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.
“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.
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.
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