▪ARDC welcomes motorsport industry stakeholders and thought-leaders to its first-ever Sustainability in Motorsport Roundtable
▪Sydney Motorsport Park continues to lead the way as Australia’s #1 venue on the global Sustainable Circuits Index™
▪Supercars begins its own sustainability journey with a range of initiatives and programmes
March 1 , 2024: The Australian Racing Drivers’ Club (ARDC), operators of Sydney Motorsport Park (SMSP), has welcomed Australia’s motorsport industry to its first-ever Sustainability in Motorsport Roundtable this week.
The roundtable, hosted at the recently-opened Australian Motorsport and Innovation Precinct (AMIP) along the main straight at SMSP, was attended by thought-leaders, delegates and ARDC board members, all coming to learn more about the positive steps Australia’s leading permanent motorsport circuit is taking towards greater sustainability at the venue, and to understand the shared objectives of Australia’s major motorsport entities.
Under the ARDC’s stewardship, SMSP continues to be ranked Australia’s number-one venue on the global Sustainable Circuits Index™ – a ranking it has maintained since the Index was first published in 2021. Like everything in motorsport, this achievement has been a team effort with industry stakeholders, partners, suppliers and venue hirers all contributing; a result that ratifies the ARDC Board and management’s strategic vision.
Providing attendees with an update on projects at SMSP the ARDC revealed that through significant improvements to EV charging infrastructure, new and existing partnerships with suppliers, and impressive landfill diversion results, 2023 was a year for sustainability at SMSP, with 2024 to continue that focus.
However, just as in motor racing, being in front comes with its own set of pressures and responsibilities; which is why the venue continues to look for new initiatives for SMSP and to encourage collaboration with all stakeholders.
Speaking at the roundtable, Supercars Chief Operating Officer, Tim Watsford, stressed the importance of motorsport playing its part in sustainability.
“We have begun our journey; we’re the biggest motorsport category in Australia and we want to get it right,” Mr. Watsford explained.
As a leading Australian sport and premiere motorsport category, Supercars is already taking several key steps to reduce its environmental impact, with its lower carbon bp E75 racing fuel, tyre recycling programme and a host of initiatives to address waste reduction, energy management, transport and water conservation.
ARDC CEO, Glenn Matthews, explained why the time was right to host the club’s first sustainability roundtable with industry colleagues:
“As a venue, Sydney Motorsport Park continues to lead the way in pushing for sustainable practises in everything it does, but we can’t do it alone. We rely on the support of our partners and collaborators to achieve the results we have in 2023,” Mr. Matthews said.
“Our first-ever Sustainability in Motorsport Roundtable is a chance to share ideas and find new ways of working together. When the ARDC opened its AMIP facility in mid-2023, we did so with the promise that it would be a centre of excellence, and a home of progressive thinking for the motorsport industry – the discussions and shared insights from this week are just another example of the ARDC fulfilling that promise,” he continued.
ARDC Sustainability Workshop in Focus: The Speakers
Speaking at the Sustainability in Motorsport Roundtable is a panel of leaders from all sides of the industry, covering topics that speak to addressing the future of motorsport with a greener, more sustainable approach.
Dr. Cristiana Pace, CEng – CEO, Enovation Consulting UK
Illuminating the latest sustainability trends in motorsport, decorated engineer, FIA consultant and former commission member, Cristiana Pace, discussed the Sustainable Motorsport Index™, citing case studies from the UK’s Silverstone Circuit, and SMSP’s progress in obtaining FIA 2-Star Accreditation.
Joe Costanzo – CTO, PMY Group
As a major partner of the ARDC and SMSP, global tech giant, PMY Group’s Joe Costanzo’s discussion at the roundtable focused on how increased technology uptake has positive implications for sustainability – using SMSP as proof-positive of this insight.
Prof. Richard Hopkins – University of NSW, Walkinshaw Andretti United
Former Red Bull F1 COO, Sunswift Solar Racing Team Principal and inaugural AMIP ambassador, Professor Richard Hopkins, shared insights on creating a sustainable formula, developed over a career living in the pits, and the winners’ circle, of elite motor racing.
Tim Watsford – COO, Supercars
As Chief Operating Officer of Australia’s premier racing category and event series, Supercars’ Tim Watsford spoke with attendees on how the sport is addressing its responsibilities towards a greener future, and what are some of the key areas of
attention that the category is focusing on right now, as new technologies come to the fore.
Robert Pascoe – CEO, Closed Loop Environmental Solutions
A significant contributor to SMSP’s continued efforts toward increased venue and operations sustainability is through its partnership with Closed Loop. At the roundtable, Closed Loop CEO Robert Pascoe delved into the organisation’s own approach to the circular economy.
Tan Nguyen – Sustainability Manager, Australian Racing Drivers’ Club Providing an insight to the ARDC’s own journey, Sustainability Manager, Tan Nguyen, gave guests an update on the club’s activities and sustainability projects at SMSP, along with highlighting the achievements over the past decade.
Glenn Matthews – CEO, Australian Racing Drivers’ Club
The ARDC’s CEO, Glenn Matthews, concluded the roundtable and thanked the speakers, while at the same time stoked further discussion and debate about maintaining a sustainable mindset, which all speakers agreed must permeate motorsport at all levels for future success.
<ENDS>
For more information or to request an interview with ARDC CEO, Mr, Glenn Matthews, or the Sustainability Roundtable guest speakers, please contact:
Peter Larum
Chief Marketing Officer
ARDC/Sydney Motorsport Park
E: peter@ardc.com.au
M: +61 419 732 029
Kurt McGuiness
Founder
PRIMAL Storytelling
E: kurt@weareprimal.com.au
M: +61 413 135 334
Link: http://sustainability.smsp.com.au
