The McMurtry Spéirling PURE VP1 has conquered the Castle Combe circuit with the fastest lap ever recorded. This week I have details and video of the innovative fan car in action. I also have details on the partnership between the SMRC Eco Rally Scotland will partner with Carbon Positive Motorsport, a spotlight on the new FG Series and F1 sustainability highlights of the year so far. All this and more sustainable high performance motorsport news.
Sustainable Motorsport News
The SMRC Eco Rally Scotland will partner with Carbon Positive Motorsport for the 2024 event, in support of the event’s candidacy bid to become part of the Bridgestone FIA Eco Rally Cup in 2025.
Carbon Positive Motorsport will provide 200% carbon offsetting of the complete calculated carbon footprint of Eco Rally Scotland, enabling them to not only achieve a Net Zero legacy but also enable more carbon to be offset than it generates.
The package offsets 100% of the event’s carbon footprint immediately through Bio Carbon Registry validated Carbon Reduction Units from a world-class project in Colombia, and then offsets another 100% in the future using the company’s world-class offsetting project based locally at Loch Ness.
Read all about the initiative here.
Matt Bishop recounts in Motorsport the day Sebastian Vettel decided to retire from F1, then annoyed Aston bosses with climate campaign.
“I love this sport but, as much as there’s life on track, there’s also life off track. Being a racing driver has never been my sole identity. I want to be a great father and a great husband. I believe in change, and progress, and that every little bit you do can make a difference. We all have the same rights, no matter where we come from, what we look like, or whom we love. I’m an optimist and I believe that people are good. But, in addition, I feel that we live in very difficult times. How we shape the next few years will determine the rest of our lives. Talk is not enough. We can’t afford to wait. I believe that there’s still a race to win.”
Read the full article here.
Sustainable Motorsport Tech
In the video above, watch the fastest lap ever of a McMurtry Spéirling PURE VP1 at their ‘home circuit’ of Castle Combe driven by Max Chilton. Running at 80% power with a 155mph speed limit, a lap time of 54.559s was achieved at Castle Combe Circuit, Wiltshire, England during private testing
The car is the McMurtry Spéirling PURE (Validation Prototype 1) fan car driven by Max Chilton on 29th April 2024. This is 4.037s faster than the outright fastest race lap record (set by an F3 car in 2021) It is 9.796s faster than the GT3 lap record (set by a Lamborghini Huracán GT3 in 2022).
Castle Combe is often referred to as the prettiest village in England, and its race track, Castle Combe Circuit, has a 74 year racing history. It’s 1.85 mile long featuring a mix of fast corners, a blind crest and two technical chicanes.
McMurtry cars are designed and hand-built just 30 mins from Castle Combe so the venue holds a special status as ‘home circuit’. McMurtry has performed durability testing here since 2021 and has a long standing relationship with Castle Combe. This is the first time a lap time has been released. Enjoy.
Series News
FG Series, the first global all-electric motorsports series, is set to revolutionize motorsports. With its innovative engineering, cutting-edge technology, and commitment to sustainability, FG Series promises an exciting future for race car enthusiasts worldwide. Read the preview of the series at Electrified Magazine here.
A deep dive into NASCAR’s new electric crossover concept shows that NASCAR has learned some lessons about electrification, but racing it is not an inevitable next step. Road & Track has more.
As Formula 1 continues on its summer break, the series posted a list of sustainability highlights to their LinkedIn page which I quote here.
During the F1 Summer Break, we’re looking back at some of the key ESG highlights from the Grands Prix so far this year, featuring sustainability and social impact initiatives.
https://www.linkedin.com/posts/formula-one-management-ltd_f1-formula1-motorsport-activity-7227636235073130497-TveY/?utm_source=share&utm_medium=member_desktop
In April, F1 launched its first Impact Report, which detailed the sport’s ESG efforts and how it is on track to hit the Net Zero by 2030 goal. Find out more here: https://lnkd.in/e7QMV4ma
As part of the wider sport’s efforts to create a more sustainable F1, during the first five events of the 2024 season…
☀ An on-site 3.5mw solar farm at the Bahrain International Circuit delivered enough clean energy throughout the year to power all F1 requirements.
🏎 Pirelli announced the use of more sustainable FSC-certified tyres for the 2024 season.
🎓 Over 40 schools took part in an initiative at the Saudi Arabian GP to educate and inspire young students from diverse backgrounds, including Saudi Arabia’s first Autism and Disability associations.
📚 F1 Academy invited children from local schools in Jeddah to visit the Paddock at pre-season testing, for the chance to soak in the atmosphere, meet team personnel and drivers, and learn more about the careers available in motorsport.
⚡ Multiple green energy solutions powered the Formula 1® Australian Grand Prix, including 100% Certified Green Power from the grid, solar panels, and hydrogen cell and biofuel-powered generators.
🚗 The Safety and Medical Cars were powered by 40% sustainable fuel for the first time.
👨👩👧👦 4,000 local families and students attended a special community Pit Lane experience to get up and close to the team garages at the iconic Suzuka Circuit.
Keep an eye out next week when we’ll showcase more of the fantastic work that’s going on across the sport to create positive change.
While F1 moves ahead on their new hybrid engines for 2026, F1 CEO Stefano Domenicali has stated again that they will discuss the “validity” of the hybrid engines in 2029.
“I do believe that the right way to develop [weight reduction] would be either to stay with this kind of [hybrid] concept, with moves to reduce the weight, or – if sustainable fuel is doing the right job to be zero emission and we are taking the point of sustainability in the right way – maybe we don’t need anymore to be so complicated or so expensive in terms of engine development,” Domenicali told Motorsport.com.
Read.more at Motorsport Week here.
Is It Fast takes a look at the Formula E finale as the series wrapped up its season.
“Weirdly Formula E returns this year for the first race of season 11, which will be held in Brazil in December. Until then, I think Formula E should invest in some sort of Road to Le Mans style show following the teams and drivers around next season (not like DTS) so that we have something interesting to watch in the off season next year. It would be good for the lesser-known drivers too who need more of a spotlight. Getting some more dedicated media out there always helps and can also be a good way of finding new drivers with fresh talent to come in to a team either as a test or reserve driver, nevermind a full blown full time racer.”
You can read the full article here.
The Big Picture
World leaders and global businesses have pledged billions to initiatives aimed at accelerating sustainability in sport reports Global Sustainable Sport.
According to reports, leaders at the International Summit on Sport and Sustainable Development agreed on commitments across sectors such as education and employment, health and nutrition, equality, inclusion, sustainability and more.
Additionally, banks and financial institutions pledged to invest $10bn across the world for inclusive and sustainable sports infrastructure by 2030. The French Development Agency also said it would allocate €500m for sustainable development in sports by the same deadline.
Billions pledged by world leaders for sport and sustainability
Getting to the Track Sustainably
- Boom Supersonic Gives Us An Inside Look (Business Jet Traveler)
- We Get Full Access To Lilium’s Emissions- Free Electric Aircraft (Business Jet Traveler)
- Using solid waste to decarbonise aviation (Biofuels International)
- Electric Trucks Nearly Killed Nikola. Now Hydrogen Ones Are Saving It. (Forbes)
- EV battery costs dropped 90% in last 15 years (Green Car Reports)
Author: Mark Boudreau
Mark is the publisher of Motorsport Prospects. As a former lawyer, he applies his legal background and research skills to assist race drivers by showcasing the resources they need to make their motorsport careers happen.
