WTCC switches to bio-fuel

redshoes · 12 Apr 2007, 17:15 (Ref:1889873)

WTCC have announced that they are going to be switching to bio-fuel.

2008 will see bio-fuel as an alternative alongside the existing petrol and diesel options. From 2009 WTCC will be exclusively bio-fuel.

I'm a little surprised about the move to exclusively bio-fuel but I guess it was only a matter of time.

THIM · 12 Apr 2007, 17:40 (Ref:1889891)

That's great idea, I'm waiting for biofuels on gas stations, so this fuel in WTCC is a great step towards it. Do you think cars will be faster?

Captain VXR · 13 Apr 2007, 10:20 (Ref:1890293)

About the same, look at BTCC last year when WSR converted their MGs to bioethanol and had similar pace. The Bioethanol S2000 cars in Sweden seem to do well in testing

**touringlegend** · 13 Apr 2007, 19:23 (Ref:1890660)

I think WSR said it gave a slight increase in power, although the consumption went up to, so more fuel was needed for each race.

JMeissner · 13 Apr 2007, 20:50 (Ref:1890712)

It differs from different engines, they respond differently on the switch to bio fuel depending on how they are constructed.

Some engines for example repsond positively on the fact that the engine gets better cooling due to the larger ammount of fuel, etc.

R59 · 21 Apr 2007, 18:43 (Ref:1897186)

Realistically, the engines can produce more power as the the burn is slower (ie: higher effective octane rating - closer to 110), but the lower calorific value means that it uses more of it, up to 40% more.
As has been said, the extra consumption means lower engine temps, or shall I say, smaller radiators.

If you ever have a loot at top methanol dragster - look at the fuel injection lines - they often run with ice on them due to the flow of alcohol fuel through them under pressure.

The only downside to pure alcohol fuels is it burns with an invisible flame - however, they will most likely run on E85 (85% bio-ethanol) as a pure ethanol engine is a swine (I did orignally mention female dogs, but the autocensor got it!) to start without a high speed starter - and that will burn with a visible flame. The upside is it's easily put out with water. (see the buckets of water in the pitlanes at Champcar and IRL races - so forget the ineffective AFFF, bring me a bucket!!

I'm pleased to see WTCC take a lead on this at such a level. It's about time that the highest level of FIA sanctioned motorsport did it too - F1.

We looked at it in the SCSA (stockcars) but the engine people didn't seem to get very far. I would hope that we all go bio-power in the next couple of years with only the histericals running on guzzoline.

Rob.

**touringlegend** · 21 Apr 2007, 20:33 (Ref:1897246)

I see WSR are going to be converting the BMW's to Bio-Ethanol, maybe BMW back in Germany are re-tuning the engine for it.

roachy101 · 22 Apr 2007, 11:23 (Ref:1897589)

well, this could secure the series long-term future if it threatened by "global warming" in a few years. plus along with the IRL, it's demonstrating what series are doing to help the environment

Jimmy Magnusson · 22 Apr 2007, 21:01 (Ref:1897986)

And in Sweden, the Ethanol Volvo wins the race

Captain VXR · 23 Apr 2007, 18:15 (Ref:1898765)

And Bio ethanol BMW second?

Jimmy Magnusson · 24 Apr 2007, 11:38 (Ref:1899248)

Yup.

JMeissner · 24 Apr 2007, 19:15 (Ref:1899553)

Nope, Flash Engineering does not have bio-ethanol engines yet. BMW Motorsport is still developing those and Flash Engineering will race with them as soon as they are ready.

tin-top fan · 24 Apr 2007, 21:54 (Ref:1899687)

Quote:

Originally Posted by JMeissner

Nope, Flash Engineering does not have bio-ethanol engines yet. BMW Motorsport is still developing those and Flash Engineering will race with them as soon as they are ready.

I would presume then that BMW motorsport will develop these engines then, giving them to teams in national championships ( such as RAC in Britain and Flash in Sweden) to see how they get on with them. Then maybe indies in the WTCC before eventually the main teams ( schnitzer and RBM) get to use them?

Bramzel · 25 Apr 2007, 07:15 (Ref:1899852)

I strongly doubt that the indies get them before the factory teams in WTCC. My guess would be that BMW will run and test them in STCC and maybe BTCC, and when bulletproof introduce them to their factory cars right away.

JMeissner · 25 Apr 2007, 07:45 (Ref:1899877)

Well since WTCC is going green in 09 it isnt that hard to see why BMW is interested in converting the engines to bio-ethanol...

M-Power · 26 Apr 2007, 16:41 (Ref:1901047)

I think it is good for the nature to make the motorsport "green" and it is also a symbol for the customers or fans to show that the green gas is very competitive. But the problem is that in the important sales markets in europe (germany for example) are not much petrol-stations at the moment.
That makes me sad because it is the right way. But the beginning is made and that is the important thing!

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