The Modern Tyres Ulster Rally is delighted to be partnering with Carbon Positive Motorsport for the 2023 event held on the 18-19 August.
There is an ever increasing need to reflect upon energy consumption by events and to act on mitigating the associated environmental impacts such as the carbon footprint generated by its running.
The organising team behind the Ulster Rally believe that action is necessary to ensure the continued support of our stakeholders and the communities our event relies upon. Several events have begun to take such steps to help to make motorsport more sustainable for the future, and the Ulster Rally will be one of the first events in Northern Ireland and the wider Island of Ireland to run the initiative.
The Ulster Rally has decided as part of an environmental road map, to partner with Carbon Positive Motorsport, and to take significant steps to mitigate its carbon footprint through the purchase of carbon reduction units (CRUs)
These CRUs are sourced using only world class rewilding-based carbon offsetting projects certified by the Woodland Carbon Code. Such projects provide greater environmental benefits than offsetting alone and ensure that the economic benefits are retained within the country.
The CRUs will provide assured carbon offsetting in the future, to the equivalent of an estimated CO2e level, using UK government carbon conversion factors that correspond to the forecasted fuel consumption of the organisers and competitors vehicles on the event day.
This forecast is based on actual competition and organisers vehicles fuel consumption, and will include an additional 25% offset level, to create a carbon positive level of offsetting in the long term.
The Ulster Rally have included a discounted £19 carbon offsetting charge per competitor within the entry fees – a relatively low cost for the quality of offsetting provided, and to secure the benefits for the event in the future. Competitors can select to opt out of this charge if they wish to do so.
“We are delighted to be in a position to partner with Carbon Positive Motorsport,” explained Clerk of Course Wayne Turkington. “Motorsport is widely viewed as a symbol for innovation and adapting to the needs of the community in the current climate. The Ulster Rally organising team want to see the continuation of the rally for generations to come and we need to start acting now to safeguard the future of the event.
“The rally provides a positive impact on the local community during rally week, and we always pride ourselves in leaving the roads, service area and regroups how we found them, and we want to be able to do that with our carbon emissions, by offsetting them and providing a positive impact.
“As part of the organising team, we appreciate the involvement and support from all of the competitors, supporters, sponsors, residents, spectators and councils for backing this initiative.”
The Modern Tyres Ulster Rally gets underway on Friday 18 August 2023. For more information, visit www.ulsterrally.com or on social media.
ULSTER RALLY ENTRIES ARE NOW OPEN…
Entries for the eagerly-anticipated Modern Tyres Ulster Rally open today (June 26th) – and those working behind the scenes to make the event happen are predicting another star-studded field.
Many of the quickest drivers in the latest R5 and Rally2 machinery from Citroen and Volkswagen, Ford and Hyundai will share the stages as they battle it out for supremacy on the asphalt classic.
Starter numbers are set to be even bigger this year compared to 10 months ago due to the fact the Modern Tyres Ulster Rally is hosting the closing round of the Irish Tarmac Rally Championship. It also heralds the midpoint of the dual surface Motorsport UK British Rally Championship (BRC).
Therefore, over the weekend of Friday August 18th and Saturday August 19th, spectators of all ages can look forward to seeing Josh Moffett, Callum Devine and Jonathan Greer aim to preserve local honour on home soil against Adrien Fourmaux, Keith Cronin, Callum Black and James Williams.
In addition, the Ulster Rally has joined this year’s new-look FIA European Rally Trophy as part of a re-jigged 20-event schedule – a move that helps to re-enforce the event’s international status.
Unchanged, however, is the backdrop for the 46th instalment of the Northern Ireland Motor Club showpiece as Modern Tyres’ facility in Carnbane Industrial Estate on the outskirts of Newry will once again be the backdrop for all of the service park activity as well as the podium celebrations.
Returning Clerk of the Course Wayne Turkington says preparations are well underway and going to plan for what should be one of the key highlights of the Northern Ireland motorsport calendar.
“It is going to be fantastic to have crews from the two main Championships in the UK and Ireland resume their friendly rivalry in Newry in August to see who will come out on top,” said Turkington.
“We are pleased to announce that entries have now opened and while as a motor club we take every effort to make the Ulster Rally a success, ultimately it is the crews that make it a spectacle. Therefore, I would encourage all competitors to submit their entry as soon as they possibly can.”
He added: “I also want to take this opportunity to thank Modern Tyres for choosing to come on board once again and be title sponsor of the Ulster Rally. Like many large-scale sporting events held here, the Ulster Rally relies on backing to help make it viable and also safeguard its future.”
Supplementary regulations – along with a rally guide for fans planning on making the trip to Newry – will soon be available on the Ulster Rally website and via the Sportity App using code UR2023. Entry registrations, meanwhile, can be made via Rallyscore (www.rallyscore.net).
Words: GRAHAM BAALHAM-CURRY [Images must not be used in any way without prior written consent of the photographer]
