It was announced today that Fiona Leggate, the Lincolnshire driver of the E85 fuelled Thurlby Motors Boston Bowl with Tech-Speed Astra Coupe, has decided not to compete in the last two race meetings of the Dunlop MSA British Touring Car Championship, due to budget problems.
 
Steve Bunkhall, project leader of EEMS which provided part support for the programme, said: “We are disappointed but we have to accept the decision. EEMS, and the other partners, have worked hard behind the scenes to resolve this as we wanted Fiona to finish the season. We would like to thank her for her work for EEMS this year.”
 
Marvin Humphries of Tech-Speed, which runs the Astra, commented, “Fiona could have gone well at Brands and she had her best ever BTCC result at Silverstone last year, we are very disappointed.”
 
EEMS support will continue with the Astra if it runs in the last two race meetings as the car runs on E85, a biofuel blend, and is also trialling the EEMS fuel flow metering system developed by Ricardo and Pi Research, as part of a technical study into equivalence standards for different fuels.
 
Thurlby Motors, owners of the Astra Coupe, are seeking ways to finish the season with the car and an announcement will be made in the very near future. The company is promoting its Thurlby 888 Astra CDTi limited edition 200BHP diesel at the British Touring Car race meetings, and one will be awarded to a competition winner at the final race meeting at Silverstone on 15 October.
 
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For more information contact Janice Minton, tel 01787 880820,
mobile 07803 050266  Email janice.minton@eemsonline.co.uk
See more information on www.eemsonline.co.uk

Download high resolution photographs from Jakobebrey.com/fionaleggate.  Copyright free for editorial purposes only

EDITOR'S NOTES

E85 is a blend of 85% bio-ethanol with 15% petrol. See facts about bio-ethanol on the EEMS website www.eemsonline.co.uk

Energy Efficient Motorsport (EEMS) is one of five programmes sponsored by Motorsport Development UK to sustain and develop the UK's world-leading motorsport sector. Programme funding comes directly from the DTI and four regional development agencies.

EEMS seeks to encourage the development of alternative fuels and powertrain technologies and put energy efficiency at the heart of modern motorsport - without comprising the sporting spectacle. There is a widely held belief that energy efficiency and green technology are not compatible with exciting motorsport. This is simply not the case - in fact the UK motorsport industry stands to benefit by adopting EEMS concepts and taking a leading global role.

EEMS is working with championship rule makers on energy efficiency and the regulation of alternative fuels in motorsport, to encourage their wider use. EEMS has offered all BTCC teams fuel metering technology, developed by Ricardo and Pi Research. This will allow for fuel equivalency standards and, ultimately, for power to be regulated by energy flow rather than rev limits or air restrictors.