The FIA World Touring Car Championship will run on second-generation biofuel from 2009.
This type of biofuel is made from agriculture and forestry residues, avoiding the corollary problems associated with first-generation fuels developed from food crops. The production processes can use a variety of non-food sources, such as waste biomass or the stalks of wheat, corn and wood. The move will further help promote the use of these biofuels on public roads. The FIA World Touring Car Championship is an ideal platform to raise public awareness of biofuels worldwide thanks to the close relationship between touring cars and their road-going equivalents.
All championship stakeholders, including car manufacturers and sponsors, have been involved in the development programme for this initiative. Importantly, for the fans, the move will not affect the excitement on the track. The FIA's Touring Car Commission President Jonathan Ashman said: "From what Iíve seen so far, the aspects that fans love about touring car racing, the noise, the excitement, and the close racing, wonít be affected. This is purely an environmental change."
In September this year, the FIA will call for tenders to appoint the championshipís sole bio-fuel supplier and the winner of the tender will be selected at the FIA World Motor Sport Council in November. Teams will begin testing the following month in time for the launch of the 2009 championship in Brazil in March.
