Global oil, gas, energy, and chemicals major Saudi Arabian Oil Co (Aramco), Germany-based P1 Racing Fuels, part of P1 Performance Fuels GmbH, and WRC Promoter GmbH, the owner of the commercial rights of the Federation Internationale de L'Automobile (FIA) World Rally Championship (WRC), have signed Memorandums of Understandings (MoU)s to cooperate on the development of sustainable fuels.
Under the MoUs, Aramco and P1 Racing Fuels will collaborate on the formulation of advanced-generation biofuels and sustainable synthetic fuels derived from captured carbon dioxide (CO2) and low-carbon hydrogen, which will be used in the WRC within the regulations set by the FIA as motorsport’s world governing body.
The technology behind sustainable fuels is changing rapidly. Therefore, we are pleased to have access to Aramco’s outstanding technical development team in finding the best available solution. The chosen blend of advanced biofuel and innovative e-fuel components makes WRC a real leader in sustainable motorsports with everyday cars. The WRC is a tremendous platform to develop and validate this innovative fuel in mass-produced vehicles, on real roads, and under all circumstances on almost every continent. What we will learn by using this fuel on the WRC stages can ultimately benefit road users all over the world, commented Jona Siebel, CEO of WRC Promoter.
Aramco will leverage in-house technical expertise to explore improving engine efficiencies in the WRC. Working closely with motorsport experts from P1 Racing Fuels, this collaboration will tap into Aramco’s network of scientists and engineers located in the company’s global research centers in Dhahran (Saudi Arabia), Paris (France), Shanghai (China), and Detroit (USA).
P1 Racing Fuels has a long history of powering progress on the race track, but it doesn’t stop there. Developing sustainable fuels for motorsports brings us an important step closer to delivering similar products for everyday motorists – where fully renewable fuels could one day be available at the pump, and work with normal combustion engines with a fraction of the environmental impact, said Martin Popilka, CEO of P1 Racing Fuels.
The partnership will also explore the use of low-carbon fuels to power auxiliary on-site generators.
This is an important milestone for the development of low-carbon fuels that support the drive for more sustainable mobility. Sustainable synthetic fuels can help contribute to a low-carbon energy future, and this partnership demonstrates Aramco’s circular carbon approach by testing low-carbon synthetic fuel in one of the most demanding conditions, said Ahmad O. Al-Khowaiter, CTO of Aramco.
