The McDonald & MunroSpeyside Stages Rally partners with Carbon Positive Motorsport to provide carbon offsetting for this year’s event.
The Speyside Stages will be the second Scottish Rally Championship event of 2022 to take steps to mitigate its carbon footprint through certified carbon offsetting projects. Carbon PositiveMotorsport was launched last year and provided offsetting to competitors at all levels of the sport, including current British Rally champion Matt Edwards, former Scottish Rally Champions Jock Armstrong, David Bogie, and current Scottish Rally Champions Garry Pearson and Ladies Champion Ashleigh Morris. A number of leading competitors and events across all motorsport disciplines have started to recognise and act on the need to take positive action to reduce the environmental impact of the sport, to ensure that the sport remains sustainable today and for future generations to enjoy. The initiative has generated large interest in the sport as well as in media such as the BBC. Since its launch over 30 crews competing in Scottish Rally Championship events alone have offset their competition carbon emissions through Carbon Positive Motorsport, who are the first dedicated carbon offsetting provider for motorsport. This figure continues to increase as more competitors in all disciplines and at all levels of the field recognise how impactful and low-cost, high-quality UK based carbon offsetting can be.
Former Scottish Rally champion Jock Armstrong and Cameron Fair will be competing in their iconic Subaru as ambassadors for Carbon Positive Motorsport. The company, who provides carbon offsetting for motorsport events, teams, competitors, and spectators, will provide carbon positive levels offsetting for all the rally organisation vehicles on the event itself. This level of offsetting will provide 25% more carbon offsetting in the future than is generated today through the fuel use associated with their participation. To further reduce the event's environmental impact, Carbon Positive Motorsport are also offering all competitors, marshals, and spectators a 20% discount on their standard web shop prices, to encourage all to help the event bring a positive environmental impact. The initiative forms the first step of a partnership that will help create an environmental road map for the event for the coming years, to progressively increase the carbon offsetting of the event's footprint. Additionally, Carbon Positive Motorsport are donating 10% of their sales profits to support motorsport organisations in the Ukraine, who are providing essentials to people who have been devastated by the current war through a collaboration with a championship winning Ukrainian co driver Juliya Yefimova.
Ashleigh Morris has been a brand ambassador for Carbon Positive Motorsport since 2021 and looks to defend her Scottish ladies champion title in this year’s SRC.
Clerk of the course Neil Shanks said, ‘’We are delighted to be working with Carbon Positive Motorsport on this year’s Speyside Stages. We think it’s vital that by working together in a responsible way we can ensure that the sport has a bright future.
"It’s important to us that we all play our part, and to be able to do this through Carbon Positive Motorsport, who have strong connections to world class carbon offsetting projects in Scotland, really made our decision an easy one.
"I would encourage all involved in the rally whether competitors, spectators, or marshals to take advantage of their introductory offer and help the event promote its environmental ambitions within the community.’’
Neil Shanks is normally to be found co driving for John Wink in their Hyundai R5, but this year will be clerk of the course for this year’s rally.
Carbon Positive Motorsport director, Paul Glass added, "We are delighted to support this year’s event and live up to our purpose to help make motorsport sustainable for future generations to enjoy.
"Wherever possible we work with an event by using local rewilding-based offsetting projects and not overseas schemes, as the quality of these projects creates greater environmental benefits than offsetting alone. I’m pleased that we will be supporting the Speyside Stages using woodland carbon code certified projects based at Loch Ness’’.
‘’I’m especially pleased that we will have a presence on the stages from existing and local customers who come from all levels of the entry – we need everyone to get involved, not only the leading crews. I’m also delighted that our brand ambassadors Ashleigh Morris, Jock Armstrong, and John Wink will be competing, promoting our brand and offer, together with local competitors such as Brian Ross. It all goes to raise the profile of why we need to act within motorsport.’’
Local competitor BrianRoss competes carbon offset, in his Millington powered Escort Mk2.
‘’It does not cost much to have a big impact, and I hope many will reflect on the need to act, and the benefits of doing so for the sport, sponsors, and the community. By taking advantage of our offer, it’s a great opportunity to contribute to offsetting their event consumption in whatever form it takes through our website."
A special discount code has been created for the event SS22CS, which will be available for all to use between 11th April and 11th May. It only costs a little to make a big difference for the sport, so whether you're a competitor or spectator, why not join with us to help make motorsport sustainable.
To become Carbon Positive yourself, visit carbonpositivemotorsport.com
