Obviously it is not just the participating teams that are involved. There was a wide range companies on the original MIA feasibility committee from Shell to Zytek. Such firms may be working in the background towards EEMS. Xtrac is one such, its latest 429 sportscar transmission being designed to cope with the low speeds of an anticipated influx of diesel racing engines as well as the higher speeds of modern petrol engines. However, its business development manager Robin Price points out that it is really the series and circuit promoters who can really bring about the aspirations of the EEMS movement.

One energy efficient initiative from last season has only recently come to light. Anglo American Oil, the European distributor of Sunoco oil has now ‘come clean' over the fact that it was supplying fuel with 11 per cent bio-ethanol for the British Formula 3 and GT championships and to the Seat Cupra series during 2004. This uses renewable sugar beet. No problems at all were experienced during the year and so Anglo American will continue to supply the “green” fuel for domestic F3 and GT series as well as a Ginetta championship. Managing director Anders Hildebrand points out that this move has been a direct result of his attending the MIA Clean Racing conference held in Birmingham in October 2003.

Energy efficient racing is not going to be a British preserve, although it is one of the aims of the MDB to ensure that overseas operations do look to the UK for a technical lead. There is interest in alternative fuel racing in the USA at a variety of levels from the Club Biodiesel biofuels racing group to even the Indy Racing League, which has admitted that would give “serious consideration” to bio-ethanol fuel. At Autosport International it was an Italian supplier, Pistal Racing that pointed out it was preparing for this new world by developing, in conjunction with French engine manufacturer Sodemo, a forged steel piston specifically for diesel racing. It is also working closely with the Turin Technical University on the project, the first results of which should be ready by March. “It is our opinion that this will be the future,” said Pistal's Giorgio Casolari.

At the Clean Racing Conference, Herb Fishel, former executive director of GM Racing, asked why the automobile industry is not currently backing energy efficient motorsport. It is his contention that global motorsport is on a non-sustainable course. Given the vested interests and the factions running the various aspects of racing, it needs operations the size of vehicle manufacturers to change this course. Fishel contended that it needs their money and it also needs uniformity throughout the world. Twelve months later, in the aisles at Autosport International, he was still delivering the same message.

When Ricardo first announced that it had designed a 5-litre diesel engine based on the Judd V10 that complied with Le Mans LMP1 regulations, it was said that it could never become anything other than a 3D concept unless a vehicle manufacturer came forward to back it. It has to be acknowledged that both Volkswagen and BMW have showcased diesels in touring car races, but a win at Le Mans who surely raise the profile in a way that no other event could do.

If motorsport does not acknowledge that it can be perceived as a profligate pastime and act accordingly, then it may find that, outside pressures are being brought to play. This may not happen this season but it will surely occur some time and those pressures will be made by groups with no interest in the automotive industry let alone motorsport.

There is no need for the vehicle manufacturers to act just in an altruistic manner. An MIA/DTI feasibility study launched in 2002 pointed out the motorsport industry's “ability to develop new ideas”, saying how it could deliver “green” technology “that would be relevant to road transport.” By supporting such as the Green by Design exhibition, which was opened by the Secretary of State of Transport, Alistair Darling, the MIA underlined the fact that EEMS is about more than just motorsport. Consideration needs to be given to it now not only to ensure that racing and rallying do not come under intolerable pressures from outside but also show that, just occasionally, racing really can “improve the breed.”

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