The ADAC 24-Hour Race held at the Nürburgring circuit in Germany is an annual endurance event open to both sports and production cars. More than 200 teams and 750 drivers are due to compete on the approximately 25-kilometer (15.5-mile) circuit in this year’s event. NExBTL renewable diesel was used for the first in the event last year.

Diesel regenerativ has been extensively tested in regular cars as part of a year-long field trial in Coburg and Munich in Germany. This trial showed that the fuel, which is produced from 100% renewable raw materials, is ideally suited for use in cars in urban areas and helps contribute to a significant reduction in tailpipe emissions affecting local air quality. Emissions of particulates, carbon monoxide, and hydrocarbons were cut by 5-15%.

The greenhouse gas emissions generated by the fuel were also studied as part of the trial. Research carried out the Johann Heinrich von Thünen Institute showed that using the fuel can result in 50% lower emissions of greenhouse gases than fossil diesel.

Neste Oil is sponsoring the Four Motors team, together with the German Union for the Promotion of Protein Plants (UFOP). (Four Motors is headed up by Smudo, the frontman of the German Fantastic Four band.) In addition to renewable fuel, the Four Motors team will also include a number of renewable parts in its Audi Scirocco, such as fiber-reinforced thermoset and mirrors and light housings. The lamination of the car is a latex-free PVC foil.

The Tuning Akademie team will compete in an Audi A4 3.0 TDI Quattro, featuring Audi’s latest A6 engine and emission control technology. Onboard measurement equipment will generate comprehensive data on engine performance and exhaust emissions throughout the race, which will be used in future development work by Audi AG and Neste Oil.

HEICO Sportiv has entered a Volvo C30 for the event. This features a competition five-cylinder D5 2.4-liter unit developed by Volvo and modified by HEICO Sportiv for endurance use and capable of producing 300 hp (224 kW). The team has competed in the 24-Hour Race since 1995, but this is the first time it will use biofuel in their car.