Abstract:
The British Touring Car Championship’s emissions initiative aims to
demonstrate a BTCC racing car can emit no more CO2than its showroom
equivalent, (the standard road car that racing cars are based upon) for publicity
purposes. This research project investigates options, which might achieve this
aim, although this may not be possible. A series of initial concepts were
considered and rejected.
A drive-cycle option was investigated. Well-known, existing drive-cycles were
considered unsuitable in the present context as unlikely to provide the desired
results. In-race operating conditions data for a typical BTCC racing car was
collected and analysed for drive-cycle development. Further data was collected
on the specifications and performance of a BTCC racing car and its showroom
equivalent. The cars’ CO2 emissions were subsequently estimated. Statistical
analysis was carried out on the in-race operating conditions data. The BTCC
race data commonly included operating conditions beyond the limitations of the
BTCC’s dynamometer and the racing cars showroom equivalent. Under wide-open throttle operation at steady engine speeds between 5500rpm
and 6000rpm, the mass of CO2emitted per second, by a BTCC racing car, is
predicted to be less than that emitted by its showroom equivalent under the
same conditions. However, since these engine speeds are infrequently reached
during BTCC races such a comparison could be open to criticism through focussing on unrepresentative data. Further, such an emissions ‘window’, may
not apply to all BTCC racing cars and their respective showroom equivalents.
At corresponding points across a range of race representative engine speeds
(5500-8500rpm for the racing car and 3500-6000rpm for the showroom
equivalent), under wide-open throttle operation, steady engine speed emissions
tests are predicted to show the BTCC racing car emitting a similar or lesser
mass of CO2per kWh than its showroom equivalent. This last comparison is the
recommended solution.
