This weekend (18th-20th January) the fifth round of the World Cup of Motor Sport is taking place on the Taupo circuit in New Zealand. Like its 21 rivals, A1 Team France will be using a biofuel made up of 30% ethanol, which reduces the emissions harmful to the environment by a significant amount.

It is a First in the history of motor sport at such a level. In fact, A1GP is the first worldwide championship to use bio ethanol. The Petrochem Carless Company  in  partnership  with  Zytek,  the  sport’s  engine  supplier,  has  developed  a  special biofuel  for  A1GP  called  Hiperflo  E30. 

Thanks  to  this  mixture,  A1GP  will  cut  its  cars’  C02 emissions by 21% this season. Tomorrow will be another action-packed day on the track. A1 Team France is still in second place overall in the championship thanks to Loïc Duval’s harvest of podium finishes since the start of the season, but its main rival, New Zealand, has closed the gap to 1 point since the last  round  in  China.  Up  front,  Switzerland  still  has  a  comfortable  19-point  lead.  What’s  at stake for Loïc Duval and the whole team is to stay in front of their antipodean rival. The 3.5-kilomatre long Taupo circuit owes its name to the volcano that towers over it.

It is located in a magnificent environment and up till now has been a track on which passing has been very difficult. This year, the organisers have modified the profile of turn 10 to overcome this default. In the past, it was a fourth-gear corner taken at around 190 km/h and it has now been tightened to 90°.

Most of the overtaking will happen in this section just in front of the main  grandstand,  meaning  that  85%  of  the  spectators  will  have  a  good  view  of  the  most spectacular passing attempts. Loïc Duval: “Our motivation is still as strong as ever. Our aim will be to prepare for the two races as meticulously as possible by making the best use of our running time during the free practice  sessions,  and  not  committing  any  mistakes. 

We’ve  been  on  the  pace  so  far  all season,  and  only  racing  incidents  have  been  responsible  for  our  rare  setbacks.  We’re attacking the Taupo challenge in an optimistic frame of mind. Our mission hasn’t changed; we want a couple of podium finishes and if possible on the highest step!”