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American boutique automaker Panoz Auto Development wants to return to the top tier of the American Le Mans Series in car powered by algal biofuel.
Founder Don Panoz said the company is "investigating concepts" that could it return to the premier LMP1 prototype category Panoz didn't offer many details when he made the announcement at a press conference before Saturday's 12 Hours of Sebring race, but Autoweek says "it is understood" that the car would use a Chevrolet engine and may burn butanol produced from algae.
"We are looking at something that has never been done before, something that would be good for sports car racing, good for Le Mans and good for us," Panoz said.
The ALMS has become an alt fuel test bed, with ethanol- and diesel-powered cars lining up alongside those running on gasoline. Panoz said development of its latest car is not contingent on ALMS officials approving the use of butanol, but it looks like the fuel will get a green light.
American Le Mans Series CEO Scott Atherton told Green Fuels Forecast in January that the series is interested in bringing a fourth fuel to the grid. The ALMS has since confirmed Atherton was discussing butanol.
Butanol is an alcohol like ethanol, but it has two carbon atoms instead of four. It contains more energy per given volume than ethanol and does not require engine modifications. That's key, because Atherton said any alt fuels used in the series must be comerically viable.
"We don't want to throw another alternative onto the list just for the sake of having another," he told Green Fuels Forecast. "If it's determined that the infrastructure just isn't there or the industry isn't planning to evolve in that direction, it would be as I said very difficult for us to justify that."
Panoz launched the American Le Mans Series in 1999 and his cars routinely took the checkered flag in the first few seasons. The company shifted its focus from the race-specific machinery of the LMP1 category to production-based classes, where it has fielded modified versions of its Esperante street car.
Panoz wouldn't say when the new car might make its debut, but Autoweek says it could compete in the season's final race at Mazda Raceway Laguna Seca.
Founder Don Panoz said the company is "investigating concepts" that could it return to the premier LMP1 prototype category Panoz didn't offer many details when he made the announcement at a press conference before Saturday's 12 Hours of Sebring race, but Autoweek says "it is understood" that the car would use a Chevrolet engine and may burn butanol produced from algae.
"We are looking at something that has never been done before, something that would be good for sports car racing, good for Le Mans and good for us," Panoz said.
The ALMS has become an alt fuel test bed, with ethanol- and diesel-powered cars lining up alongside those running on gasoline. Panoz said development of its latest car is not contingent on ALMS officials approving the use of butanol, but it looks like the fuel will get a green light.
American Le Mans Series CEO Scott Atherton told Green Fuels Forecast in January that the series is interested in bringing a fourth fuel to the grid. The ALMS has since confirmed Atherton was discussing butanol.
Butanol is an alcohol like ethanol, but it has two carbon atoms instead of four. It contains more energy per given volume than ethanol and does not require engine modifications. That's key, because Atherton said any alt fuels used in the series must be comerically viable.
"We don't want to throw another alternative onto the list just for the sake of having another," he told Green Fuels Forecast. "If it's determined that the infrastructure just isn't there or the industry isn't planning to evolve in that direction, it would be as I said very difficult for us to justify that."
Panoz launched the American Le Mans Series in 1999 and his cars routinely took the checkered flag in the first few seasons. The company shifted its focus from the race-specific machinery of the LMP1 category to production-based classes, where it has fielded modified versions of its Esperante street car.
Panoz wouldn't say when the new car might make its debut, but Autoweek says it could compete in the season's final race at Mazda Raceway Laguna Seca.
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