HEICO SPORTIV Volvo C30 races on bioethanol

On July 19, the waiting will come to an end when the world's first ever bioethanol driven Volvo C30 designed for long distance racing celebrates its motor racing debut.

The six-hour ADAC Ruhr Cup race is the culmination of this year's endurance championship, invariably held on the Nürburgring's legendary Nordschleife.

For HEICO SPORTIV, this will be a double sortie, as it is simultaneously entering two touringcars for the first time.

Besides the brand new HEICO HS3 T5 E85 the official designation of the Volvo C30 the HEICO HS4 ODIN E85 (based on the Volvo S40) will also be in the foray. Both vehicles will be starting with BioFormula 85 (bioethanol E85 from Brüggemann Alcohol) in the alternative fuels class, providing a sequel to last year's successes when the HEICO HS4 ODIN became the first bioethanol driven vehicle to win the otherwise diesel vehicle dominated category.

Bioethanol E85 stands for a mixture of 85% bioethanol and 15% 95-octane four star petrol. Bioethanol is a sustainable fuel produced from renewable agricultural crops.

We're proving that small SMEs such as ourselves are already in a position to act in-novatively, effectively and with due concern for environmental resources.

At the same time, we're achieving a compromise between ecological awareness and motorsport, and demonstrating that the two don't need to mutually exclude each another in our hard fought competitive environment, says HEICO SPORTIV CEO, Holger Hedtke, about the motivation behind experimenting with bioethanol.

Countless data and empirical values were analyzed painstakingly over the winter to attain these goals and implemented in the new concept based on the compact Volvo C30.

Although the HEICO HS3 has the same 2.5 liter 5-cylinder engine as the HS4 ODIN, it is built around a fundamentally different design. Especially in the field of engine management, we have made significant detailed progress in terms of fuel consumption and speed torque, explains Martin Müller, a HEICO SPORTIV developer and driver rolled into one.

Besides the ensuing traction improvements - with no less than 340 bhp and over 500 Nm torque for the front wheels - and an improved cruising range, it was also possible to optimize the weight distribution.

We succeeded in placing key components such as the fuel tank, fuel pumps and other heavy components at the center of the vehicle,Müller continues. This improves vehicle stability - the HS3 is the most agile Volvo ever.

Another reason for the improved parameters is the sports chassis specially developed with Bilstein and Eibach, as well as new constructions for the prototype slicks from Toyo Tires.

All of our technology partners and sponsors exploit this meeting to enhance the proficiency of their respective product developments. This is precisely what makes such a program so valuable, explains Patrick Brenndörfer, responsible for press and motorsport.

Besides Brenndörfer and Müller, another familiar face will also be at the wheel of the HEICO HS3. Ulli Andree, runner up of the 2004 Long Distance Championship and three-time 24-hour racing class winner in Volvo, was already driving in 1998-2001 the Volvo based tourer professionally designed by HEICO SPORTIV.

Last year's winner, the HEICO HS4 ODIN, will not only be steered by Brenndörfer and Müller, but also by 2006 24-hour race class champion and HEICO SPORTIV regular, Frank Eickholt.

With this, HEICO SPORTIV will be starting with two high caliber teams at the prestigious highlight of the long distance championship that kicks off at midday on July 19. Besides the two HEICO SPORTIV Volvos, over 200 other teams will be tackling the 24.433 km combination of the Nürburgring Short Configuration and Nordschleife.