HCVA trade members work together to make history at the 1000 Miglia
The Fast Lane Club has made a significant mark in automotive history by becoming the first team to complete the iconic 1000 Miglia race using sustainable biofuel. This remarkable achievement, in partnership with SUSTAIN by Coryton, a leader in sustainable fuel technology, underscores the potential of environmentally friendly alternatives in high-performance motorsport. The 1000 Miglia, known as "the most beautiful race in the world," provided the perfect platform to showcase the capabilities of biofuel in a competitive setting.
The 1000 Miglia is a renowned endurance race that covers approximately 1,000 miles of Italian roads, starting and ending in Brescia, with checkpoints in Rome and other historic cities. This race, steeped in tradition, attracts classic and vintage cars, blending the beauty of Italy's landscapes with the thrill of motorsport. Participating in such a prestigious event, the Fast Lane Club sought not only to compete but also to pioneer sustainable racing practices.
Coryton, known for its expertise in developing advanced sustainable fuels, partnered with the Fast Lane Club to provide SUSTAIN Classic Super 80, a biofuel capable of powering high-performance cars throughout the rigorous demands of the 1000 Miglia. SUSTAIN Classic Super 80 contains 80% biowaste material, such as waste from the agricultural and forestry industries, significantly reducing the carbon footprint compared to conventional fossil fuels. This collaboration aimed to prove that sustainable fuel can deliver performance without compromising environmental integrity.
David Richardson, Business Development Director at Coryton, said: “We were delighted to provide the fuel for The Fast Lane Club at the spectacular 1000 Miglia, in this historic first. It’s been a fantastic opportunity to show the potential of sustainable fuel, and the role it can play in keeping historic vehicles on the road, and on the track.
“Using advanced second-generation biofuel manufactured from agricultural waste, such as straw, by-products or waste from crops which wouldn’t be used for consumption, the fuel utilises the carbon that already exists in our atmosphere. The plants absorb it as they grow, recycling it, rather than releasing additional CO2 that is currently locked underground in fossil fuel. As a result, SUSTAIN delivers significant greenhouse gas savings compared to traditional fuels.”
The Fast Lane Club entered six meticulously prepared cars into the 2024 1000 Miglia, with five running exclusively on SUSTAIN Classic Super 80, which is specifically designed for classic vehicles, with less than 1% ethanol content. The vehicles included three Austin Healey’s and two Jaguar XK’s all from the 1950’s demonstrating the versatility and reliability of the sustainable fuel across different types of engines and performance requirements. No modifications were needed to any of the cars to enable them to run on SUSTAIN.
Despite the meticulous preparation, the team faced several logistical challenges to ensure the cars competing were kept “topped up”. The cars set off each day with a full tank and each car had it’s own dedicated technical support crew which carried 20 litre top-up cans of fuel – enough to get them to their lunch stop. Coryton ran a service vehicle containing the SUSTAIN fuel and were able to find suitable locations after each lunch stop to rendezvous with the race cars and support cars to re-fuel for the rest of the day.
Simon Smith, Managing Director at The Fast Lane Club, said: “The successful completion of the 1000 Miglia using biofuel was a milestone not just for the Fast Lane Club but for the entire motorsport community, proving that sustainability and high performance can go hand in hand.”
This achievement at the 2024 1000 Miglia sets a new benchmark for sustainable racing, it demonstrates that with the right technology and commitment, it is possible to reduce the environmental impact of motorsport without sacrificing performance. This success story is likely to inspire other teams and manufacturers to explore sustainable fuel options, paving the way for a greener future in racing.
The Fast Lane Club will be back at the 1000 Miglia in 2025 with full entry and support packages available.