Ethanol fuels Indy as more Queenslanders use the cleaner, greener fuel

All V8 Supercars racing at the 2007 Lexmark Indy 300 this week will be powered by ethanol blended fuel for the first time in the event’s history.

This comes as a new survey shows a big jump in ethanol use by Queenslanders.

Tourism, Regional Development and Industry Minister Desley Boyle said

the V8s had been racing on the Shell V-Power Racing, high octane, five per cent ethanol blended fuel throughout the V8 Supercar Series, which started in February.

“Having top racing car drivers in high-performance cars using ethanol is educating drivers about the fuel and is terrific promotion for the ethanol industry,” Ms Boyle said.

“As well as the V8s zooming around the track showcasing ethanol fuels - staff from my department’s “+e” team will have a stall with Gold Coast fuel retailers at Indy to remind people about ethanol-blended fuels and to answer any questions they may have.”

V8 Supercar team owner and driver Shane Beikoff is a ‘champion’ for the Queensland Government’s ‘+e Ethanol Powered by Nature’ campaign and uses ethanol blended fuels off the track as well.

“The benefits of using renewable ethanol fuels are numerous, including lower emissions and a slight increase in engine performance. It also reduces our reliance on burning finite fossil fuels,” Mr Beikoff said.

The move towards a cleaner, greener racetrack has come about following V8 Australia’s decision this year to endorse all V8s in the Supercar Series to race using an ethanol blend.

Ms Boyle said the Queensland Government’s work had seen the state’s growing ethanol industry reaching another major milestone.

“More than 300 Queensland service stations are now supplying ethanol blended fuel,” she said.

“Since the launch of the $7.3 million Queensland Ethanol Industry Action Plan in 2005, the number of service stations that supply ethanol blended fuel has increased from 42 to 323.

“That’s almost one in four service stations throughout the State.”

Ms Boyle also released figures today from a two year-long survey by TNS Australia, commissioned by the Queensland Government, tracking awareness and attitudes towards ethanol blended fuel.

“The latest research results (September 2007) show that 46 per cent of the 275 motorists surveyed are using ethanol blended fuel, a jump from 14 per cent when tracking began in December 2005,” she said.

“And 43 per cent of people questioned recognise that ethanol blended fuel is safe for their car, up from 21 per cent since the start of the survey.

“More than half of respondents believe that ethanol blended fuel is better for the environment, which has been a consistent figure through-out the survey.”

Ms Boyle urged motorists to check their vehicle's compatibility with ethanol-blended fuel by contacting their manufacturer or visiting the Federal Chamber of Automotive Industries website www.fcai.com.au/ethanol.

For a list of Queensland service stations retailing ethanol blended fuel visit www.ethanol.qld.gov.au

Ends

Media contact: 3224 2004