As discussed in this space a few months ago, Audi's R10 turbo diesel has sparked a lot of interest in green fuel technology in racing. The Audi turbo diesel won the Le Mans 24 Hours last year and the Sebring 12 Hours the past two years, and also swept last year's ALMS championship.
Audi has been racing in the ALMS for seven years, originally with its traditional R8, and the German manufacturer was joined in the ALMS last year by Porsche and, this year, by Honda - under its Acura brand - both competing in the LMP2 category.
Green fuels aside, all three of these manufacturers were attracted to the ALMS by the challenge of long-distance racing and because the series offers more room for technological development than the increasing majority of today's spec-car formulae. Honda/Acura racing boss Robert Clarke commented on his company's move into the ALMS.
"One of the key reasons we identified the ALMS series and why we want to be there is because at the moment it's the only series that's really embracing the idea of improved fuel technology in the way that it should be from a very broad base," Clarke said.
"The ALMS and the ACO for the 24 Hours of Le Mans are the only sanctioning groups that really embrace what this is all about. Their regulations include gasoline, alcohol, diesel, even hybrid language in the rules, and they're talking about trying to make the rules even more broad to include hydrogen fuel, and such. Any fuel that you might bring, they'll figure-out a formula for it. I think what they're doing is very smart."
Porsche's RS Spyder LMP car made its ALMS debut with Penske Racing last year, winning its class a few times, then winning outright this year at Long Beach and Houston. Porsche's Long Beach victory was Audi's first defeat in a year and a half and both Porsche and Acura hope to be invited by the Automobile Club de l'Ouest [ACO] to compete at Le Mans next year with their ALMS cars.
