Scuderia Ferrari will use biofuel in 2010 Formula One season

After working closely with racing team Scuderia Ferrari since the middle of 2009, Shell has developed an advanced biofuels blend for the 2010 racing season.

During the 2010 Formula One season Scuderia Ferrari will be using an advanced biofuels component derived from cellulosic ethanol. The fuel meets the new FIA regulations without compromising Ferrari’s performance.

The cellulosic ethanol is produced from wheat straw at Iogen Energy’s demonstration plant in Ottowa, Canada and it will be the first time that cellulosic ethanol has been used by Ferrari in the Shell V-Power race. Iogen’s refinery produced over 500,000 litres of biofuel last year.

‘We are delighted that the fuel we are supplying to Scuderia Ferrari this season contains an advanced bio-component derived from Iogen cellulosic ethanol,’ says Lisa Lilley, Shell’s technology manager for Ferrari. ‘This announcement clearly demonstrates our commitment to the development of sustainable, low carbon fuels.’

Shell and Iogen Energy are working together to construct a full-scale commercial cellulosic ethanol plant in Saskatchewan, Canada.

Cellulosic ethanol as an end fuel is identical to ethanol but it can offer up to 90% less lifecycle CO2 emissions than petrol.