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How
can historic motorsport go ‘green’, will be just one of the questions asked by
Race Retro 2008, the International Historic Motorsport Show. Held from 14th to
16th March at Stoneleigh Park, Coventry. Race Retro will bring together
bio-fuel suppliers, experienced users and specialist equipment manufacturers,
who provide tanks, seals, fuel hoses, fire extinguishers etc, to present an
opportunity for race organisers, competitors and car preparers to discuss the
merits of using bio-fuels in historics.
This
feature area will be situated in the engineering area of Hall 2 and manned by
experienced users of bio-fuels. Competition cars set up to use E85 fuels and E5
(95 per cent gasoline), will also be on display. “The objective is to highlight
conversion problems for historic and classic race and rally cars and improve
understanding of the fuel and technical issues, so as to pave the way for the
event organisers, competitors and motorsport to move forward,” says Race Retro
director Ian Williamson.
“Some
UK fuel suppliers are already blending high octane fuel using ethanol, which is
available at pumps and so meets the MSA criteria that pump fuel for competition
should not exceed 100 octane (RON) and 2.7 per cent oxygen. The FIA
specification allows 102 octane (RON) and a higher oxygen content (3.7 per
cent), which allows ten per cent ethanol to be added. So far as it is known,
this fuel can be purchased directly for racing, but is not yet available at the
pump.
“The
debate is therefore about the effect of higher concentrations of bio-fuels in
gasoline, both on weakening mixtures beyond the carburettor (caused by more
oxygen) and the potentially corrosive effect on seals, rubbers and fuel hoses,
as well as some metals. While 2008 sees the introduction of Junior WRC Ford
Fiestas running on E85, A1 GP running on E30 and the BTCC permitting bio-fuel
blends, these are all modern vehicles. Cars made before the early 1990s, may
only run efficiently on E5 or E10 blends because they don’t have knock sensors.
To use E30 or E85, the car may need to have tanks replaced, all the rubber
seals changed, etc.”
With
the first UK bio-ethanol plant, which uses sugar beet, already in operation,
plus five bio-diesel plants, the government has already sanctioned that all
pump fuel should contain 2.5 per cent bio-fuel in 2008. However the EU has
proposed that pump fuel should contain 5.7 per cent bio-fuel by 2012, a blend
which Formula 1 has already decided to adopt in 2009.
Ian
added: “Historic Motorsport needs to be seen to be making an environmental
effort. Who knows what innovations the future will bring, but as public
pressure and perception are growing, doing nothing is no longer an option. By
bringing all the various parties together at Race Retro, we hope to inform the
historic sector on the solutions available.”
Race
Retro is an official Campaign Partner of EEMS, the Energy Efficient Motorsport
Programme supported by Motorsport Development UK. For more information on Europe’s
premier historic motorsport show and the latest updates, visit www.raceretro.com
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