Friendly fuel

Engineering students at Coventry University have set up their own company devoted to developing, testing and racing bio-fuelled vehicles in a motorsport environment. Biotech Motorsport want to generate awareness of bio fuelled vehicles to try and change the perception that alternative fuels can’t be used in competitive racing.

'We have bought and adapted a kit car to run on bio-fuel and will be racing it competitively in the 750 MC LoCost Championships next year. We will be the first bio-fuelled powered car on the grid!' said David Wick, Head of Operations of Biotech Motorsport.

The idea of testing and using bio-fuels as an alternative to petrol came about after the three university students had a discussion about renewable energy.

'We were talking about the bio-ethanol powered Aston Martin being used in the British GT Championship and wondered if bio-fuel could be used and be successful in all formulas, including Formula One,' added Wick.

One of the problems the team faced was to convince championship organisers that non-petrol powered cars could compete against the standard ones.

'We have done enough now to get our car entered in one major championship,' said Wick, 'and if it’s a success, then we will be able to progress further.'

To further enhance their credentials to promote and encourage the extensive use of bio-fuels, Biotech Motorsport have become campaign partners with the Energy Efficient MotorSport association (EEMS) which is a government run programme set up to change perception of environmentally friendly fuels in motorsport.