Wednesday, April 27, 2011

EV Cup Replacing American Le Mans Series in Green Racing

I was sad to see American Le Mans Series cancel its Race for the Green day at the Long Beach Grand Prix this month. They had the event two years in a row, and we did several great video interviews there. Following green racing is important, as is tracking road tests, military vehicles, motorbikes, planes, boats, big rigs, etc,, that are trying out green fuels and technology. These can be proving grounds for advanced transportation that will eventually spill over to passenger vehicles. Don’t be surprised to see managers from Ford, Mazda, Toyota, GM, Tesla, etc., at green racing events, taking notes. 

Perhaps there is a replacement for American Le Mans Series green conference to fill the void? It could be EV Cup, an electric racing car series that culminates at the California Speedway on Dec. 17. There will be five races in Europe before that, and a series at Mazda Raceway Laguna Seca in Monterey, Calif., on Nov. 26. I expect we’ll be at one of them 

Starting in August this year, the EV Cup will hold with five races in Europe before finishing in the U.S., cumulating in a race at the California Speedway (in Fontana, Calif.) on December 17, 2011. 

In addition to the California Speedway race, U.S. race fans will be able to see the race series at the iconic Mazda Raceway Laguna Seca in Monterey California on November 26, just after Thanksgiving, the second all-electric racing event due to happen there this year. 

The race includes former competitors in American Le Mans Series as well as Formula One British champion Damon Hill and former BBC Top Gear Stig Ben Collins. Could be pretty good stuff – looking forward to it.

1 comment:

Taylor Edwards said...

It's important to correct a misunderstood fact in Jon's post. The Green Motorsport conference at the Long Beach Grand Prix over the last two years was not in fact an ALMS conference. While ALMS like other entities attended and presented, it was in fact organized by the British Motorsports Industry Association (MIA) a British trade group supported by the UK Trade & Industry Council and SEMA (Speed Equipment Manufacturers Association.

ALMS continues to emphasize alternative fuels such as iso-butanol and cellulosic ethanol the use of which is encouraged by the Michelin Green X Challenge competition at every race.

Rumor has it that ALMS is invesigating green support series races like the EV Cup for introduction in 2012. So don't write off ALMS in Green Racing Quite yet!