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I report to you some news on the use of ethanol E85 (ethanol/gasoline 85:15 mixture) in car races.
The emissions of this fuel are much cleaner than traditional gasoline, provided that the ethanol is really obtained by the fermentation of biologic matter.

1) Ford and M-Sport, the structure supporting the BP-Ford World Rally Team have developed a version of the Ford Fiesta ST of the N-Group of rally races, powered by E85 bio-ethanol.

The task is introduce in the World Championship a high performance fuel with low environmental impact, ready for the mono-brand Fiesta Sporting Trophy (FST) International Series.

The Fiesta ST N-Group has been developed from the ST 2.0 L of the street.
This fuel has been used because ethanol has a higher octane number than normal gasoline (104-105 against 95-97 of gasoline).
This allows a better synchronization for starting the engine and a high speed of the flame inside the cylinders so that the fuel burns more easily and quickly, increasing the engine efficiency and, consequently, the power and the working torque.

Since 2006, the FST has been developed around the world and it took place in 11 Countries, with 225 Ford Fiesta ST.

In the Swedish FST (known as Ford Flexi Fuel Cup), Andreas Eriksson, a former national rally champion, has tested the Fiesta ST with E85 in a mono-brand race.
Since 2006, the Flexi Fuel Cup has taken place with E85 as obligatory fuel.

2) In the 24 Hours of Nurburgring, Germany, of last June 9-10,the German team Heico Sportiv has made debut in a race a Volvo S40, powered by bio-ethanol E85.

Learn more about this author, Aldo Bonincontro.
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