Rally Estonia, which hosted round eight of the FIA World Rally Championship, took place with the objective of becoming the first WRC fixture to compensate for emissions generated during the event.

Through a partnership with Estonian climate technology company KWOTA, it aimed to compensate for its carbon emission impact on the environment with the support of its fans.

Speaking ahead of the event, Rally Estonia Director Urmo Aava explained: “Every year, we make an effort to ensure that we have the lowest possible impact on the environment. This year we want to fully compensate for our footprint, but we cannot do it alone. That is why we need the support of all rally fans. By buying a KWOTA Token with a ticket, all rally fans can compensate for their footprint and make history together.”

According to KWOTA, 80 per cent of the sales from KWOTA Tokens were allocated directly to Estonian material producers, who used these funds to recycle further amounts of recyclable materials and thus increase carbon savings. The savings are validated against the KWOTA standard and the materials' journey is digitised to increase transparency. 

Rain Vääna, founder of KWOTA, said his company was taking an important step towards a more sustainable future in conjunction with Rally Estonia. “With every small contribution, we can create a significant impact on both the environment and Rally Estonia's ambition to become the world's most sustainable rally,” Vääna said. “I hope that this initiative will inspire other countries to follow the example of Rally Estonia and our rally fans.”

WRC Rally Estonia achieved the highest level of the FIA Environmental Accreditation Programme in 2022, and now wants to maintain this level and strive for further improvement.