The one thing that’s difficult to predict from these tests if the impact sustainable fuels will have on reliability, but there are clues we can take from this to suggest all is well. Routine checks of the engine’s internals showed there was no excessive wear to the cylinders or spark plugs, nor any increase in carbon build up. If there had been, concerns would have been raised for the longevity of the engine, and indeed its power performance. As it was, the team were confident that from this initial testing there was no cause for worry.
In the case of this S70L fuel, the move to sustainable fuels looks as though it should prove be fairly straight forward for the majority. The team did however carry out an identical test with another alternative sustainable fuel (FAS) with a far higher oxygen content that did require an adjustment to the carburettor in order to run safely, so discretion will be advised for individual teams to ensure they’re running a fuel that works best for their engine.
Clearly not all sustainable fuels can be described as ‘drop in’ alternatives to traditional race gas, but there is confidence within the industry that these fuels can be integrated with relative ease into historic motorsport. We’ve already seen plenty of examples of sustainable fuels in use at Goodwood, the 2023 Fordwater Trophy was the first fully-sustainably-fuelled race on the Motor Circuit, and it certainly looks as though teams all over the world are on working on the right track to make the Ken Miles Cup, and the upcoming Goodwood Revival, a huge success.