An investigation into whether a BTCC racing car can be shown to emit no more carbon dioxide than its showroom equivalent

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.