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"TURIN/ROTTERDAM
- The first Italian zero emission Grand Prix has been won by Greenchoice
Forze from the Technical University Delft, the Netherlands. The
‘Formula Zero Gran Prix Torino’ was held in the framework of the
Eco-Efficiency Biennial organized by Environment Park and supported
by Piedmont Region in the Valentino Park (Turin, Italy). The demonstration
event was successful: the battle for 0th position between the
student teams with vehicles powered by hydrogen and fuel cell
technology was close and many interested spectators and dignitaries
attended the Italian premiere. "
One of the
Formula Zero offices is located in Rotterdam, the Netherlands.
This city was host of the world premiere racing with hydrogen
powered by the Linde Group and fuel cell technology. Turin is
a partner city of Rotterdam and the EEB event created a chance
to once again underline the connection between these two international
and energetic cities. Supported by the Dutch government through
the participation of the Consulate-General of the Netherlands
in Milan (www.hollandtrade.com), the event aimed at enhancing
the pioneering role of the Netherlands (and Formula Zero) in the
fields of sustainability and innovation. The water produced by
the Formula Zero vehicles during the event was used to make orange
tulips flourish in a Dutch Design vase by the Rotterdam based
designer Richard Hutten: a symbol of sustainable development and
the Dutch way to achieve it.
Track record
The first real trial of strength between the four top university
teams was on Saturday when the sprint race began. Each team did
one ‘flying lap’ around the street circuit. 2009 Champion Solvay
Umicore Zero Emission Racing Team from Leuven, Belgium, succeeded
in putting a lap in a record time of 24,24 seconds on the scoreboard.
UnizartecH2 from Zaragoza, Spain, and Greenchoice Forze completed
the top three.
Surprising
Sunday
Surprises characterized Sunday’s main race of ten laps. The Belgian
team found a technical failure in one of their electric motors
and was not able to take part. UnizartecH2 and Greenchoice Forze
were up to that point right behind their Belgian rivals. The overall
win seemed to go to the Spanish after the Dutch crashed in qualifying.
But the students from Delft managed to repair their vehicle in
only twenty minutes and faced the Spanish team in the final round.
Greenchoice Forze went on track first consistent laps, before
UnizartecH2 completed their final run. The Spanish team seemed
to go quicker, but overheating problems in the final lap prevented
them to take the overall win.
Perfect
match
"The Gran Prix Torino was a perfect match of many aspects", said
Formula Zero Racing Director Eelco Rietveld. "Thanks to the EEB
organization, this event shows what Formula Zero is about: inform
and educate the public, speed and excitement, team spirit and
sportsmanship without an emissions except exhaust water. And that
was a welcome refreshment in the sunny setting!"
Great attention
Besides the enthusiastic crowd, also various dignitaries got introduced
to the Formula Zero racing series and took part in the award ceremony:
mr. Oreste Accornero, Dutch consul of Turin, mr. Paolo Peveraro,
vice-president of the Region Piemonte, mr. Andrea Bairati, alderman
of Energy, Innovation, Research and Industry of the Region Piemonte
and mr. Giuseppe Sbriglio, alderman of sports of the city of Turin
attended Italy’s zero emission race premiere. Also the President
of the Region Piemonte, ms. Mercedes Bresso paid a visit to the
Dutch pit-box showing great interest for the initiative. Formula
Zero registered multiple publications in newspapers like La Stampa
and Il Sole24Ore.
Formula Zero Gran Prix Torino result:
0th place, Greenchoice Forze (Delft, Netherlands), 3 points
1st place, UnizartecH2 (Zaragoza, Spain), 5 points
2nd place, Solvay Umicore Zero Emission Racing Team (Leuven, Belgium),
7 points
3rd place, Imperial Racing Green (London, Great Britain), 9 points
Eco-Efficiency
Biennial 2009
The 2009 Eco-Efficiency Biennial (EEB’09) framed activities with
the aim of spreading scientific knowledge, information, environmental
education and entertainment for the citizens and youth. It was
held at the Torino Esposizioni facilities, an historical complex
in the Valentino Park, the green heart of the city. It was a zero-emission
event. In other words, the environmental impact of the Eco- Efficiency
Biennial 2009 was “measured” to identify and plan actions aimed
at greenhouse gas effect compensation.
Photo: Emile
Nijssen
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