The 2022 Nicky Grist Stages has partnered with Carbon Positive Motorsport as part of a new initiative to help mitigate the events carbon footprint in the first step of a comprehensive environmental roadmap for the popular event.
The event is the first to pilot a ‘End to End’ carbon offsetting event package that has been launched by Carbon Positive Motorsport. This innovative package has been created based on feedback from rally events and competitors, who wanted to make it easier for all involved in an event to help contribute to mitigating an events carbon footprint and its environmental impact through carbon offsetting the estimated average event day fuel used by competitors.
Thanks to over 90 competitors who have included carbon offsetting in their entry, 28,000 KG C02e of carbon will be offset in the future. This figure also includes the organisers vehicles which will be offsetting their actual fuel use on the event day. This carbon offsetting will be recorded on the UK land registry in the name of the event, which provides full transparency and verification of the offsetting level to be achieved.
The event itself will see Carbon Positive Motorsport brand ambassadors Osian Pryce, Garry Pearson and Matthew Jackson who is competing with Sasha Heriot and said: “We’re really looking forward to the Nicky Grist Stages. It’s been a bit of a gap since the last class win at the Plains Rally so we’re raring to go. It’s set to be a tough weekend, the stages look absolutely fantastic, very fast and flowing and as always with the Nicky Grist Stages, a warm one! We face a very strong battle for the class this time, a number of the newer generation cars, but we love a challenge!”
I think it’s great so many people have signed up to offset their carbon for this event. We all need to do our bit to make our sport greener, so the fact people are listening, signing up only goes to show the great work the team are doing. Even better that the event is endorsing and really pushing the message, it makes the whole process very simple and effective’
The Carbon Positive Motorsport initiative has since its launch generated large interest in the sport – as competitors and events across all motorsport disciplines, have started to recognise and act on the environmental needs of the sport, to ensure that motorsport and the environment are sustainable for future generations to enjoy.
By only using the highest possible quality of 100% UK based carbon offsetting projects which generate carbon reduction in the future through rewilding, greater environmental benefits such as restoration of ancient woodlands, and the reintroduction of native species of trees and animals to improve biodiversity, will result in greater positive environmental impact than by offsetting alone.
To further reduce the events environmental impact, Carbon Positive Motorsport are also offering all Nicky Grist Stages competitors and spectators a 20% discount on their standard web shop prices from the 8th to the 10th of July, to encourage all travelling to the event to help bring a greater positive environmental impact.
Carbon Positive Motorsport director, Paul Glass said: “We are delighted that so many of the event competitors decided to support the events environmental ambitions, by not opting out of the scheme. Such levels of competitors support and commitment from the organisers will help the event to be sustainable in the future years. I was talking with Nicky at last weekend’s McRae rally challenge which we provided carbon offsetting to, and as event sponsor he was delighted that such a level of support has been given to the event that carries his name.”
Carbon Positive Motorsport director, Steve Smith added :”It’s a fantastic level of support, which greatly increases the positive impact we can create through our new End to End offsetting package for the event. I will be attending the event to support the organisers, but also to take feedback from all competitors, to understand how we can further improve how we work with this model and events in the future. We want all to get involved from a voluntary basis for the benefit of the sport – so such feedback is very important to us in achieving that ambition.”
A special discount code (NG22S) has been created to use on Carbon Positive Motorsports online sales platform, which will be available for all competitors and spectators to use to carbon offset their event related travel.