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28^th September 2006 (Source: Autosport Magazine )

In a letter to Autosport magazine, Ian Pearson MP, formerly of the DTI and now the Minister for Climate Change and the Environment, wrote of the potential for motorsport to help develop green technologies and change the image of environmentally-friendly fuels and technology. This letter was prompted by Autosport's feature on green motorsport published in July, which featured a test of the EEMS-sponsored bio-ethanol Astra running in this year's British Touring Car Championship. Here is the text of Dr Pearson's letter to Autosport Deputy Editor, Gemma Briggs, which was published on 14 September 2006:

Dear Gemma,

I read with great interest the special report on green motorsport (Autosport, July 27) and welcome your efforts to raise the profile of this issue. I wanted to offer a Government perspective.

The opportunities for motorsport 'going green' are twofold. First, the intense and focused competition of the sport can help to stimulate innovative new technologies - whether involving the use of alternative and renewable fuels of more energy-efficient engine and vehicle design. Once their potential is demonstrated, these can be taken up by the wider automotive industry. Second the sport can showcase environmental technologies, raising public awareness and demonstrating beyond doubt that better environmental performance need not mean compromising on speed and excitement.

That fits well with Max Mosley's vision for F1 in your feature and it is certainly the philosophy of Energy Efficient Motorsport (EEMS), which sponsors the bio-ethanol powered Astra Coupé that Warren Hughes tested for you. Not only does Government support the idea of EEMS but the programmed itself is funded by the Department of Trade and Industry.

Bio-fuels are of course also of great interest to DEFRA, where we are working to promote the development of technologies that can tackle climate change and protect our natural resource base, at the same time as improving competitiveness. Bio-fuels are a great opportunity for British farmers as well as benefiting the environment. Any of your readers wanting to find out more can do so at www.defra.gov.uk or eemsonline.co.uk.

So in summary, Government does care about this issue, we support your campaign and we are taking practical steps to help motorsport go green.

Sincerely,

Ian Pearson MP
Minister of State for Climate Change and the Environment.

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