The Indian Oil Corporation Ltd (IOC), the leading oil company in the country, is set to venture into the production of fuel used in high-speed Formula One (F1) racing within the next three months. This move aims to diversify its range of specialized fuels. IOC, known for its three branded fuels, such as the popular XtraGreen diesel, recently introduced ‘Storm’ petrol, specifically designed for the Asian region motorcycle road racing championship.
“Today, we are partnering with FIM Asia Road Racing Championship for the supply of ‘Storm’. We are the first company in India to manufacture fuel of specifications used in road racing,” IOC Chairman Shrikant Madhav Vaidya said.
IOC will supply fuel for all the motorcyclists from 15 countries that will participate in the FIM Asia Road Racing Championship.
IOC’s Foray into Formula 1 Fuel Production: Plans and Innovations
“Our R&D (research and development) in two months will be able to produce Category-1 fuel and in three months Formula 1 fuel,” he said.
“Unless we go to F1, the journey is not complete.”
‘Storm – Ultimate Racing Fuel’ is different from regular commercial as well as premium gasoline or petrol (95-Octane XP95 and 100-Octane XP100) in fuel properties like density range, distillation range, vapour pressure (DVPE), and olefins.
And Formula 1 fuels deliver highly optimized peak performance. Vaidya said current norms provide for 40 percent of the F1 fuel coming from non-fossil sources, such as alcohol, algae or waste keeping in the sustainability angle.
IOC would also start manufacturing similar grade fuel and thereafter pitch to automobile makers racing in F1.
Unlike FIM Asia Road Racing Championship where there is one single fuel supplier for all the motorcycles racing, F1 allows teams to select their fuel supplier. For instance, Shell is the fuel supplier to Ferrari.