Articles
Fuel for Thought
Source: BTCC
Publication Date: 16th July 2005
This article appeared in the official programme for BTCC rounds 13, 14 and 15 held at Croft motor racing circuit near Darlington on 16 and 17 July 2005
The rise of global warming and the demise of fossil fuels. Heady topics, both of which are hugely relevant to the BTCC debut of Fiona Leggate this weekend. Fred Harris explains.
This weekend, you will see British motorsport history being made. For the first time, a car using bioethanol fuel will compete in the Dunlop MSA British Touring Car Championship. Prepared and entered by Techspeed Motorsport, and driven by BTCC debutante Fiona Leggate, the Vauxhall Astra will take a small but hugely important step for the future of British motor racing. Its progress will be watched with huge interest from many different angles. Of course, you would need to have spent recent times in a news vacuum to not be aware that vehicle emissions are a big factor in global warming and that man's reliance on fossil fuels must ultimately come to an end. Bioethanol fuel, typically made from renewable sources such as sugar beet, is one of the most promising potential answers to a global problem. Current estimates suggest that 85% of fuel bought at the pumps could be bio-ethanol, some of it from crops like sugar beet and wheat grown here in the UK.
Recognising that motor racing is a perfect proving ground for alternative fuels, the British government and Motorsport Development UK recently created an initiative called Energy Efficient Motorsport (EEMS) and this weekend's debut is one of the results of that catalyst.
Fully supported by Alan Gow and the team behind the BTCC, the plan to bring bioethanol fuel into the BTCC quickly gathered pace. Triple 8, the team responsible for Vauxhall's BTCC success, Techspeed Motorsport and Leggate pieced a deal together to get Fiona out racing in an ex-works 2004 spec Astra. And it all starts here at Croft.
"There is a lot of interest in bio-ethanol fuel," says Techspeed boss Marvin Humphries. "We've got a lot to learn about this technology and we're on a steep learning curve, but we plan to finish the season and develop the car along the way."
The Astra runs a conventional engine and simply has suitable modifications to cope with burning a very different type of fuel. The EEMS initiative is committed to developing the use of green fuels in motorsport and the entry into the BTCC is a perfect way of both increasing public awareness in the subject and showing that performance need not be sacrificed when using environmentally sound fuel sources.
Already, it is clear that non-fossil fuel is essential for the future, particularly if government set targets for automotive emissions are to be met. Using such fuels in competitive motorsport is sure to accelerate development as well as public awareness. With carbon emissions and global warming so much in the news around the recent G8 summit, this weekend's BTCC debut is more relevant than ever.
For Fiona, making her BTCC debut in such a media spotlight will add to the pressure but she has made great progress in just two seasons of racing. The daughter of former saloon car racer Malcolm, 25-year-old Fiona has risen rapidly through saloon car racing and now faces her biggest challenge.
Coming from a Lincolnshire farming family, Fiona is acutely aware that the development of bioethanol fuel could be a massive boost for British farmers at a time when traditional crops are heavily in surplus. “I think bio-ethanol is the fuel of the future and it could become the world's most economical fuel source," says Fiona. "It would be nice to think I was helping English farmers, who generally have had a difficult time, and also helping the environment by reducing global warming. "
Of course, when the race starts, Fiona will be simply one more BTCC racer striving to beat the car in front. "This is a massive opportunity," says Humphries. "If we can get up to the pace of someone like James Kaye and race with him, I'd be delighted." But wherever Fiona finishes this weekend, she is starting something that could make the environment the real winner.
Added to the database on 18th July 2005
Keywords: Croft racing circuit, Fiona Leggate, bioethanol, Vauxhall, Astra, British Touring Car Championship
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