OK - I can hear you all collectively rolling your eyes right about now. We are so inundated with articles about “going green” and “global warming” or “healing the environment” that we’re all about to scream. But with all the exotic locations around the globe that we choose to host various auto racing events, an impact upon the local/surrounding environment should be considered.
Last week we heard about the environmental concerns surrounding the 2009 running of SCORE’s Primm 300 out in the Nevada desert. Apparently last year’s event was devastating to the desert tortoise, an animal that has been plagued with adversity in recent years as more development comes to the desert. Even out here in California we’ve heard about its plight and adjustments have been made to accommodate this important creature. SCORE was instructed by the Department of Fish & Game to forbid any “recon” maneuvers by teams prior to the race as it was discovered that the off-road scouting of the track was what caused the tortoise so much trouble. A lot of drivers (and fans) were outraged by the decision, but when you decide to run an event in an exotic location - such as a desert, near a wetland area or other protected/fragile region, environmental impact is definitely a concern.
A report was released today by the folks at FIA’s World Rally Championship Series that a study done on the recent Rally Australia had caused no significant impact on the area’s wildlife within the region. The top concern in this area was the endangered koala who has suffered many setbacks in recent years as well as other threatened species in the area of the rally’s route.
Perhaps other series will conduct studies on the impact of their chosen track locations in the future. While most series are set track driven - asphalt, dirt, etc. in large stadiums in pre-set locations - others like off-road, rally, etc. tend to have their races set in remote mountainous, wilderness locations where environmental impact should be a major consideration. As we evolve our ideas of what’s important to us all and weigh the impact that sports such as auto/motorcycle and even boat racing might have upon the surrounding area, we will all reap the benefits of such considerations and can look forward to a better future for all concerned.
