24h Le Mans
Photo : - Hope Racing
At Gruyère, the city where Hope Racing is based, the 2012 season is in active preparation for the prospect of participation in the the World Endurance Championship. Absent since participation in the 24 Hours of Le Mans, the Oreca "hybrid" will take to the track in November to undergo a battery of tests.
In parallel, the Swiss team has taken action on awareness for renewable energy by participating in regular "green" initiatives. For example, a financial compensation was paid to AGT (Advanced Global Trading) to offset CO2 emissions produced by the car during the 24 Hours of Le Mans. This money will fund projects designed to help the environment and return the balance of carbon emissions to zero.
Benoit Morand, Racing Sporting Director of Hope: "Of course, we do not call ourselves Hope Racing for nothing. The fundamental objective of the project and the programme is to produce a powerful, reliable, hybrid racing car, that would soon be able to challenge the diesel prototypes and show everyone that renewable energy is indeed the future of the automotive industry and our planet. And what was originally a hope turned into reality when we were the first to obtain approval of the ACO to race the 24 Hours of Le Mans 2011. Today, we see manufacturers happily going on with endurance hybrid projects: it shows that we are all on track, that of renewable energy. "
PAVILLON DAUPHINE (PARIS), GO GREEN AUTO RALLY, 24 SEPT 2011. The 'Hybrid' prototype on display at an event whose purpose was to bring together key players in the automotive world engaged in ecological issues.
