It’s a valid question, and given the state of the environment and our growing concern about sustainability and Eco-friendliness, one that is more important that it has ever been. More and more racing series’ have been looking at ways to reduce their environmental impact through instituting emissions controls, promoting hybrid racing, and running cleaner burning, modern engines.
Ever since CAFE standards have nearly solved the smog problem in Los Angeles, racing series have looked to things they can do to reduce their emissions. Stock car racing, for example, requires that cars raced still have their emission equipment in place, meaning they still have catalytic converters, carbon canisters, and fuel return lines. In the case of Leawood American Le Mans, the greenest racing series on the planet, officials strive to include other things, like sustainable tire compounds.
American Le Mans also includes events for bio-fuels. Other series focus on hybrid racing. Hybrid cars aren’t all boring like a Prius; on the contrary, names like Fisker and Tesla come to mind as high performance hybrid or electric cars that can definitely hold their own on a track. Hybrid racing is also exciting—the thrill of a 300 horsepower V6, plus a 200 horsepower electric motor that has 100% of its torque available on tap, like on a hybrid Lexus GS, makes for impressive results.
Modern mechanical advancements also help make racing a much cleaner sport. Carburetors and unrestricted exhausts and 7.8 liter engines may still be around in vintage racing and certain series like NASCAR, but for the most part, modern engines are much more efficient at burning fuel cleaner. Technologies like direct injection, iridium spark plugs, and higher octane, more pure fuel mean that more of that fuel gets burned and less carbon and nitrogen are released, all while increasing power.
Green racing is, in the opinion of many, the wave of the future. The attitude of doing more with less, more power with less fuel and less in the way of emissions means that we not only get a better, more exciting race, but one that does less damage to the environment. Now that is something that nobody can argue against.
You can follow one of the top American LeMans teams by clicking here.
Article provided by the Scott Tucker team




Before white settlers arrived on the shores of this country, Native American music was the sound of the land. Far from being a simple, common music, the music of the Native American population was as diverse as the music of today, customized by each tribe. Some academics also believe Native American music to be one of the most