Chocolate powered eco racing car

Scientists at a British university have designed a racing car powered by waste chocolate and built from vegetables.

The eco-friendly Formula 3 car, which can glide around corners at 125mph, features a steering wheel made from carrots, bodywork derived from potatoes, and a seat crafted from soya beans.

Fibres from the vegetables are mixed with resins to make solid parts.

Moving parts in the vehicle are greased using plant-based oil lubricants, whilst the biodiesel engine is designed to run on vegetable oil or waste chocolate extracts.

The car’s radiator is coated in a ‘ground breaking’ catalyst that destroys harmful emissions.

The car is the brainchild of the WorldFirst research team at Warwick University in Coventry.

James Meredith, project manager of the WorldFirst team, said the ecoF3 is ‘a truly green motor racing car’.

The car will not be allowed to compete in next season’s Formula 3 championship, however, because its fuel-type is against regulations.

Dr Kerry Kirwan, a member of the research team behind the car, said he hopes the design will encourage the motor sports industry to rethink its rules on green technology.