Recycled bottles were also used in the construction of the Formula 3 vehicle which can reach speeds of up to 130mph and runs on biodiesel.

Dr Julie Soden, researcher at the University of Ulster (UU), in Northern Ireland helped make a barge board which is positioned behind the front wheels. She said, "It is exciting and refreshing to see an actual product coming out of the research lab.

"The next step in the process is the testing and improvement of the first design, so the initial work will be built upon to show the full potential and the scope of the research.

"While the safety critical parts are not made from sustainable materials, the racing car is evidence of the significant advances made by researchers into what is readily achievable in the sustainable composites field."

The project was undertaken in collaboration with the University of Warwick's Innovative Manufacturing Research Centre.

The Formula 3 racing car is the first full-scale demonstrator model manufactured using some sustainable and renewable materials.

It appeared at this year's Goodwood's Festival of Speed and was driven by A1 Grand Prix champion racing driver Adam Carroll.