VX Racing has been working with the HiQ MSA British Touring Car Championship to introduce a new emissions testing programme designed to reduce CO2 levels of race cars competing in the series. The programme was demonstrated to media with a preview of the test laboratory operation last week.
The BTCC has introduced new regulations aimed at establishing and regularly testing the competing cars’ CO2 figures, pushing them down to levels beneath those of their road-going equivalents. The VX Racing team’s 2008 championship winning Vauxhall Vectra has played a major role in the development of the programme with the BTCC. Tests have shown that the team is on target to meet the new regulations.
The 2009 VX Racing driver line up of Fabrizio Giovanardi, Matt Neal and Andrew Jordan also visited the test laboratory to learn more about the programme and view the team’s race car in emissions testing action.
Ian Harrison, Team Principal, VX Racing says of the BTCC move, “It is important for the BTCC to consider energy efficiency and the environmental considerations in motorsport, so this initiative is welcomed by us. The approach that has been taken by the championship is highly proactive and whilst giving us another engineering challenge, these positive steps take us in the right direction for a sustainable future.”
BTCC Series Director Alan Gow adds, “What we are undertaking in 2009 is a world first in motor sport. Yes, we could have gone down the easier path of simply mandating the use of bio-fuels or adopting a less technically-challenging ‘panacea’. Our sport is full of incredibly clever, very talented engineers and this initiative is a great demonstration of their ability to tackle such issues head-on. To my mind, it’s a far more meaningful demonstration of our credentials to motor manufacturers, environmental groups, sponsors, the Government, motorists and the BTCC’s many millions of fans than us taking less convincing (or demanding) steps.”
The BTCC’s programme is fully endorsed by Energy Efficient Motorsport (EEMS), a Government-sponsored sector initiative whose aim is to put energy efficiency at the heart of modern motor sport.
