“The biggest variable component in a car is the driver,” said Mr. Mayer.
He added while it seems “counter-intuitive” to find green driving techniques on a race track, drivers actually use environmentally friendly techniques such as smooth acceleration, smooth cornering, proper usage of gears and “anticipatory braking,” where the driver brakes earlier, with less force and thus uses less energy.
Partnering with a French company, Nomadic Solutions, the organization uses a smartphone application to evaluate a driver's techniques and even total carbon emissions.
These techniques can be used by drivers every day to limit wear on car parts, save fuel and reduce the amount of pollutants emitted into the environment.
Mr. Mayer said that for the series, which already has a strong focus on green racing including its competition within Petit Le Mans between teams to determine which is most eco-friendly, it made sense to use professional drivers to teach people how to reduce their impact on the environment.
“(The series) truly believes that what they do on race tracks should have an impact on the street,” said Mr. Mayer of the company’s most recent initiative.
While its drivers are presenting ways to drive more eco-friendly, these drivers are also trying out the newest green racing technologies from biobutanol, an alternative fuel developed by British Petroleum that reduces various emissions, to hybrid race cars.
The race tracks are becoming a platform to sell the concept of high-performance vehicles that run on alternative fuels, said Doug Robinson, former executive director for International Motor Sports Association, the sanctioning body responsible officiating the series' races.
Last October, Porsche debuted in the U.S. its 911 GT3 R Hybrid race car at Petit Le Mans, which is modeled on the 24 Hours of Le Mans race in France.
Finishing in 18th place, it was the first time a sports race car used hybrid technology in the U.S. The car is equipped with an advanced electric motor that generates additional power from braking.