Sustainable Fuel Consultation FAQs

Here you can find the answers to some of the most frequently asked questions about the Sustainable Fuels Consultation.

General FAQ

What does NCR mean?

What is the difference between "Pump Fuel" and "Permitted Fuel"?

Where can I find FIA Appendix J?

Where can I find the CIK Technical Regulations?

Why is it important for Motorsport in the UK to adopt Sustainable Fuels?

As a community it is important that we recognise the environmental impact of our activities. The Motorsport UK Sustainability Strategy, informed by the Motorsport UK Carbon Calculator, sets out a balanced action plan to 2030 that recognises the broad cross-section of factors that contribute to the carbon footprint of the sport in the UK.

Fuel use in competition is a relatively small, but perhaps most important part of this footprint. It is the most visible and obvious component of our environmental impact and as such, demonstrating innovation and proactive adoption of sustainable technologies for use in competition is the measure by which our collective efforts to take responsibility for our environmental impact will be judged.

Where can I find out more about the Motorsport UK Sustainability Strategy?

Where can I find out more about the Motorsport UK Carbon Calculator?

What comes after 2026?

The Motorsport UK Strategy for Sustainable Fuel adoption recognises that for most, the fuel used in competition is fuel purchased from the high street. Every effort will be made to protect this lowest cost option in the interests of maximising the accessibility of our sport for all.

Motorsport UK in collaboration with likeminded membership and industry bodies are actively lobbying the UK Government (both in Westminster and the devolved assemblies) to recognise sustainable liquid fuels as a carbon reducing technology through policy and legislation. The most effective way to address the carbon footprint of our sport would be to increase the sustainable content of the fuels available to all.

Specific projects to improve the accessibility of sustainable bio-diesel (both where used in competition and for support vehicles) are currently in progress.

Types of Fuel

I use unleaded / super unleaded (max 100 RON), what does the 2026 regulation proposal mean for me?

I use an FIA Fuel / CIK fuel, what does the 2026 regulation proposal mean for me?

I use LPG, what does the 2026 regulation proposal mean for me?

I use diesel, what does the 2026 regulation proposal mean for me?

I use bio-ethanol, what does the 2026 regulation proposal mean for me?

Fuels defined by the current Pump Fuel Definition part e) are impacted by the 2026 proposal. From 2026, the specification that these fuels need to meet will be aligned to the FIA Appendix J Art 252 Article 9.3 definition for “High Ethanol Content Fuel”.

These fuels will still require the specific approval of Motorsport UK in order to be used, please reach out via the Consultation Feedback form if you are currently / plan to use these fuels.

I use Methanol, what does the 2026 regulation proposal mean for me?

I already use a sustainable fuel, what does the 2026 regulation proposal mean for me?

Great! Please make sure to share your case via the consultation feedback form, so that we can celebrate your innovation and early adoption (if we haven’t done so already)!

If you are using an FIA Appendix J fuel (Pump Fuel definition part b)) it is possible that you might be using a bio-fuel that includes sustainable content, but might not comply with FIA Appendix J Art 252 Article 9.3 which requires a minimum of 50% sustainable content.

Please contact your fuel supplier to discuss your options for 2026.

Where can I find a list of sustainable fuel suppliers?

What makes a fuel sustainable?

Sustainable fuels are sustainable because they effectively recycle carbon. The carbon a sustainable fuel contains is captured or absorbed from the atmosphere during the production process – for example, the agricultural products absorb CO2 whilst they grow. Once it is turned into fuel and burnt, that same carbon is then released back into the atmosphere. It can then be captured again by the plants, to be turned into more fuel, to repeat the cycle. Fossil fuel, on the other hand, has held its carbon safe underground for millions of years, and burning it releases additional CO2 into the atmosphere that was not there before.

Sustainability Accreditation

How will I know that a fuel is genuinely sustainable?

Eligibility Scrutineering

How will sustainable fuels be scrutineered?

If your club / championship / event mandates a control fuel, there will be no change to the fuel eligibility scrutineering process.

If your club / championship / event allows a choice of fuels, then in order to use an FIA Appendix J Art 252 Article 9.3 fuel, you will need to declare the fuel that you intend to use when you submit your entry. Eligibility testing will then follow the comparison testing process, where a sample taken during parc ferme will be compared to a control sample provided by your fuel manufacturer / supplier.

Safety Equipment

Do I need to change my fire extinguisher in order to use a sustainable fuel?

Discipline

I compete in Autotests, what does the 2026 regulation proposal mean for me?

I compete in Cross Country, what does the 2026 regulation proposal mean for me?

I compete in Karting, what does the 2026 regulation proposal mean for me?

I compete in Circuit Racing, what does the 2026 regulation proposal mean for me?

I compete in Rallying, what does the 2026 regulation proposal mean for me?

I compete in Sprint & Hill Climb, what does the 2026 regulation proposal mean for me?

The 2026 regulation proposal is projected to have a higher impact on the Sprint & Hill Climb disciplines, specifically in the Race, Sports Libre and Modified Production classes in terms of mandatory sustainable fuel usage, see the Types of Fuel FAQs to understand the specific impact based on the fuel you are currently using.

The 2026 regulation proposal is projected to have no impact on the Road and Standard car classes discipline in terms of mandatory sustainable fuel usage.

You will have the option to use a sustainable alternative to your current fuel should you wish, but this is not mandated.

I compete in Autocross & Rallycross, what does the 2026 regulation proposal mean for me?

The 2026 regulation proposal is projected to have a medium impact on the Rallycross discipline in terms of mandatory sustainable fuel usage, see the Types of Fuel FAQs to understand the specific impact based on the fuel you are currently using.

The 2026 regulation proposal is projected to have a low impact on the Autocross discipline in terms of mandatory sustainable fuel usage, see the Types of Fuel FAQs to understand the specific impact based on the fuel you are currently using.