Corsa Motorsports’ Ginetta-Zytek 09HS prototype will compete for the first time in hybrid configuration this weekend at Lime Rock Park in the American Le Mans Northeast Grand Prix. Ther car has been given the go-ahead by FIA officials, who were satisfied with the performance and stability of the prototype’s battery pack. The Ginetta-Zytek will be the first hybrid entry to compete in the American Le Mans Series.
“The car is homologated – fully legal to race as a hybrid – and is no longer running as a conventional racecar come Lime Rock,” confirmed Corsa crew chief Adrian Lindsey. “This has been a long time coming. We are excited to show people what we've been working on all these months.”
Johnny Mowlem and Stefan Johansson will drive the hybrid for Steve Pruitt’s Corsa Motorsports. The car was on display Monday at the U.S. Department of Energy in Washington DC; several hundred students from the National Academy Foundation and officials from the DOE spent time inspecting the car and heard an explanation from Pruitt on the ground-breaking battery technology the prototype employs, work that will pave the way for future passenger car innovation in consumer hybrids.
The DOE along with U.S. Environmental Protection Agency and SAE International have recognized the ALMS as the first and only motorsports body to meet the criteria for “green racing.” All series entries compete on street-legal alternative fuels: clean, low-sulfur diesel; E10; cellulosic E85; and hybrid power.
The American Le Mans Series, Michelin, the U.S. Department of Energy, the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency and SAE International also have jointly created the Michelin Green X Challenge, a competition at all 2009 Series events which ranks all cars on overall performance, fuel efficiency and environmental impact. Each round of the competition awards trophies to the top manufacturer and team in the Prototype and Grand Touring classes.