On May 16, SINOPEC officially launched Aipao 103 racing-grade fuel, which is fully independently researched, developed and manufactured by its core subsidiary SINOPEC Zhenhai Refining & Chemical. The launch marks an epoch-making technological breakthrough of China’s domestic racing fuel industry.
With a Research Octane Number (RON) exceeding 103, the new fuel boasts four core strengths: robust power output, outstanding anti-knock performance, eco-friendly cleanliness and operational safety. Officially selected as the exclusive fuel for the China Tarim International Rally, it terminates China’s long-term reliance on imported high-end motorsport fuel and fills the blank of domestic premium racing gasoline. As SINOPEC’s flagship refining base, Zhenhai Refining’s technological output also proves China’s oil refining capacity has stepped into the world’s top tier.
Customized for extreme working conditions of racing engines including ultra-high rotating speed, heavy load and long-time continuous operation, Aipao 103 achieves premium comprehensive performance, benefiting from Zhenhai Refining’s decades-long refining accumulation and precise component blending technology:
Optimized fuel components accelerate vaporization and boost full combustion efficiency. It delivers more responsive throttle feedback, generating explosive power for race cars during launching, accelerating and overtaking phases.
Its RON exceeds 103, five octane grades higher than commercial 98# gasoline available on the civilian market. It effectively suppresses engine knocking, protecting high-compression racing engines from damage and securing steady operation under extreme heavy-load conditions.
Free of lead, manganese and other harmful metallic additives, Aipao 103 produces minimal combustion deposits. It balances extreme high-performance demands and strict motorsport environmental protection standards, realizing low-carbon and clean racing power.
Special anti-static additives are blended into the formula to greatly cut static electricity accumulation risks during high-flow refueling, ensuring safe, efficient fuel supply and logistics during intense motorsports competitions.
As SINOPEC’s key high-end refining base, Zhenhai Refining & Chemical takes full charge of the whole industrial chain of Aipao 103, covering product indicator design, core component screening, refining process iteration, precise fuel blending and full-cycle quality inspection. Leveraging its mature manufacturing experience of premium road gasoline and general aviation fuel, the refinery overcame multiple technical bottlenecks of high-octane racing fuel, guaranteed on-time mass production, and delivered stable and continuous fuel supply throughout the China Tarim Rally.
Chen Yanbin, Member of the Party Leadership Group and Deputy General Manager of SINOPEC Group, stated that launching Aipao 103 racing fuel on the world-class China Tarim Rally platform concentrates SINOPEC’s scientific and technological achievements, especially the refining strength of Zhenhai Refining. It also acts as a key practice to drive the oil product business toward high-end, green and specialized development amid the group’s Second Venture initiative, building brand competitiveness and new growth drivers in the emerging racing-grade fuel track.
SINOPEC will take this launch as a new starting point, empower core refining subsidiaries represented by Zhenhai Refining, continuously increase technological R&D investment, strive for technological breakthroughs in high-performance fuel, green energy and advanced new materials, and accelerate writing a brand-new chapter of China’s petrochemical revitalization in the new era.
Adhering to the industrial layout of "One Foundation, Two Wings, Three Chains, Four New Sectors", SINOPEC actively expands the emerging racing-grade fuel track. As the pioneer of domestic clean oil upgrading, SINOPEC has invested over RMB 400 billion to upgrade refined oil products from China Stage I to China Stage VI emission standards, finishing the upgrading journey that took European and American countries 30 years within merely a decade, securing world-leading oil product quality.
SINOPEC has cultivated motorsport fuel business for years with solid practical experience and brand influence. Its Aipao 98 gasoline served as the exclusive designated fuel for the 2025 F1H2O World Powerboat Championship Shanghai Grand Prix. The successful R&D and release of Aipao 103, independently manufactured by Zhenhai Refining, further consolidates SINOPEC’s technological dominance in the global high-end fuel market.
