Jacques Behar, Chairman and CEO of championship promoter KSO, said: “With the close relationship between touring cars and their road-going equivalents we believe that the WTCC is the logical platform to raise public awareness of bio fuels. Alternative fuels will also play a major role in motor sport's future and it is our goal to be at the forefront of this technology."

All participants in the FIA WTCC, including car manufacturers and sponsors, will take part in the development programme and will help to analyse the different bio-fuels that are currently available on the market. The aim is to identify the best possible solution for a biofuel with the least amount of fossil components, which will then be submitted to the FIA Technical Department for final approval.

Biofuel, a fuel produced mainly from organic matter, can help to reduce global warming by removing carbon dioxide from the atmosphere.

The FIA World Touring Car Championship, one of the FIA’s three World Championships alongside Formula One and the World Rally, is now in its third season having gained increased popularity worldwide. After a successful start in Curitiba (Brazil) on 11 March, the second event of the 2007 season will take place on 6 May in Zandvoort (Netherlands).