Auto-racing body the International Motor Sports Association (IMSA) is working with the Patrick Racing Team to develop and test natural gas fuel systems for the American Le Mans Series' Prototype Challenge class.

IMSA is targeting the 2013 racing season as the kickoff for the natural gas-powered race car. The Prototype Challenge class will use the ORECA FLM09 car powered by a 430 hp LS3 engine.

"We are the only racing series recognized to comply with the Green Racing protocols developed by the U.S. Department of Energy, the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency and SAE International," says Scot Elkins, chief operating officer of IMSA. "These organizations see Green Racing as a way to foster technology developments for tomorrow's consumer production vehicles, enhance national energy security and reduce carbon emissions."

"Natural gas comes out of the ground at 130 octane and is a great choice for a racing fuel or a consumer fuel," says Jim McGee, who is leading the technical development for the Prototype Challenge Natural Gas race cars. "This alliance will offer natural gas its most exciting platform ever to show the public how safely and reliably it can adopt the fuel as a daily transportation option."