Formula 3 racing car which can reach 145mph but is fuelled by chocolateThis racing car which can reach speeds of 145mph is fuelled by chocolate.
As if that’s not bizarre enough, the Formula 3 motor also has a carrot steering wheel, potato bodywork, soybean seats and cashew nut brakes
It uses plant-oil based lubricants and a biodiesel engine capable of running on chocolate and vegetable oil.
Vegetable fibres are mixed with resins to produce strong car parts to withstand impacts and the oils in the chocolate are refined to produce fuel.
The £300,000 WorldFirst Formula 3 Racing Car was unveiled by Warwick University researchers today. They hope it will be adopted by Formula 1 teams such as McLaren and Ferrari in the future.
The WorldFirst team want racing chiefs to change the rules so they can compete in championship races next season.
The engine fails to meet current regulations because of its unusual fuel.
A team spokesman said: “We hope the Formula 1 teams will see that an environmentally friendly car is not necessarily a slow car.
“We expect our new materials to be used by the Formula 1 cars of the future.”
Project manager James Meredith added: "It’s been very exciting working on the project and important for our team to develop a working example of a truly green motor racing car.
"The WorldFirst project expels the myth that performance needs to be compromised when developing the sustainable motor vehicles of the future."
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Mirror