Based on the audit conducted on 19 July 2017, one of the most famous events of the FIA World Rally Championship, Rally Finland, has attained Achievement of Excellence level against the FIA Environmental Certification Framework. It joins a list of other high-profile events at this level of accreditation, including: Rally Sweden, Rally Australia, Wales Rally GB, Rally de Portugal, the Circuit de Barcelona-Catalunya and Mugello Circuit. Others that have meet the FIA Environmental Accreditation requirements are listed here.

Rally Finland was previously accredited against the “Progress towards Excellence” in 2014, and their key improvement areas have since been linked to the content of the Environmental Policy commitment, with clearly defined objectives and targets and also developed procedures to monitor the impacts of the rally.

Both Environmental Management and Key Environmental Impact Areas were audited.

The event demonstrated that environmental performance during the event has been well implemented and the policies and monitoring that are in place show a clear commitment to environmental best practice.

In addition, the appointment of the General Manager as Environmental Champion sends a strong message about the organisation’s prioritisation of environmental issues.

Jani Backmann, Promoter of Rally Finland, said: “As Neste Rally Finland event organizer, we achieved the second level of the FIA Sustainable Programme, Progress towards Excellence in 2014. Since then we have concentrated to increase our environmental performance in all the main areas of the event, especially with good co-operation with our partners and stakeholders concerning to energy production and logistics. Achievement of Excellence level of the FIA Environmental Certification Framework has been our main target since the previous accreditation.”

For other events seeking similar accreditation – they can contact the FIA and initiate a dialogue with the aim to achieve Environmental Accreditation that are aligned to their level of resources and activities. There are several tools that can be used as an initial step which are available on the FIA website here.

The FIA welcome all that will contribute to the FIA Action for Environment campaign.