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.