Kiwi spud researcher part of WorldFirst racecar project

A New Zealander's potato starch research has led to his involvement in the construction of a new type of racing car.

The WorldFirst racecar is constructed of sustainable and renewable materials including potatoes, carrots and soyabeans and runs on biodiesel produced from recycled cooking oil.

A Formula 3 racer, it resembles those raced by New Zealander Brendon Hartley, who was recently named reserve driver for Red Bull's Formula 1 team.

The project was led by a team from the University of Warwick in England, with Plant and Food Research biomaterials engineer Nick Tucker and his New Zealand team contributing to the project.

The plan is to use the car as a showcase for sustainable technology, running demonstration laps at race meetings around the world.

Dr Tucker, a motor racing fan, said the opportunity came along when he was speaking about his work with potato starch at a conference in England.

A University of Warwick researcher approached him and asked if he was interested in the project.

With side pods made with recycled bottles, and a steering wheel constructed from a polymer of carrots and other root vegetables, constructing the wing mirrors and part of the front wing from a mix of potato starch and flax fibre was only natural.

Dr Tucker's team was already involved in another project making biodegradable plates and cups, so he figured the same materials could be used on a race car.

The wing mirrors they created were significantly lighter than standard and they have been asked to provide another, improved version.

Other highlights on the car include:

* Tyres with one of the more harmful chemicals, polycyclic aromatics, removed.

* Radiators coated with a catalyst which converts ozone to oxygen.

* Lubricants based on plant oil.

The project's website says motorsport was chosen the test bed for their technology as it was "exciting, dynamic and fast paced".

"These aren't words normally associated with sustainable technologies."

- NZPA