Chocolate-powered Sustainable Racing Car to Compete in Formula 3 Championship 

World-first sustainable Formula 3 racing car

Can the idea of ‘green motorsport’ actually work? Yes, according to researcher, Kerry Kirwan at the University of Warwick, who led the research team that designed and built the world-first fully sustainable Formula 3 racing car. The car is made from woven flax, recycled carbon fiber, recycled resin and carrot pulp for the steering wheel. It runs on biofuel made from chocolate and animal fats and is lubricated with plant oils. But it’s not just an environmentally friendly car, it is also fast. The car has a top speed of 135 mph, can achieve 0-to-60 in 2.5 seconds and is turbo charged to give it more torque.

Having got the seal of approval from drivers such as Lewis Hamilton and Adam Carroll, as well as F1 team boss Ross Brawn, the car will make its first competitive debut in the Formula 3 Championship final at Brands Hatch on October 17, 2009. The team hopes to prove that high performance, competitive cars can be built from sustainable materials.

According to Kirwan, the idea behind the project is to show that: “being sustainable and green can be incredibly sexy, fun and fast.” He goes on to say that even though people’s perception of motorsport is that it’s wasteful, this project is “aiming to show ways for the future, for people to race and be green.”

The research was funded by the Engineering and Physical Sciences Research Council (EPSRC). EPSRC’s IMPACT! Campaign is reaching out to new audiences to communicate the impact that research has on the world around us and show why engineering and physical sciences are vital for our future.

A video of the car in action can be found at IMPACT! World’s Web site: http://www.impactworld.org.uk/