Environmentalism in motorsport

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The issue of environmentalism in motorsport surrounds the whole of auto racing to reduce its carbon dioxide emissions contributing to global warming.

Contents

[edit] Initial reception

The first series to respond to the call to make motorsport more environmentally friendly was the International Formula Master series, who planned to use a petrol–electric hybrid and regenerative braking systems in their cars for the 2007 season.[1] A month later the series announces that it will not use the hybrid system for the '07 season and instead opt for regular fuel.[1] Meanwhile, Audi's diesel powered R10 had won the American Le Mans Series by a margin of almost 100 points from their nearest rivals.[1] In the United Kingdom, British Touring Car Championship team West Surrey Racing (WSR) ran Rob Collard and Colin Turkington in Ethanol fueled MG ZSs.[1]

[edit] Actions taken in other series

[edit] Formula One

Rubens Barrichello driving the RA107 at the 2007 Malaysian Grand Prix, with its characteristic "Earth" livery.
Rubens Barrichello driving the RA107 at the 2007 Malaysian Grand Prix, with its characteristic "Earth" livery.

Formula One's governing body, the Fédération Internationale de l'Automobile (FIA), took until May 2007 to act upon the issue of environmental effects the sport was responsible for by holding a discussion in Monaco during the Grand Prix.[2] The Honda Works Team however, announced that they would run a sponsorless car for the 2007 season three months prior to the FIA's Monaco discussion. The Honda RA107 took on a livery that depicts the Earth, symbolizing Honda's environmental desires, with only the logos of Type R Honda 'H' and the Bridgestone logo.

The car mostly received a cynical reception, Red Bull Racing's Mark Webber observed that "it's good Honda is going green - but there are still 35 private jets parked 20 Kilometres down the road."[3] Briggs commented that "Honda's 'Earth Car' may have attracted cynicism, but the issues it highlights are moving up motorsport's agenda."[2]

In 2007, the FIA made plans to switch from V8 engines to turbo charged V6 engines.[2]

[edit] North American motorsport

IndyCar was the first major open wheel series to reduce it's green house gases by changing its fuel supply from methanol to more environmentally friendly ethanol fuel for the 2007 season.[4] The IRL's rival series, the Champ Car World Series, however has yet to turn to ethanol fuel. One of the series co-owner, Jerry Forsythe, is aware his series needs to do something similar to the IRL.[citation needed]

[edit] Sportscar racing

Both the Le Mans Series and American Le Mans Series have made some effort to be more environmentally friendly. Both Audi and Peugeot have made diesel race cars, the R10 and 908 respectively, for their series. Both also competed in the 2007 24 Hours of Le Mans where both cars competed for the win which resulted in the German manufacturer coming out on top.

In the British GT Championship, a diesel powered Aston Martin DBRS9 made series history by winning at the Snetterton round.

[edit] Touring car and European open wheel racing

As well as WSR's efforts, Paul O'Neill also entered a privateer entry in the BTCC, racing a bioethanol powered Vauxhall Astra at the Brands Hatch meeting of the 2006 season. Soon, environmentally friendly entrants span to the World Championship stage with Alfa Romeo unveiling a diesel powered entry for the 2007 season, which would make them the first manufacturer to enter a diesel powered car in the World Championship. In April 2007, Swede Robert Dahlgen won the opening round of the Swedish Touring Car Championship in a bioethanol powered Volvo S60.

European open wheel championships also made efforts to go greener, the British Formula Ford championship considered changing to bioethanol fuel for the 2007 season in December 2006 although three months later the series moved the plans to the 2008 season.[4] In July 2007, the World Series by Renault became the first major European open wheel series to announce a move to biofuel, the new car will be used for the 2008 season.[2]

[edit] Superkarts

Because of their small engines and compact size, karts and Superkarts have a much smaller environmental footprint than most other categories of four-wheeled motorsport. A Superkart is faster, cheaper and uses less fuel, tyres, oil etc than many four-wheel motor sport categories. Using Australia’s most popular category, the V8 Supercars, as an example, clearly demonstrates this.

V8 Supercar 250 cc International Superkart
Lap time at Phillip Island Grand Prix Circuit, Victoria, Australia 1'33.4389 1'33.2387
Lap time at Eastern Creek Raceway, Sydney, Australia 1'30.8955 1'28.7243
Fuel consumption (approx) 3.6 litres per lap (or 759.6 litres per car at the Bathurst 1000)[5] 30 litres per race weekend
Average new purchase cost (approx) AU$ 320,000 [6] between 15,000 and US$ 20,000 [7]

[edit] References

  1. ^ a b c d Motorsport's Green Future, Autosport magazine, Vol. 189, No. 4, Pg. 76, Haymarket Publications. July 26, 2007
  2. ^ a b c d Motorsport's Green Future, Autosport magazine, Vol. 189, No. 4, Pg. 79, Haymarket Publications. July 26, 2007
  3. ^ The Big Questions of 2007, Autosport magazine, Vol. 187, No. 11, Pg. 38, Haymarket Publications. March 15, 2007
  4. ^ a b Motorsport's Green Future, Autosport magazine, Vol. 189, No. 4, Pg. 77, Haymarket Publications. July 26, 2007
  5. ^ Everything packed for Bathurst - September 27, 2006
  6. ^ V8 Supercar FAQ
  7. ^ Superkarts — Super Speeds - Road & Track, November 2005