Drive to Reduce Formula One Racing Emissions

Formula One motor racing emissions are set to reduce in coming years through a new drive kick-started by FOTA - the Formula One Teams Association.

According to the organisation, emission drops of 15 per cent by 2012 could be achievable through the programme, which it says represents the world’s first full sports CO2 reduction initiative involving external auditors within the sporting industry.

According to sources related to the project, corporate issues have had a significant influence on the project, with the enthusiasm associated these days with getting behind environmental friendly issues.

Formula One Emissions

Beyond the short-term carbon goal, it is possible that – looking further ahead – the Formula One emissions reduction scheme could result in motor racing engines offering twice the energy efficiency of current production models and that – as a consequence – the technology used in them could filter down into mainstream vehicles, too. This would likely result from a tie-up between FOTA and Formula One engine makers and would involve putting a cap on each car’s fuel consumption levels.

The average F1 racer uses approximately 160 kilograms of petrol per race (based on a 2.4 litre engine), but future engines could be cut down in size to 1.5 litres, and fuel levels gradually brought down on a season-by-season basis, culminating in an allocation of around 80 kilograms by about 2014.

Simultaneously, the Formula One season could be re-jigged to bring regionalised events closer together, and therefore mitigate associated travel emissions as far as can be achieved.

CO2 Emissions: Formula One

Perhaps surprisingly, the CO2 emissions produced by Formula One cars being tested and raced only represent a fraction of the sport’s overall carbon footprint: a large amount comes from associated products, transport and logistics.

While the sport is already actively reducing the size of its carbon footprint, the auditors involved in the new drive forecast a 15 per cent drop over the period 2009-2012.

”We've been able to analyse all drivers of carbon emissions, from logistics right down to the engines themselves”, Trucost’s Richard Mattison advised the BBC, adding: “There's a lot of data in teams - more so than in most businesses - and we were able to analyse it and see how and where they were going to make reductions.”

“What's needed is for large organisations in more carbon-intensive industries to make real commitments... I think this is a great step forwards”, he concluded.

See also:

Environmentally Friendly Formula 3 Car Unveiled