Aaron Steele's bid to make history as the first driver to race a biodiesel-powered car at Formula 3 level was shattered when championship officials prevented him taking to the track.
The Kent racing driver, a McLaren Autosport BRDC Awards finalist, was due to give the WorldFirst Racing F3 car its competitive debut at Brands Hatch but red tape stopped him from doing so. The Motor Sports Association (MSA), which oversees the British Racing and Sports Car Club (BRSCC) Cardinus Formula 3 Championship, earmarked as the ideal series in which to debut the envrionmentally-friendly car, failed to gain the necessary approval from all its registered officials.
The embarassing slip up confined Steele, 20, from Rochester, to the pitlane, with marshals stood in front of his futuristic car's nosecone to stop him racing around the Kent circuit. To the disappointment of a bumper crowd, Steele was allowed to complete just three demonstration laps. The WorldFirst Racing car had impressed in practice, finishing fifth overall, and had attracted unprecedented interest from across the globe – even featuring on BBC children's television show Blue Peter.
The innovative car, fuelled by chocolate, steered by carrots and built partly from potatoes, has been developed by researchers at the University of Warwick and is regarded by many as the future of motorsport.
Steele, a British Racing Drivers' Club (BRDC) Rising Star, said: “It was bitterly disappointing, not just for myself but for the enitre WorldFirst Racing team who put so much effort into preparing the car for what should have been a fantastic end to the motor sport season. Nevertheless, this car undoubtedly has a strong future. I've seen what it's capable of in testing and it's now up to the officials to let the racing world and all the fans see what an exceptional piece of engineering it is.”
Kevin Steele, Aaron's manager, added: “It was a frustrating weekend all round. So many fans had come to watch what they thought would be history in the making and we had a whole host of corporate guests who left Brands Hatch disappointed too. As is so often the case, politics got in the way of the racing and that isn't good for Aaron's promising career or for motorsport in general.”
Notes to editors:
Images and video: High resolution pictures of Aaron Steele and the WorldFirst Racing F3 car are available from http://www.speed-pr.co.uk/hires/4.jpg and http://www.speed-pr.co.uk/hires/5.jpg. Broadcast quality video can be downloaded from the University of Warwick at http://tinyurl.com/c3836v.
Additional information about Steele's motorsport career can be found at http://www.aaronsteeleracing.com.
The WorldFirst Racing team comprises James Meredith (project manager), Dr Kerry Kirwan, Dr Steve Maggs, Ben Wood and Steve Lambert. A full description of the car and its components can be found at the official WorldFirst Racing website, http://www.worldfirstracing.co.uk.
WIMRC was established in 2001 and draws on the considerable resources of several departments at the University of Warwick. It applies design, technology and management research to challenging problems in the vehicle and healthcare sectors with a focus on sustainable development in two areas: intelligent and eco-friendly vehicles and next generation healthcare. More information about WIMRC is available at http://www2.warwick.ac.uk/fac/sci/wimrc/.
All eyes will be on Kent driver Aaron Steele this weekend when he gives an eco-friendly racing car, tipped by many as the future of motorsport, its world debut at Brands Hatch.
WorldFirst Racing's futuristic Formula 3 car, fuelled by chocolate, steered by carrots and built partly from potatoes, will be trialled in competitive conditions for the first time as part of the historic track's annual Formula Ford Festival. It will race in the British Racing and Sports Car Club (BRSCC) Cardinus Formula 3 Championship, with Steele, a British Racing Drivers' Club (BRDC) Rising Star and McLaren Autosport BRDC Awards finalist, behind the wheel.
Until now, the sustainable car, developed by researchers at the University of Warwick, has only been put through its paces in private test sessions.
Its race debut has attracted unprecedented interest from across the globe and this Tuesday (October 13), even appeared on BBC children's television show Blue Peter.
Steele, 20, from Rochester, said: “There's a tremendous buzz amongst the whole WorldFirst Racing team; they can't wait to see how the car stacks up in race conditions and neither can I. It's a fantastic project to be involved with and I'm determined to make the most of every minute in the car. I'd like to say a big thank you to everyone at the team. It's great to be back in a racing environment and to have the chance to prove what I can do. I'm confident in myself and my abilities and I'm sure we'll have an excellent weekend.”
Steele was given a seat fitting in the 'green' car at iconic motorsport marque Lola's Cambridgeshire factory on Tuesday. Engineers are now fine tuning the car's biodiesel engine and making minute adjustments to the gear ratios to ensure it performs at its peak at Brands Hatch. It can reach 60mph from a standing start in just 2.5 seconds and will achieve speeds of more than 140mph at the Kent circuit.
James Meredith, project manager at WorldFirst Racing, based in the Warwick Innovative Manufacturing Research Centre (WIMRC), said: “It’s been very exciting to work 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.”
Notes to editors:
Interview and filming/photo opportunities: Aaron Steele is available for interview and for photographs or filming prior to and during the Brands Hatch weekend. To book a slot, please contact Kevin Steele, whose details are provided below.
Images and video: High resolution alternatives of Aaron Steele with the WorldFirst Racing F3 car are available from http://www.speed-pr.co.uk/hires/4.jpg and http://www.speed-pr.co.uk/hires/5.jpg. Broadcast quality video can be downloaded from the University of Warwick at http://tinyurl.com/c3836v. Profile pictures of Steele are available, on request, from info@speed-pr.co.uk.
Additional information about Steele's motorsport career can be found at http://www.aaronsteeleracing.com.
The WorldFirst Racing team comprises James Meredith (project manager), Dr Kerry Kirwan, Dr Steve Maggs, Ben Wood and Steve Lambert. A full description of the car and its components can be found at the official WorldFirst Racing website, http://www.worldfirstracing.co.uk.
WIMRC was established in 2001 and draws on the considerable resources of several departments at the University of Warwick. It applies design, technology and management research to challenging problems in the vehicle and healthcare sectors with a focus on sustainable development in two areas: intelligent and eco-friendly vehicles and next generation healthcare. More information about WIMRC is available at http://www2.warwick.ac.uk/fac/sci/wimrc/.
Blue Peter Badge winners and holders of the Blue Peter Badge Card can gain free entry to Brands Hatch this weekend to see Aaron Steele in action.
An unique racing car that is powered by chocolate, steered by carrots and built partly from potatoes will make its competitive debut next month, with talented Kent driver Aaron Steele behind the wheel.
WorldFirst Racing's sustainable Formula 3 car will make its race debut at the iconic Brands Hatch circuit on October 17, as part of the British Racing and Sports Car Club (BRSCC) Formula Ford Festival weekend. Steele, a BRDC Rising Star and McLaren Autosport BRDC Awards finalist, will compete in the BRSCC Cardinus Formula 3 Championship.
It will be the first time the team – made up of researchers at the University of Warwick – has been able to show the pace of its incredible 'green' car relative to other racers. Steele proved the futuristic car's potential at a private test in Rockingham – Europe's fastest banked oval racing circuit – in July.
The 20-year-old, who lives in Rochester, said: “It's a very good opportunity for me to further my career and it's something I'm looking forward to immensely. The car certainly turns heads and it has attracted a phenomenal amount of interest. My target for the Brands Hatch weekend is to achieve a couple of podiums and from my experience of the car to date, that is definitely possible. The WorldFirst Racing team are an intelligent group with plenty of experience in many different aspects of manufacturing and I'm thrilled that they have given me this incredible opportunity.”
The Brands Hatch appearance was made possible partly by G K Salter and Associates (gksa), the low carbon building services design consultants based jointly in Swanley and Bristol, who are generously supporting Steele's racing career.
Geoff Salter, managing director, said: “This car fits in perfectly with our business that produces swift and sustainable building services designs for our clients.”
The exceptional WorldFirst Racing car – the first designed and manufactured from sustainable and renewable materials – complies with all 2009 F3 rules, except for its biodiesel engine which runs on fuel derived from chocolate and vegetable oil. It can reach 60mph from a standing start in just 2.5 seconds and will achieve speeds of more than 140mph at Brands Hatch.
Dr Steve Maggs, part of the WorldFirst Racing team, based in the Warwick Innovative Manufacturing Research Centre (WIMRC), said: “As original equipment manufacturers focus on decreasing engine emissions to meet future CO2 targets, the WorldFirst project proves that if you are going to wholeheartedly embrace the ‘green is great’ ethos, then you have to broaden your vision. You need a strategy that stretches throughout the chain, from the raw materials to the final disposal of the car. The WorldFirst project clearly demonstrates that automotive environmentalism can and should be about the whole package.”
Notes to editors:
Images and video: Low resolution pictures of Aaron Steele with the WorldFirst Racing F3 car were attached to this press release. High resolution alternatives are available from http://www.speed-pr.co.uk/hires/4.jpg and http://www.speed-pr.co.uk/hires/5.jpg. Broadcast quality video can be downloaded from the University of Warwick at http://tinyurl.com/c3836v. Profile pictures of Steele are available, on request, from info@speed-pr.co.uk.
The WorldFirst Racing team comprises James Meredith (project manager), Dr Kerry Kirwan, Dr Steve Maggs, Ben Wood and Steve Lambert. Biographies of each can be found at the official WorldFirst Racing website, http://www.worldfirstracing.co.uk, where a full description of the car and its components is also available.
WIMRC was established in 2001 and draws on the considerable resources of several departments at the University of Warwick. It applies design, technology and management research to challenging problems in the vehicle and healthcare sectors with a focus on sustainable development in two areas: intelligent and eco-friendly vehicles and next generation healthcare. More information about WIMRC is available at http://www2.warwick.ac.uk/fac/sci/wimrc/.