The American Le Mans Series has managed to save energy and reduce its petrol usage by 48% in its most recent race thanks to "green racing".

Green racing, a concept developed with the direct involvement and contribution from the US Department of Energy, the US Environmental Agency and SAE International, sets out three criteria that need to be met for a racing series to qualify as green.

These are: the use of renewable bio-based fuels; regenerative energy technologies, which recover and reuse energy; and multiple engine, fuel and powertrain configurations. (That last one’s for all you racing boffins out there. I haven’t a clue).

The ALMS (American Le Mans Racing Series) has been successfully meeting all the criteria since 2009. And also since 2009 they’ve given rewards to the teams that go the furthest and fastest with the smallest carbon footprint for energy consumed.

It all sounds good doesn’t it. Doesn’t it? It’s unlikely that car racing is going to go away, so let’s hope those that do it follow the example of ALMS and try to make racing as energy saving as possible. Until Bernie Ecclestone takes up my ideas of pedal-power and wind-powered cars it’s the best we can do.

[Image: tinou bao]