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Following the
recent turmoil in Formula 1 arising from the high costs of running
competitive motor racing teams, and doubts in sponsors’ minds over the
commercial value of their involvement, the viability of motor racing is
being critically questioned. With this in mind the Warwick Innovative
Manufacturing Research Centre (WIMRC) at the University of Warwick, are
seeking to prove to the motor industry
that it is possible to build a competitive racing car using
environmentally sustainable components.
The new WorldFirst
Formula 3 racecar is a clever piece of lateral thinking. It is the first
racing car designed and made from sustainable and renewable
materials, putting
the world first by effectively managing the planet’s resources.
The project
truly is a WorldFirst. The car encompasses:
• Composite
Steering Wheel derived from Carrots and other Root
Vegetables
• Potato Starch
Wing Mirrors
• Wing End
Plates made from Cellulose and Flax composite
• Lightweight
Wiring Loom incorporating Recycled Aluminium and
Plastic
• 3D woven
Natural Fibre composites in the Barge Board
• Bio Diesel
race calibrated Engine. Not only is the car made of plants it
can also run on
them
• Glass Fibre
and resin from Recycled Plastic for the Side Pod
• A
groundbreaking Oxygen Generating catalyst on the Radiators that
cleans the air
as the car moves
• A seat made
from Flax Fibre shell, Soybean Oil foam and recycled
polyester
• Recycled
Carbon Fibre for the Engine Cover and Damper Hatch
• Pre
impregnated woven Flax Fibre for the Bib
• Plant Oil
based Lubricants
• Noncarbon
disks, with low
embodied energy for the Brakes
• Recyclable
Livery and Sustainable Branding
The project
promotes a different perspective on “green”, which does not revolve
solely around tailpipe emissions. The car itself features cutting-edge
advances in the manufacture of race vehicles.
As the country
contemplates a long recession and sponsors withdraw, many teams, are
struggling to find the budget to go racing. The idea behind the
WorldFirst racing car is to look at ways of producing a car that is
‘truly green’ and can be run as a competitive racecar with minimal
impact on theenvironment.
It is also hoped
that WorldFirst’s ethos will eventually lead to a cost reduction for
both fans and teams, as the technology advances and components become
increasingly recyclable, reusable and cheaper as a result of their more
widespread use.
The championing of
green technology, through the reduction of energy use and environmental
impact, is the key to the future survival of motor sport in these ever
challenging economic times. 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’.
The WorldFirst car
represents original and innovative thinking at a time when the world
needs lightweight construction, clean manufacturing and sustainable
development techniques more than ever. |
