Faster than a Speeding Carrot: The World’s First Eco-Racing Car

It’s got a steering wheel made from carrots, a body made from potatoes and it’s powered by waste chocolate and vegetable oil. It can also go 125 miles per hour around corners. It’s not just a vegetarian environmentalist’s wet dream, it’s a real competitive racing car made using environmentally sustainable components.

From the press release:

The project truly is a World First as the team have examined all the components of the vehicle and attempted to introduce a green and sustainable element into each aspect of the car. Components made from plants form the mainstay of the car’s make up, including a race spec steering wheel derived from carrots and other root vegetables, a flax fibre and soybean oil foam racing seat, a woven flax fibre bib, plant oil based lubricants and a bio diesel engine configured to run on fuel derived from waste chocolate and vegetable oil. It also incorporates a radiator coated in a ground-breaking emission destroying catalyst.

As original equipment manufacturers focus on decreasing engine emissions, to meet future CO2 legislation, the WorldFirst project proves that if you are going to wholeheartedly embrace the ‘green is great’ ethos and do more than merely posture, you have to broaden your vision. This must encompass a strategy that stretches throughout the chain from the raw materials to the final disposal of the car. The project clearly demonstrates that automotive environmentalism can and should be about the whole package.

Project Manager, James Meredith a researcher in WMG at the University of Warwick, said “It’s been very exciting working on the project and important for our team to develop a working example of a truly ‘Green’ motor racing car.  The WorldFirst project expels the myth that performance needs to be compromised when developing the sustainable motor vehicles of the future.”

Who would have thought that an environmentally friendly, competitive race car was not just around the corner, but has already arrived? Projects like this and Greenbird certainly shatter the perception that eco-friendly cars can’t be as fast, fun and sexy as conventional vehicles. How cool would it be to see race car drivers start using cars like this?! Setting an example and still having a great time – we love to see that.

Link [World First]

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