IOCL to supply fuel to FIM Asia Motor Racing Championship

The Indian Oil Corporation Limited (IOCL) Chairman, Shrikant Madhav Vaidya,announced that the company has signed a three-year agreement with the Federation Internationale De Motocyclisme (FIM) Asia Road Racing Championship (ARRC). The IOCL will provide its ‘Storm’ brand fuel to all the motorcyclists from 15 countries participating in the FIM Asia Road Racing Championship for the next three years (2024-2026).

This is the first time that an Indian company will supply fuel to all the  motorcyclists participating in the Road Racing championship. In the FIM -Asia Road Racing Championship, only one company supplies fuel to all the participating teams.

Storm Brand of Fuel 

The IOCL recently launched the “Storm” fuel for motor racing vehicles. It is a high-octane petrol fuel suitable for all racing motorcycles. According to Shrikant Madhav Vaidya the ‘Storm’ fuel is being manufactured at the company's Koyali refinery in Vadodara,Gujarat.

Storm fuel has multiple benefits. It ensures the cleanliness of engine parts and the fuel delivery system while also protecting the vehicle's metallic components from corrosion. 

IOCL to produce fuel for F1 racing cars

Indian Oil Corporation Limited (IOCL) is all set to become the first Indian company to produce fuel for Formula 1(F1) racing. According to IOCL  Corporation Chairman Shrikant Madhav Vaidya, the company will start producing F1-grade fuel for Formula 1 cars at its Paradip refinery in Odisha within three months of receiving approval from the Federation Internationale de l'Automobile (FIA).

F1 fuel is high-octane petrol, and the standards are regulated by the global motorsport governing body Federation Internationale de l'Automobile (FIA). The F1 fuel has a high octane standard between 97 and 102.

An octane is a unit used to measure petrol or diesel ignition quality. The Higher the octane number, the more stable the fuel. Normal petrol has an octane number of 87, while premium fuel has an octane number of 91. The reference-grade fuel has an octane number of 97. 

IOCL launches Reference Petrol and Diesel 

In October 2023, the IOCL started producing highly specialised 'reference' petrol and diesel for automobile testing. Worldwide, only three companies supply reference-grade fuels. The IOCL's Paradip refinery produces 'reference' grade petrol, and its Panipat unit in Haryana produces reference-grade diesel.

Earlier, Indian automobile manufacturing companies used to import reference fuel for testing cars and motorcycles.