The inaugural edition of the Motorsport Forum, organised on 10 October by ANFIA (Italian National Association of the Automotive Industry Supply Chain – Associazione Nazionale Filiera Industria Automobilistica) at the Kilometro Rosso in Bergamo, saw UFI take centre stage alongside key stakeholders from the sector, who shared current trends and future prospects for national excellence.
During thematic round tables, moderated by Franco Nugnes, Director of Motorsport.com, the manager of our Advanced Application Division and member of the ANFIA Motorsport section’s coordination committee highlighted the value and excellence of our research and technologies dedicated to racing. The results make it possible to offer OEMs and the aftermarket the most advanced solutions and products in the field of filtration.
In our panel, themed “Not just electric: what opportunities for alternative fuels?”, it emerged that motorsport is open to experimenting with a range of new technologies, including e-fuels for internal combustion engines. In fact, from 2026, Formula 1 will use more eco-friendly petrol and UFI, which will supply its filters (on average, about fifteen per single-seater), has developed new solutions to tackle this unprecedented challenge.
The collaboration with motorsport teams
The meeting organised by ANFIA was, in fact, fundamental in highlighting how motorsport serves as a testing and launch platform for countless innovations for automotive component manufacturers, destined to also shape future technologies for the energy transition.
At UFI, for around fifteen years, we have been developing solutions for chemical filtration, as the evolution of petrol has led to the use of compounds that can hinder the proper functioning of the fuel system or filtration. The first tests carried out by our customers with the new petrol identified some critical issues, which also emerged during tests on components after their use. We work in close collaboration with our customers, both in solid and chemical filtration, to identify the optimal solutions to maintain total filtration efficiency.
Ongoing research and collaboration with fluid manufacturers
Everything defined in the chemical formulation of a petrol and its additives can generate problems from the very moment it is introduced into the tank. This means that the disruption of the balance, caused by the introduction of new components in petrol, also affects filtration and results in a strong drive for ongoing research to identify the most effective solutions, which may relate to the resins used or the filter media.
For this reason, at UFI we work in close partnership with the manufacturers of the various fluids used in Formula 1 (petrol, engine oil and oils for the hydraulic circuits of power steering and active aerodynamics elements, coolant for the hybrid component of the power units), acquiring know-how which, in compliance with very strict confidentiality agreements, proves invaluable for resolving any issues common to all clients. This ongoing research and the building of a wealth of innovative knowledge enable us to be the leading player in motorsport filtration.
From motorsport and beyond…
The UFI Advanced Application Division also supplies components to the aerospace sector, where it is necessary to overcome resistance to change, breaking established balances in the face of the introduction of new fuels designed to reduce emissions. Thanks to our extensive know-how, our company is working to offer concrete support in the development of suitable solutions for this type of evolution.
