This year, the organisations of the 57th RallyRACC Catalunya-COSTA DAURADA introduced new actions to reduce the carbon footprint generated by the event, adding to and reinforcing measures that had been previously implemented. 

With these initiatives, RallyRACC strives to reduce the environmental impact of the round. Since 2017, the event has obtained the FIA Sustainability Excellence Certificate. This is the highest seal of quality with which the FIAdistinguishes the commitment to sustainability, as well as accrediting the implementation of effective initiatives that minimise environmental impact.

One of the main novelties this year was a new directive which urged all priority teams to use synthetic fuels that generate zero emissions during the competition – a measure which aim was to contribute substantially to the reduction of the global pollution generated during the rally, as well as guaranteeing the sustainability of the event. 

The event organisers want to take further steps by introducing other measures that compensate for 100% of the emissions they generate, as well as neutralising those that cannot be completely reduced: with actions linked to the environmental initiatives that are carried out at Costa Daurada, the area where the rally takes place.

In the area of waste management, a project is planned to be launched to accelerate the collection of waste generated immediately after the end of each stage, with the deployment of a truck that will manage it as efficiently and quickly as possible. 

Seventy percent of the waste generated is packaging, so an awareness campaign has also been launched to encourage the disposal of it in the appropriate garbage container (located on the stage), as well as to take care of the rest of the waste generated. Thus, this waste can be treated as packaging specifically, with the consequent reuse and associated emissions savings.

On the other hand, this edition also renewed the regulation that prohibits cleaning vehicles in the service area, with the obligation to do it in a place provided by the organisation with a closed water circuit and waste water treatmentAs in previous editions, this rental tunnel was incorporated accordingly into the Road Book so that all teams could pass through it before returning to the service area.

In 2017, the RallyRACC Catalunya-COSTA DAURADA became one of the first entity in the world to obtain the FIA Sustainability Excellence Certificate. This recognition, which continued to be shown in the following years, has been successfully maintained until this year’s edition, placing the event among the most sustainable in the world, and allowing it to achieve an objective which has been a key priority for the last three years.

Summary of the main environmental actions of the RallyRACC:

• To compensate for 100% of the emissions generated by the organisation of the RallyRACC within the territorial area in which the competition is held.
• To study the way to also compensate for the emissions of the attending public and the participating teams.
• Minimise vehicle travel by the organisation and use hybrid and electric vehicles when indispensable.
• Test a new waste collection model in some sections immediately after finishing each race.
• Install a special waste recycling area, as well as recycling bins for plastic, paper, glass, organic material and garbage at the service area.
• Create an action plan for accidents that may have an environmental impact, in coordination with security forces such as firefighters, Catalan police forces (Mossos) and the local police.
• Enable an area to clean cars complying with the requirements of the legislation for the collection and recycling of water.

Try to reduce energy consumption in the service area, as well as in the organisation's facilities.

About the Royal Automobile Club of Catalonia (RACC) 
RACC is Spain’s largest mobility club and offers high-quality coverage and services to meet the needs of more than 10 million people around the world. It specialises in providing personal, family, mechanical, emergency health and home care assistance, and has the largest network of driving schools in Spain. In order to cover their needs, the organisation provides more than 1,000,000 assistances every year and manages more than 425,000 insurance policies from different branches. RACC promotes a safer and more sustainable and accessible mobility, and has a great reach and influence on issues related to improving road safety and infrastructure, and to reducing accidents.