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30^th July 2007 (Source: EEMS / Jenkins Trucksport )

Another project supported by EEMS, the Energy Efficient Motorsport programme, has claimed a place in the record books. This time it’s the UK’s first motorsport win for biodiesel – and it is in truck racing.

David Jenkins in his Jenkins Trucksport SISU SL250 truck ran on a 50% blend of biodiesel and mineral diesel (B50) and claimed pole position and then a first win of the season in the BRTA race at Thruxton, Hampshire on Saturday 21 July at an average of 80.23mph despite poor conditions after heavy rain.

“The track conditions were not easy, really greasy,” said David with the trophy. “It was a great race. At one point at the chicane there were four of us in a row, I could see the other three behind me in the mirror. We’d already had the qualifying for the European rounds, so I had a chance to check our set up for the track conditions. We knew we had got it right but it was so close. The first three were less than nine tenths of a second apart after 14 tough laps.”

This was the first circuit race for the 1050 Bhp turbocharged intercooled M11 Cummins engine running on the 50% biodiesel blend, having competed twice this year on lower percentages. Biofuel supplier Mabanaft provides the high quality biodiesel blend, with Fleetsolve Consultancy providing technical support. Reduced emissions and a noticeably cleaner and quieter truck on the track are some of the important advantages of using the B50 biodiesel fuel. A combination of a particulate trap that self-cleans with the engine and biodiesel ensures that there is no visible smoke from the truck. A refreshing change in this form of racing which is historically known for its startline black smoke.

Only last week, the team scored a third place in the BRTA UK Sprint Cup time trial at Santa Pod Raceway in Bedfordshire, with the six-ton truck setting an elapsed time of 14.986 seconds over a quarter of a mile, reaching a top speed of 95.52 mph on B50 biodiesel blend, despite no track testing beforehand.

The second Thruxton British Truck Racing Association race on Sunday was a furious fightback, as David started on pole position again but was shunted onto the grass and into fifth position on the first lap, fighting his way back to take a dramatic third place on the line. His aggressive driving style needed superb control as the tractor unit bounced over the kerbs.

On the same racing programme, in the International Truck Challenge, David scored a third place in the qualification race and another fine podium with third place in the Grand Final against teams from Europe.

“Biodiesel when used correctly with the appropriate vehicle modifications can become a leading fuel in motorsport,” said Keith O’Connor of Fleetsolve. “We are proud to be working with Jenkins Motorsport and Mabanaft in support of this project and we look forward to a successful year.”

David Jenkins was also pleased with the weekend. “The drag strip at Santa Pod last week and the high speed track here at Thruxton provided a great chance to measure the performance of the truck running biodiesel. The team is thrilled to make it onto the podium with two weekends of intense racing. Using biodiesel helped us knock off two tenths of a second from our previous times over quarter of a mile at Santa Pod. We had enormous support from our fuel partner Mabanaft and technical partner Fleetsolve and, with their help and support from EEMS, we look forward to more podium finishes this season.”

MABANAFT Biofuels Manager Robin Lloyd was there to share the excitement: “Dave’s performances on these two weekends are fantastic results for the team and for the biofuel development efforts of Mabanaft and Fleetsolve. We have clearly demonstrated that similar, and even higher, performance to mineral diesel can be achieved with biodiesel.”

The wins at Thruxton were greeted warmly by marshals and competitors alike. “It’s a real family atmosphere in this racing,” said BTRA Press Officer Chris Jones, “and Dave is a popular figure in the paddock. Everyone was delighted with his win.”

Working with Mabanaft and Fleetsolve, the team will continue development towards running on 100% biodiesel by the end of the year. The BTRA has three more meetings, two at Pembrey in Wales and one at Brands Hatch, Kent.

-ENDS-

EEMS, the Energy Efficient Motorsport programme, is an industry initiative supported by Motorsport Development UK and funded by the BERR (formerly DTI) and four regional development agencies. Its aim is to put energy efficiency at the heart of modern motorsport and to promote the development expertise of the UK motorsport industry. It provides support for a range of projects developing energy efficiency in racing as well as running events to widen knowledge.

Other firsts for EEMS-supported projects include: first racing car to finish the Le Mans 24 Hours on 100% renewable fuel; first hybrid rally car to win its class in a UK national rally championship; first podium place in UK motorsport for E85 biofuel (British Touring Cars); first UK biofuel win (British GT3 Championship), first car championship to run on E85 (Formula Woman). See more on eemsonline.co.uk

Truck Racing- Jenkins Trucksport

Jenkins Motorsport, a successful competitor in European truck racing, is the first team to convert to biodiesel in the British Truck Racing Association Championship in 2007. David Jenkins, in his SISU SL250 Truck, had the desire to be at the forefront of energy efficiency in British Truck Racing and to demonstrate what can be achieved with bio-fuelled race truck. After partnering up with biofuel supplier Mabanaft, who provides the high quality biodiesel blend and with Fleetsolve Consultancy, who provide technical support, the 1050 Bhp turbocharged intercooled M11 Cummins engine was converted to run on biodiesel.

The truck, currently running on 50% biodiesel, has a number of noticeable advantages in the Jenkins Truck. There are reduced emissions and a cleaner and quieter truck on the track. A combination of a particulate trap that self-cleans with the engine and biodiesel ensures that there is no visible smoke from the truck. This makes for a change in this form of racing which is historically known for its startline black smoke. Running on 50% bio-diesel, the truck has been very competitive, scoring an historic win for a biodiesel truck in the UK at Thruxton on 21 July 07. In the two previous rounds, lower percentage blends of biodiesel were used to develop and understand the technical implications of using biodiesel. Working with Mabanaft and Fleetsolve, Jenkins Motorsport will continue to develop the SISU SL250 truck to have it running on 100% biodiesel before the end of the 2007 championship

Technical insight into Biodiesel

Biodiesel is a sustainable alternative to fossil diesel and provides environmental benefits of reduced carbon dioxide emissions in the combustion process in addition to the “well to wheel” journey which equates to an approximate CO2 reduction of 78%. In addition biodiesel significantly reduces the emissions of CO, hydrocarbons, particulates and soot. Unlike fossil diesel, biodiesel contains no sulphur so does not produce sulphur dioxide emissions, a contributor to acid rain. However, when used in a 100% form in an unmodified engine, biodiesel can slightly increase the output of Nox as a result of increased combustion temperatures.

The Jenkins race truck has been modified to combat this small increase in Nox output without any significant loss in power. As the team move toward 100% biodiesel, the benefits from the reduced soot and particulate content will allow the team a chance to trial the truck without a smoke trap fitted to the exhaust, a first in the field of truck racing.

Mabanaft Ltd

Mabanaft Ltd is a fuel supplier providing biodiesel to the European EN14214 standard and petroleum diesel to the EN590 specification. The biodiesel used to blend the B50 is the same as that used to blend retail pump grade B5 fuel. High quality diesel and biodiesel is essential for any high bio-blend development. Biodiesel provides environmental benefits of reduced carbon dioxide emissions and reduced dependence on fossil fuels, as well as lower smoke and particulate emissions. Mabanaft seeks the most sustainable and lowest environmentally-impacting biofuels. There is no specification for B50 but the constituent parts conform to the relevant European fuels specifications: EN590 for mineral diesel and EN14214 for biodiesel. More information: Robin Lloyd email, telephone +44 (0)20 7470 7619, mobile (0)7876 685314

Fleetsolve Limited is a sustainable transport and fleet efficiency consultancy, specialising in improving the efficiency of vehicle fleets on-road and off-road, with customers in road transport, agriculture, rail and shipping. With over 10 years experience in biofuels they are seen as the UK leader in biodiesel project support, and work with vehicle manufacturers and end users to ensure the success of biofuel projects.

The company was approached by Mabanaft for technical help with the truck racing project to run the engine at optimum performance. Fleetsolve is testing the engine pre- and post- biodiesel use, taking oil samples, emission testing and improving the combustion process using stepped fuel grades to develop the engine in stages. A 20% blend was first used this year, now stepped up to 50% with the goal of 100% biodiesel by the end of the season. This is acceptable within the British Truck Racing Association rules and is being put forward for validation with the European truck racing regulations.

Fleetsolve is a consultant to the Eden Project and helped create The Sexy Green Car Show in April 2007. Fleetsolve worked with New Holland to introduce the first biodiesel tractors to the UK. By upgrading the generators and vehicles to operate on 100% biodiesel, Fleetsolve helped to improve the sustainability of the Glastonbury Festival, which had the largest independent power generation unit in Europe using over 200,000 litres of biodiesel and diesel. More information: Keith O’Connor Tel +44(0)

British Truck Racing Association: www.btra.co.uk

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