The NTT IndyCar Series and Shell revealed a sustainability initiative that will feature 100 percent renewable fuel, beginning in 2023.
The announcement comes a day after Shell was confirmed as new fuel supplier for IndyCar and the Indianapolis Motor Speedway next season.
In turn, IndyCar will be the first racing championship in the United States to have 100 percent renewable bio gasoline. The prediction is that the switch will reduce greenhouse gas emissions by 60 percent compared to current fuel usage.
“The fuel and lubricant, and energy solutions developed through our strategic relationship with IndyCar and Penske Corporation can ultimately help accelerate reduced carbon emissions from transport in many sectors of the economy,” said Carlos Maurer, Shell executive vice president of Sectors and Decarbonization. “Shell’s motorsports technical alliances around the world provide a testing ground for fuel and lubricant technologies and products in demanding road conditions.”
The product is a comprised blend of second-generation ethanol from sugarcane waste and other biofuels to create a mixture that gets to that full renewable number that considers it under applicable regulatory frameworks.
“This race fuel development for IndyCar is a great example of how fuels technology is pivotal in helping decarbonize the sport,” said Dr. Selda Gunsel, president of Shell Global Solutions. “Today’s development takes us one step closer to that goal.”
With IndyCar being the first series in the USA to commit to this renewable fuel transfer, they join the World Endurance Championship (WEC) as the only championships in the world.
In attendance for the release, Helio Castroneves has a hometown affection with Shell having the second-generation ethanol sourced from a Brazilian joint-venture founded in 2011 by Shell and Cosan, named Raízon. They are one of the largest sugarcane ethanol manufacturer in the world and owner of the first commercial second-generation ethanol plant.
“Motorsports has always been at the forefront of innovation and technology, and today IndyCar is furthering this tradition in a very important and transformational way,” said Mark Miles, president and CEO of Penske Entertainment Corp. “We are proud to become a leader in sustainability and decarbonization as we work towards becoming the first U.S. motorsport series to run on renewable fuel. With industry-leading organizations like Shell and Penske sharing the same ambition for a cleaner energy future, remarkable progress can be made.”
