Anty
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Registered: 19th Mar 08
Location: droitwich
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No need to check if it's April Fools Day; you really are looking at a real race car that runs on chocolate and is partially made of vegetables. Not only does it exist, it's had its first track test this week in the UK.
The WorldFirst Formula 3 car is the brainchild of James Meredith, Dr Steve Maggs and Dr Kerry Kirwan, three researchers working at the University of Warwick, while the project has come about thanks to Warwick Innovative Manufacturing Research Centre (WIMRC) based at the university.
Motorsport is traditionally quite a wasteful industry, where the environment and sustainability are mostly ignored in the goal for greater speed, but the aim of the WorldFirst project was to produce a competitive racing car using environmentally sustainable components.
WIMRC managed to convince a host of established motorsport specialist firms to assist with the creation of the car, including Lola, BASF, Lear, Fuchs and Avon Tyres.
Although the car - designed to compete in the Formula 3 class - appears normal, its bodywork is made from a variety of plant-based and recycled materials, including natural fibre woven composites and recycled carbon fibre.
The most unusual features include a steering wheel made out of polymer derived from carrots, wing mirrors constructed in potato starch core and brake pads utilising cashew nut shells.
Powering the racer is a 2.0-litre turbodiesel engine that should be much more efficient than the current petrol units used in Formula 3. It has been optimised to run on bio-diesel too, which can be derived from waste products left over from making chocolate.
Project Manager, James Meredith, said "It's been very exciting working on the project and important for our team to develop a working example of a truly 'Green' motor racing car. The WorldFirst project expels the myth that performance needs to be compromised when developing the sustainable motor vehicles of the future."
Although there are no plans in place to change the whole remit of the Formula 3 series, it's not outside the bounds of reality, as we've seen Formula 1 having to adjust to economic realities in recent years.
Max Mosely, President of the FIA, has reinforced this point by stating "In order to survive we need to concentrate on a more ecological motor sport."
Shane O' Donoghue
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