While the Formula 1 teams are launching their various cars and the two Lotus-branded teams are fighting over history, the FIA Institute is moving in the other direction with the announcement that it is pushing ahead with its environmental activities in order to develop sustainable motor sport programmes, in addition to its work in safety and training. The Institute has now hired environmental expert Even Wiger as its new Director of Sustainability. 
In recent years Wiger has a pioneer for the environment in his home country Norway, where he was managing director of Rally Norway, during which time he has turned the event into a completely carbon neutral rally and achieved environmental certification as long ago as 2006. As a result of this the rally was selected alongside other major sports events to join the UN’s Climate Neutral Network, an initiative led by the United Nations Environment Programme to promote global action and involvement towards low-carbon economies and societies. In addition to his role with the rally he also headed the environment division of the Norwegian ASN – Norges Bilsportforbund – overseeing environmental, political and strategic work in all branches of motor sport in Norway. The appointment means that Gus Glover, who was overseeing the sustainability programme at the FIA Institute will now become Director of Policy.
“I’ve always had faith that the environmental challenges which are emerging open up new opportunities, and engaging the belief of motorsport promoters, associations, teams and venues is my goal in this respect,” he says. “We have a responsibility to the global community and to the planet to ensure that our sport is sustainable in every way and we must also begin to lead by example. It is no small task but I am determined to make it happen. The FIA Institute has one of the world’s best and most technologically advanced networks in the automotive and motor sport technology industries, and I have absolute faith that the FIA Institute working closely with the FIA will identify innovations which ultimately everyday consumers, car manufacturers and others in the transport sector will come to appreciate.”
F1 is already carbon neutral, but more can be done by the FIA to ensure other racing categories follow suit.
The biggest environmental disappointment for motor sport is the relaunching of A1, (as A10 for financial debt reasons), as not only are they to us outdated engines, but have no environmental off-setting plans.
Now I don’t agree with what most of the ecomentalists say, but the fact is businesses and sponsors have to have one eye on the green machine, and motor sport can’t hide from their glare.
F1 being the most visible of all motor sports gets the finger pointed at it first, whereas the real culprits are the A10s, Indycar and LMS series.
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It’s be fun if whilst dreaming up engine specs, they could get a close look at this:
http://www.wired.com/autopia/2010/09/paris-auto-show-jaguar-cx75/
“[ . . . ] 780 hp and 1180 lb-ft of torque [ . . .]”
“In short, the C-X75 is impractical. In many ways, it’s disconnected from reality. It likely cost more than a hundred government toilets and has as much chance of ending up in our driveway as the Eiffel Tower.”
Perfect for F1!
– j