Porsche and ExxonMobil test synthetic fuel for racing

Renewable fuel formulated by ExxonMobil will be used in thePorscheSupercup, a series of cars that will share the cost of 10 Formula 1 Grand Prix races this season.

Esso Renewable Racing Fuel is a blend of biofuels made from hydrogen and captured carbon dioxide, which its creators claim could lead to significant reductions in emissions.

It is hoped that synthetic fuels will be available to consumers in the future.

"Electrifying the vehicle is our top priority," said Michael Steiner, head of research and development atPorsche .

"E-fuels are a great addition to our powertrain strategy. They enable our customers to drive significantly lower greenhouse gas emissions from vehicles with conventional internal combustion engines as well as plug-in hybrids.

“Partnering with ExxonMobil allows us to test e-fuels under the harsh conditions on the race track. This is another step towards making eFuels an affordable, lower greenhouse gas emission alternative to traditional fuels step."

Earlier this year,Porscheconfirmed that it will start trials of its own synthetic fuel in 2022 to enable it to be used in unmodified combustion-engined cars.The dedicated plant will produce 55 million liters of synthetic fuel by 2024 and more than half a billion liters by 2026.

Synthetic fuels have long been on Porsche's radar, with the car rumoured to be a big hit in F1..The range of regulations will be overhauled in 2025, and bosses have made sustainable fuels a key part of the next generation of engine regulation discussions.