Associations lay roadwork for international electric vehicle racing

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INTERNATIONAL e-VEHICLE RACING CHAMPIONSHIPS ENVISIONED BY ALMS, IMSA & QUIMERA. (PRNewsFoto/American Le Mans Series)

BRASELTON, Ga. — Strategic sustainability project specialists Quimera, the International Motor Sports Association and the American Le Mans Series presented by Tequila Patron will form a joint venture combining their respective areas of expertise in 2012, launching a new global initiative to develop the next generation of sustainable motor sport.

Working strategically, both IMSA and Quimera have immediately begun to define their objective of organizing a global, non-fossil fuel based championship.

By 2013 this joint venture will be ready to launch its new international Electric Vehicle series. This series will represent the first clean technology professional motor sport championship that will include various categories and also remain open to any original equipment manufacturers eager to showcase and develop their own green credentials in a cost-controlled environment.

Initially, a version of the Quimera AEGT All-Electric GT car is expected to debut in demonstration runs at selected American Le Mans Series race events in 2012. While the championship is expected to begin in the United States at races run in conjunction with ALMS, a clear international scope already has been outlined with the intention to invite any national governing body, promoter or country from around the world to join this ground-breaking motors port project.

By embracing the “clean-tech concept,” the championship is also looking to include motorcycles as part of its event roster. Quimera already can count on the support of the TTXGP World Championship, currently the world’s leading international electric series. For the first time ever this will ensure an event that features clean technology on two wheels as well as four, helping significant commercial and technical benefits to be realized for all stakeholders concerned.

IMSA and Quimera’s partnership is expected to develop further by empowering research and development activities in both new and existing technologies, thereby emphasizing motor sport’s essential role as a test bed for the automotive sector, for technology transfer as well as other key potential applications. A principal goal of this joint venture is to establish a series operating at the forefront of motorsport’s clean technology development.

Some initial categories under consideration:

GT AEGT (525 kW/700bhp): The world’s first and most powerful all-electric GT racing car already has been designed, built and tested in extreme conditions by Quimera.

Touring GT (300kW/390bhp): Prototypes are currently being constructed by Quimera. This is an open category with all OEMs invited, although multiple single-class OEM championships will be considered. Powertrain up to 350kW with carbon or tubular chassis.

Series organizers are currently negotiating an initiation series to be based on slightly modified road legal cars with a powertrain up to 150kW. This is intended as an OEM showcase for current EV consumer technology and provides a platform for the introduction to non-fossil fuel-based race series.

F3 type open wheel (300kW/390bhp): Formulec has spent the past two years designing, developing and testing its EF01, the world’s first 100 percent electric single-seater racing car, which will lay the foundation for an open category adhering to rules and regulations.

TTXGP motorcycle: The TTXGP World Championship will expand its format to include more classes and different race formats. With unrivalled experience in electric racing, the series already boasts technology, knowledge and an exciting team lineup to provide thrilling competition and an enthusiastic fan base.

PRNewswire