demonstrating durability, reliability, performance, and green thinking at Chevrolet and Corvette," said Doug Fehan, Corvette Racing program manager.
"Manufacturers use the ALMS and the MICHELIN GREEN X Challenge to accelerate the development of new technologies and test new energy sources in competition," said Silvia Mammone, motorsports manager , Michelin North America. "Weather played a major role in today's race, and race cars, like consumer cars, must perform in a wide range of conditions. The fact that the two MICHELIN GREEN X Challenge winners finished first and second in their respective classes once again reinforces that Clean, Fast, and Efficient cars can still deliver excellent performance."
The invitations to entry for the 2012 running of the 24 Hours of Le Mans await the 2011 MICHELIN® GREEN X® Challenge ALMS season champions.
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; Environmental Protection Agency and SAE International.
The 2010 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 all 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 trophies are made of rubber recycled from MICHELIN® GREEN X® labeled consumer tires.
Aston Martin, Corvette Racing Claim Mid-Ohio Honors
LEXINGTON, OH. (August 6, 2011) – The Muscle Milk Aston Martin took a big step toward a guaranteed entry at the 2012 24 Hours of Le Mans with its fourth consecutive MICHELIN® GREEN X® Challenge Prototype category victory of the season here at the Mid-Ohio Sports Car Challenge.
Prototype and GT teams can win the MICHELIN GREEN X Challenge awards by having the lowest total of the Clean, Fast, and Efficient scores at each American Le Mans Series event.
According to officials of the Green Racing steering group, the key to victory for the overall running car in the two-hour , 45 minute race was Muscle Milk Aston Martin's lowest-in-class Clean score attributable to its use of E85 racing fuel and its energy efficiency due to its greater weight and race winning speed. The Benicia, Calif. based car was driven by Lucas Luhr and Klaus Graf.
The Green Racing group is comprised of members of the U.S. Department of Energy, the EPA, SAE International, and the sanctioning International Motor Sports Association.
Finishing second in GT on the dry, then very wet track, the Corvette Racing car #4 scored its second consecutive GT category victory. Its lowest-in-class Clean score was the result of both its energy efficiency and choice of cellulosic E85 fuel according to the Green Racing group. The Michigan based car was driven by Oliver Gavin and Jan Magnussen.
"We were well positioned for a victory, and certainly we're satisfied with second when weather is such a factor. Most importantly, we've captured the MICHELIN® GREEN X® Challenge again, demonstrating durability, reliability, performance, and green thinking at Chevrolet and Corvette," said Doug Fehan, Corvette Racing program manager.
"Manufacturers use the ALMS and the MICHELIN GREEN X Challenge to accelerate the development of new technologies and test new energy sources in competition," said Silvia Mammone, motorsports manager , Michelin North America. "Weather played a major role in today's race, and race cars, like consumer cars, must perform in a wide range of conditions. The fact that the two MICHELIN GREEN X Challenge winners finished first and second in their respective classes once again reinforces that Clean, Fast, and Efficient cars can still deliver excellent performance."
The invitations to entry for the 2012 running of the 24 Hours of Le Mans await the 2011 MICHELIN® GREEN X® Challenge ALMS season champions.
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; Environmental Protection Agency and SAE International.
The 2010 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 all 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 trophies are made of rubber recycled from MICHELIN® GREEN X® labeled consumer tires.
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