The
Institution of Mechanical Engineers (IMechE) has extended its partnership with
Motorsport UK and
Coryton Fuels to provide ‘sustainable fuels’ (Coryton’s Sustain Racing fuels) to all competitors at this summer’s
Formula Student competition taking place at Silverstone race circuit from 17 to 21 July. Motorsport UK, the governing body for motorsport in the UK, has provided a grant for entrants to use Coryton sustainable fuels in ICE (internal combustion engine) powertrains within the Formula Student competition.
Ian Smith, Motorsport UK’s technical director, said: “Motorsport UK recognises that motorsport needs to have a broad view of the future propulsion solutions and incorporate sustainable technology, including fuels, within their genesis. Formula Student is a key opportunity for young, talented engineers to get their first experience of competitive motorsport and many go on to have professional careers in the sport, or associated industries. From the very start of their careers, we want them to consider how emerging technology can be included in designs, without compromising overall performance.”
Organised by the IMechE and now in its 26th year, the
Formula Student competition sees teams of university students develop and build single-seater race cars for a finals event on track at Silverstone. The Sustain Racing E85 and 95 RON E10 fuels for the combustion vehicles at the competition offer an 80% reduction in greenhouse gas emissions when compared to fossil fuel-based equivalents. Both are second-generation biofuels, created from agricultural waste, and have been designed to be a ‘drop-in solution’, meaning that student teams do not need to modify their existing engines to realise their benefits.
David Richardson, a director at Coryton, the company behind the Sustain Racing brand, said: “Sustainable fuels have a huge role to play in the future of motorsport, that is why it is fantastic to have this opportunity to show the next generation of engineers what sustainable biofuel can do, and to allow them to experience it in action. The fact that last year’s winners used Sustain Racing fuel just proves there is no drop in performance, and that there is huge potential for the future of a cleaner motorsport industry.”
The IMechE said that while more teams than ever are developing electric cars for the competition, the complexity and costs involved mean that students are not always able to make the switch. “Therefore, the provision of a sustainable fuel options ensures that internal combustion engines remain a viable choice for teams in the future, and that students running these vehicles can continue to benefit from the learning opportunities offered by the competition while meeting requirements for sustainability.”