Synthetic Fuel in Rally Racing

A Porsche 991 powered by synthetic fuel is at the start of the Rally Rhône-Charbonnières this weekend.

Zero, producer of a carbon-neutral synthetic fuel made solely from air and water, announced the launch of a partnership with 2B Autosport in the French Rally Championship. The Rhône-Charbonnières from April 18 to 20 thus marks Zero’s entry into a new territory of motorsport by becoming the first synthetic fuel supplier in Rallying. The fuel of the future will debut with Gwen Lagrue, a well-known personality among motorsport enthusiasts. Lagrue is in charge of the young drivers program at the Mercedes-AMG F1 team and has helped propel the careers of George Russell and Esteban Ocon in Formula 1. He will race behind the wheel of a diabolical Porsche 991 in GT+ specification.

“Although we are only at the early stages of this unique project, we are very proud to partner with Zero Petroleum. Our message is simple: we want to demonstrate that our passion for motorsport and respect for the environment can go hand in hand. “Insists Gwen Lagrue. “The fuel created by Zero Petroleum uses no fossil energy and utilizes the CO2 already present in the atmosphere. We are aware that there is still a long way to go to achieve ecological neutrality in our sport, but we want to be active participants in this transition. We are also in a privileged position to contribute to the development of sustainable energies applicable to the cars of tomorrow. Slowly but surely, we will improve our footprint to reach neutrality, all while maintaining the competitive spirit and enjoyment of the sport we love. I am proud to share the same vision and ambition with Paddy Lowe and to be by his side as we embark on this exciting new project.””

Zero Petroleum was founded in 2021 by Formula 1 legend Patrick “Paddy” Lowe. From Williams to Mercedes, via McLaren, the British engineer has played a major role in guiding Nigel Mansell, Alain Prost, Nico Rosberg, and Lewis Hamilton to world titles.

The process implemented by Zero does not use any fossil energy, relying solely on carbon dioxide, hydrogen, water, and renewable energy sources. Zero’s exclusive DirectFT fuel synthesis process offers a sustainable solution for decarbonizing most transport sectors, including aviation, heavy transport, maritime, and agriculture. Zero recently opened its first synthetic fuel plant near Oxford, UK, and plans to build a commercial-scale factory, with production expected to start in 2026.

This prestigious operation at Rhône-Charbonnières comes just two months after announcing a partnership with Stake F1 Team Kick Sauber, opening promising prospects for this type of carbon-neutral fuel.

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