Cellulosic ethanol from Iogen Energy was part of the 58th running of Mobil 1 Twelve Hours of Sebring earlier this month.

It was the first time Iogen Energy’s cellulosic ethanol was blended into an E85 fuel for the demanding American Le Mans Series (ALMS) presented by Tequila Patrón. The 500 gallons of cellulosic ethanol supplied were produced from wheat straw at Iogen Energy’s world leading demonstration facility in Ottawa and fueled the Drayson Racing “Lola-Judd” prototype in the race.

According to ALMS, Drayson Racing was riding a wave of momentum entering the race with two-time Sebring winner Emanuele Pirro who had the No. 8 Lola Coupé in second place early. However, at three and a half hours into the 12 hour race, the alternator failed and eventually the team finished fourth in Le Mans Prototype One (LMP1) class and twelfth overall in a field of thirty-four.

“In the critical Michelin® Green X® Challenge, the team finished as the highest non-diesel powered entry. Taking third in this important environmental award was the result of the team’s use of second generation, cellulosic E85 ethanol and its efficient combination of Judd V10 engine and Lola’s closed cockpit chassis.”

The second round of the ALMS season will be April 17 in Long Beach, California.