enviroSportscar Series to be launched at Autotsport International

At last year’s Motorsport Industry Association (MIA) Cleaner Racing Conference, Lord Drayson challenged the motor industry to produce cooler, greener cars. The enviroSportscar Series being launched at this year’s event at the Autotsport International Show, NEC this Wednesday (January 12), is a direct response, and is about real cars of the future proving themselves in three forms of motorsport – circuit racing, drag racing and economy rallies.

This new form of motorsport is designed to change the way people think about performance cars, and to help them realise that enviro-friendly vehicles do not have to be boring and dull. By changing people’s perception, its organisers hope to influence the car-buying behaviour of people throughout Europe – encouraging them to drive enviro-friendly machines.

The cars will utilise any form of energy efficient power. They will be road-registerable, sexy, fast, and be able to drive into cities without incurring emissions charge. The nine-round series is scheduled to start in 2013, with demonstration events planned for 2011 and 2012. It will support two existing FIA motorsport series at famous European race venues. High-profile city-centre events will also be scheduled in Monaco and other capitals such as London or Berlin. Famous ‘A’ list celebrities and high profile politicians will be invited to compete in the city events and recognised professional drivers at the circuit ones.

The concept is the brainchild of Ian Forbes and Keith Bartlett, CEO of Trabak Racing. Both have applauded the focus and investment of major motor manufacturers in developing the next generation of energy efficient cars, but were struck by the lack of a link to motorsport – the perfect breeding ground for such technology. enviroSportscar has been created to help overcome the problem.

One of enviroSportscar’s major supporters is Northamptonshire Enterprise Limited (NEL); a partnership between the public, private and voluntary sectors to develop the local economy and support job creation in this key growth area. A demonstration of enviroSportscar is planned at the Cenex Low Carbon Vehicle Event (LCV) in September this year. Drag racing will occur at Santa Pod, circuit racing at Rockingham and a trial in Northampton city.