Major new fuel sources are 'superior to petrol in every way’ with huge expansion plans

Filling up a car

The new fuel must have a minimum of 70 per cent advanced sustainable components

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Felix Reeves

By Felix Reeves


Published: 12/12/2023

- 08:00

Rowan Atkinson and Sebastian Vettel have praised sustainable fuels

New sustainable fuels have been described as better than petrol in every way, with one of the most famous car exhibitions announcing that it would be switching to new fuels.

The 2024 Goodwood Revival festival will become the world’s first historic motorsport event to use entirely sustainable fuels in its races.


Goodwood tested the use of sustainable fuels at the Revival event to celebrate the history of motor racing.

While they were in use, sustainable fuels were only used in a single race – the Fordwater Trophy.

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From 2024, each race in the event will require all vehicles involved to be powered by sustainable fuels in a major step forward for the festival.

Competitors will be required to use a fuel that has a minimum of 70 per cent advanced sustainable components to be eligible.

Drivers will not need to change or modify their vehicles in any way to use the fuel and participate in the races.

Similarly, Mr Bean actor Rowan Atkinson praised the use of sustainable fuels at Goodwood, adding that he had previous experience with the fuels.

He said: “I used synthetic fuel in my racing Jaguar at Goodwood this year and found it to be not just as good as the pump petrol used previously but in performance terms, superior to it in every way.”

Atkinson can often be seen behind the wheel of classic cars at the festivals, with the legendary British actor being an avid petrolhead.

Similarly, Sebastian Vettel, four-time Formula One World Champion used sustainable fuel-powered vehicles at this year’s Festival of Speed.

He drove a Nigel Mansell 1991 Williams FW14B and Ayrton Senna’s 1991 McLaren MP4/8, both of which were powered by e-fuels.

The German racing legend added: “I enjoyed sharing my ‘Race Without Trace’ initiative with the fans at the Festival of Speed and having the opportunity to show that sustainable fuels are a fantastic way to ensure a possible future pathway for the sport that we love.

“It’s great that Goodwood is leading the way in promoting the use of sustainable fuels at historic racing events.”

Goodwood is now encouraging drivers and owners to use alternative fuels wherever they can across the event, which will take place in September next year.

Sustainable fuels have already been used in other motorsports, including the 2022 Dakar Rally, with Coryton aiming to provide a near net zero fuel solution.

Coryton, a supplier of bespoke fuel, partnered with Prodrive and the BRX team to create a fuel that could withstand the extreme heat and formidable desert conditions.

The fuel helped the Prodrive BRX Hunter place on the podium, peaking at second place on its first Dakar application, with the team calling it a “milestone finish”.

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Rowan Atkinson with a Rolls-Royce

Rowan Atkinson said sustainable fuels were 'superior to petrol'

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David Richardson, Business Development Director at Coryton, said: “Ultimately, we want to be able to roll these out to a much, much wider audience, and you can only really do that if you’ve got confidence in the ability to perform.”

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