The name Coryton will hopefully be familiar from its exploits with Mazda few months back, setting lap records across the UK in an MX-5 using nothing but fossil-free fuel. Now there’s something properly tangible to show for its work in renewable fuels, with the first publicly available sustainable petrol for classic cars launched today. Called Sustain Classic, it’s available in three types, the most environmentally friendly of which promises ‘a reduction of at least 65 per cent in greenhouse gas emissions when compared to fossil fuels’. Which is pretty significant. Initially, it’ll be available at Bicester Heritage, with more locations to follow.

Coryton’s Sustain Classic will be available as Super 80, Super 33 and Racing 50. It’s the 33 that’s probably of the most interest as the most affordable, priced from £3.80 a litre. The 33 denotes the minimum amount of sustainable content, which contributes to a reduction in greenhouse gas emissions of at least 25 per cent against fossil fuels. It’s rated at 98 octane and also comes with something called a ‘multifunctional deposit control additive package’, which cuts down on deposits in the engine to keep it clean. Super 80 has at least 80 per cent renewable content meaning the greenhouse gas reduction is said to be more than 65 per cent. It’s also 98 octane, and costs from £4.65 a litre.

Coryton even has a race-spec of biofuel, rated at 102 octane. Racing 50 has at least 50 per cent renewable content and a saving of more than 35 per cent in greenhouse gases. It costs £5.24 a litre (nobody ever said motorsport was going to get any cheaper in the future, sadly). Nevertheless, Sustain Classic is already in use, powering more than 70 cars at Bicester’s recent Rally for the Ages event. It’s going to be available at the upcoming Flywheel 2023 event, too.

With around half a million classics believed to be in the UK, Coryton’s launch of Sustain Classic feels like a small but significant step in the right direction. Clearly, there’s not going to be queue of thousands at Motor Spirit (where the petrol will be available), but it’s a start. As David Richardson, Coryton’s Business Development Director, noted: “Every kilogram of CO2 we avoid adding to our atmosphere, by replacing fossil fuel with sustainable fuel, is a win. We don’t instantly have to go for the full switch to start making a genuine impact.” That’s the key, surely; fuel from agricultural waste is not a panacea for the situation we’re in, although it does mean that cool old classics can hopefully be kept on the road while using less carbon. That’s got to be a good thing. Do let us know how you get on filling up…