Formula One teams have signalled their readiness to embrace eco-technology and other environmental initiatives being championed by the sport’s governing body.
There is widespread agreement that the fuel-guzzling sport must respond in a responsible way to the environmental challenges of the modern era, with unique green-grooved tyres being run at this weekend’s Japanese Grand Prix.
The tyres are largely symbolic, although next season energy regenerating hybrid devices, which store energy otherwise lost during braking and convert it into power, will be introduced to Formula One.
This Kers (kinetic energy recovery system) technology is part of the FIA’s push to improve its environmental credentials and, ultimately, help increase awareness of fuel-efficient technology on public roads.
”The pressure on the modern world to address the causes of climate change is continually increasing and Formula One is not exempt from this,” Honda team principal Ross Brawn said in comments to the FIA.
”The FIA and the teams recognise that it is our responsibility to be involved in change for the good and to accelerate these changes through the technology and competition of F1.
”Honda has been developing more efficient and lower emission products for decades and the application of fuel-efficient and alternative fuel technologies has been intrinsic to our automotive product development.”
BMW Motorsport director Mario Theissen is equally supportive of the move to greener technology.
”BMW is in Formula One not just for marketing reasons, but also because the F1 programme can create technology synergies and innovations that can be carried over to road car development,” he said.
”If you look at what is required by future road cars, fuel economy/CO2 reduction is the top objective right now and for the foreseeable future. So it is clear that if we can do something in this area in F1 we will really benefit from it.”
Williams chief executive Adam Parr said Formula One had a responsibility to lead change with its image, ultimately, at stake.
”Our greenhouse gas emissions are insignificant. But in terms of perception the sport is associated with automobile manufacturers, fuel companies, private jets and so on,” he said.
”We have to appeal to a younger audience that is concerned about environmental issues.
”If we are to continue to flourish as a sport, grow our audience, attract sponsors and participants, then I think we have to do something about it.” — AFP
