In a blow to performance drivers with modern cars, Shell has announced that they will be ceasing sale of their V-Power Racing fuel, the only 100RON fuel available on the market.

While not entirely popular due to its ethanol content’s ability to destroy engine parts, owners of modern cars aiming for maximum power have always appreciated the extra power their engines are able to make on the higher-octane fuel.

Shell has made no announcement of replacing V-Power Racing with another 100RON fuel, but instead continues to offer regular 98RON V-Power as its high-performance fuel. Shell blames a “changing market”, which I would say is marketing-speak for “there aren’t enough people who will pay 30c/L over regular unleaded for gains they’ll never actually experience, when petrol is already so expensive”.

As someone who used the fuel for track days, even though it wasn’t manufacturer-recommended, I know I’ll miss it for its extra mid-range response and affect on top-end revs, and the knowledge that there’s extra knock-resistance under the higher loads and temperature a car experiences at the track.

Too bad it appears that I am in a minority.