Finally at an advanced stage and close to completion, the groundbreaking development of pioneering CO2 emissions testing stands to be showcased in the 2009 British Touring Car Championship.
For the first time ever Britain's premier motor racing championship are planning to introduce new rules in a bid to keep cars' emissions down in the UK.
One of the advanced stage tests last week was carried out on the 2008 BTCC winning Vauxhall Vectra VXR which took place at Land Rover's UK headquarters in Solihull, on a special rolling road. The VXR was connected to specialist data logging equipment produced by Horiba.
This was the first time a Super 2000 touring car had been tested in such a way. BTCC director Mr Alan Grow claimed that the latest testing had proven extremely positive and that they had now been able to produce a special drive cycle for the specific performance envelope which the BTCC car works in, which means that the tests now provide accurate readings.
Alan Grow said; "Until this test we had not been able to use a current S2000 car because of obvious implications on engine mileage. Measuring the CO2 emission level of the BTCC title-winning race car as part of our research program, plus of course Vauxhall's participation in endorsing the project, is highly significant."
The UK Government Body Energy Efficient Motor Sport is firmly supporting the BTCC's emissions project and they have also been actively encouraging the BTCC to work with them on other projectors such as those that encourage a greater use of energy efficiency for racing cars and racing car championships all over Britain.
On behalf of the UK Government Body, Marc de Jong a spokesman and senior project consultant for the EEMS was very enthusiastic about their recent collaboration with the BTCC. He said this week that they had done an amazing job of helping to alleviate some of the social and political pressures that had recently been weighing heavily on modern-day motorsport particularly at the highest level.
He went on to claim that the BTCC took a pro-active lead in helping individual teams with enquiries and had also provided the sport with many great energy efficient initiatives. He felt that the BTCC stimulated people to think differently for all the right reasons.