Sydney Motorsport Park (SMSP) has made history, with the Australian Racing Drivers’ Club (ARDC) announcing the circuit, managed in partnership with the NSW Government, has received Australia’s first and only sustainability accreditation from the FIA.
Recognised by motorsport’s global governing body, the Federation Internationale de l’Automobile (FIA), as part of its Environmental Accreditation Programme, this places SMSP among an elite group of just 19 world-class venues that have earned this honour.
Importantly, the Aussie track not only joins tracks like Silverstone, Monza, Imola, and Mugello, but also advances directly to a two-star rating out of a possible three stars, thanks to its impressive progress in the field of sustainability.
In July of this year, SMSP again retained its status as Australia’s most sustainable
circuit in the global Sustainable Circuits Index, which it has held since 2021. It’s also the only permanent racetrack in Australia to receive a ranking.
“Sustainability in motorsport is so much more than repurposing consumables like
tyres, it’s about adapting a mindset towards more environmentally friendly methods
and processes,” ARDC sustainability manager Tan Nguyen said.
“Most importantly, however, it’s about instilling a culture of constant improvement.”
ARDC CEO Glenn Matthews echoed Tan’s sentiments, and acknowledged that
tackling sustainability is a shared responsibility, with the outcome achieved with the support of partners like Closed Loop and Asahi.
As a major drawcard in the Supercars season race calendar, the night round held at
SMSP in July once again saw the multi-faceted entertainment precinct beat its own
sustainability performance, diverting 76% of waste generated from landfill.
“Like every facet of our sport, sustainability is a team effort and something we aspire
to do together,” Supercars COO Tim Watsford said.
“The ARDC and its running of Sydney Motorsport Park is the gold standard for
sustainable best practise in Australia, and we relish the opportunity to continue to
push each other to improve and reach for even better outcomes in the future.”
With several months still to go, 2024 is continuing to shape up as another strong
year of sustainable performance for the ARDC and SMSP, with the circuit already
achieving outstanding results.
To the end of September, they’ve processed 894.7m3 of waste, with 650.5m3 saved from landfill through recycling, repurposing, and composting. Some 6700 litres of cooking and motor oil has bee recycled and used for other purposed, such as biodiesel.
More than 60,000 coffee cups have been recycled and sent for upcycling projects, including
building and construction materials. All waste was hand sorted on-site into nine distinct waste streams as well.
