VSCC - Winter Driving Tests to feature alternative fuels

Published: 02/12/2022

Believed to be a first at grassroots motorsport level, the Vintage Sports-Car Club are encouraging the use of alkylate fuels.

The historic motoring community have seen synthetic fuels used in top level rallying and the London to Brighton Car Run but the Vintage Sports Car-Club are encouraging further use of alternative fuels at less high-profile events.

We all know that alternative fuels are more expensive than petrol. Alkylate fuels, which are still fossil fuel based but with up to 80% lower emissions and, importantly, lower particulates are an alternative to normal petrol and an important steppingstone to the use of fully synthetic fuels.

The Vintage Sports-Car Club are passionate believers in the ‘repair, reuse, recycle’ mantra but our commitment to the environment goes beyond this. The Club already offsets all carbon emissions used in their competitions by 400% using a Tree-V scheme and have paid 3 years ahead to cement their commitment to responsible use of vintage cars. Now the Club, in collaboration with Classic Oils, have made further investment by underwriting the cost for 10 competitors to try alkylate fuel at the Winter Driving Test at Bicester this Saturday (3 December).

Motorsport UK have agreed an exemption to use non-pump fuel and we will be providing them feedback from competitors on the experience. Club Secretary Tania Brown will also be running the family Austin 7, shared with her partner Adam, at the Driving Tests this week. She said ‘This is a great initiative from the Club and one I am personally very excited about. We hear a lot about the demise of the internal combustion engine and now is the time to look at alternative ways of keeping our cars on the road. Alkylate fuels are a first step and as synthetic fuels become more widely available, we will also be considering sponsoring one of our under 30s to use it throughout our Speed Championship season. We are really grateful for the help and advice we have received from Guy Lachlan at Classic Oils, Nigel Elliott at the FBHVC and the whole team at Motorsport UK in helping make this landmark event a possibility for us.’

The event takes place at the home of Motorsport UK, Bicester Heritage this weekend and the Club will be providing updates on their social media throughout the day.
 

Image credit to Pete Austin