In a move toward sustainability, the Formula Student competition will use sustainable fuels for all combustion engine vehicles in 2024. Motorsport UK, the governing body for motorsport in the UK, will act as a key sustainability partner, supporting university teams by providing two Sustain Racing fuels from Coryton.
The Institution of Mechanical Engineers (IMechE), an independent professional association, has extended its partnership with Motorsport UK and Coryton Fuels to ensure that all competitors at this summer’s event at Silverstone race circuit will use sustainable fuels.
“Motorsport UK recognizes that motorsport needs to have a broad view of the future propulsion solutions and incorporate sustainable technology, including fuels, within their genesis,” explained Motorsport UK technical director Ian Smith.
Now in its 26th year, the Formula Student competition, organized by the IMechE, involves university teams developing and building single-seater race cars. The competition provides students with practical skills and teamwork experience, supplementing their academic studies and preparing them to become capable graduate engineers.
Motorsport UK has provided a grant to enable teams with internal combustion engines to use Coryton’s sustainable fuels during the competition. Coryton is a specialist in environment renewable natural resources.
Coryton says its Sustain Racing E85 and 95 RON E10 fuels provide an 80% reduction in greenhouse gas emissions compared to fossil fuels. These second-generation biofuels are made from agricultural waste and are designed as drop-in solutions, meaning student teams do not need to modify their engines to use them.
Following the successful debut of these fuels as an optional choice at the 25th anniversary event in 2023, where a third of the combustion engine teams opted to run on Sustain fuels, the initiative has been expanded. The 2023 competition winners, MoRe Modena Racing from the University of Modena, Italy, successfully used E85 fuel, dispelling concerns about biofuels’ impact on performance.
David Richardson, director at Coryton, the company behind the Sustain Racing brand, said, “Sustainable fuels have a huge role to play in the future of motorsport and we’re already seeing that in many series across the world.
‘The fact that last year’s winners used Sustain Racing fuel just proves there is no drop in performance – but there is huge potential for the future of a cleaner motorsport industry.”
For the upcoming competition, 33 teams with internal combustion vehicles have chosen to run on sustainable fuels.
“We are delighted to be able to offer all teams these fuels for the coming competition,” said Naomi Rolfe, Formula Student project manager. “At a time when engineers across different industries are making strides toward net zero targets, this allows us to contribute toward the goal of reduced carbon emissions and that sustainable fuels and motorsport can go hand in hand.”
