Last year, the Dayinsure Wales Rally GB became just the third round of the FIA World Rally Championship to achieve an ‘Achievement of Excellence’. The honour was presented by the FIA after the UK’s round of the WRC demonstrated ‘many positive and successful actions towards environmental sustainability’.
While accreditation is now part of a mandatory process that all WRC events must undertake on a bi-annual basis, the standard-setting UK round is one of the few rounds to have been awarded the top accolade.
As well as site visits during the 2016 event from an FIA delegate, International Motor Sports (IMS) Ltd – Wales Rally GB organisers and promoters – also had to provide evidence of procedures put in place to reduce the environmental impact of the event. These included the protection of water courses on the rally route to prevent potential pollution, reduction in the mileage of officials on event, monitoring and reduction of waste at the Deeside Rally Village as well as many other far-reaching elements.
Wales Rally GB has always strived to be a leader in sustainable event management and is determined to continue enhancing and refining its environmental efforts each year. In 2017, it will reinforce and intensify its benchmark ‘green status’ with four clear and achievable objectives:
To reduce the number of printed documents To minimise the number of printed tickets To continue the event’s proud record of zero ground and water contamination at the Deeside Rally Village To minimise the amount of fuel used by officials working on the event
In order to achieve these commitments, a dedicated ‘Environmental Champion’, Alun Pritchard, has been appointed to oversee the widespread project, which has already resulted in the official event programme being printed on recycled paper for the first time.
Wales Rally GB will also be raising the public profile of the on-going sustainability project and providing key messages to spectators.
Visitor behaviour is a critical factor for environmental protection at any major sporting event. All those attending the 2017 Dayinsure Wales Rally GB – including spectators, officials, marshals, competitors and crews – will be encouraged to support the sustainability agenda too.
