World-first sustainable racing car to take on Formula 3 at Brands Hatch

Can the idea of 'green motorsport' actually work? Yes, according to EPSRC funded researcher, Dr Kerry Kirwan at the University of Warwick, who led the research team which designed and built the worldfirst fully sustainable Formula 3 racing car.

The car is made from woven flax, recycled carbon fibre, 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 0-60 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 17th October. The team hope to prove that high performance, competitive cars can be built from sustainable materials.

According to Dr 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.”

A video of the car in action can be found at IMPACT! World www.impactworld.org.uk The website also features a variety of other films and case studies highlighting the impact of science and research technology in the UK.

The Engineering and Physical Sciences Research Council (EPSRC) is the main agency for funding research in engineering and the physical sciences. We fund research that tackles some of the most difficult issues facing the world today and is helping build a better future for everyone. The impact of that research can be seen across many aspects of our lives including the economy, healthcare, security, transport, energy, culture, knowledge and public policy.