MIA conference returns to Sebring

The Motorsport Industry Association (MIA) will hold its second annual conference at Sebring International Raceway prior to the 56th running of the Mobil 1 Twelve Hours of Sebring presented by Fresh from Florida. The March 13 event entitled “Developing Energy Efficiency Through Motorsports" will continue to address motorsports’ role in developing energy efficient solutions, focusing on the American Le Mans Series’ position as the global leader in green racing.

Earlier this year, the American Le Mans Series became the first racing series to be recognized by the U.S. Department of Energy, the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency and SAE International as the only racing series to meet the criteria for Green Racing. This season, the Series will be the only major racing series in the world to race using three “street-legal" alternative fuels: clean diesel, E10 and cellulosic E85.

The distinguished group of speakers and panelists includes American Le Mans Series President and CEO Scott Atherton, John Glenn of the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency, MIA Chief Executive Chris Aylett, Shell Global Solutions Technology Manager Richard Karlstetter, High Performance Engineering Lead Officer/UKT&I Bill Griffiths, EPIC’s Reece Nanfito, Mazda’s John Doonan, Dr. Tim Hayes of BP America, and American Le Mans Series drivers David Brabham and Lord Paul Drayson.

The MIA pioneered a compelling strategy for Energy Efficient Motorsport and hosted the world’s first “Clean Racing Conference" in the United Kingdom in 2002 to raise the profile of energy efficiency within the motorsports industry. A year ago at Sebring, it partnered with the American Le Mans Series in the first-ever energy efficiency conference to be held on American soil.

Registration for the March 13 conference begins at 8:30 a.m. at the Chateau Elan Sheraton Four Points Hotel adjacent to the raceway. Sessions begin at 9:00 a.m. and conclude at noon with a press briefing featuring Parliament’s Lord Drayson, who is competing in the American Le Mans Series GT2 class this year in an Aston Martin Vantage V8 fueled by E85.

A 12:45 p.m. luncheon concludes the activities.

For more information contact: Michael Bailey, (678) 427-2025 or mabailey3@bellsouth.net.