The impact of motorsport on the environment
It is undeniable that motorsport has a notable impact on the environment, despite the improvements that have been made in recent years in vehicles used in motor competitions. While an average Spanish citizen generates between 5 and 7 tons of CO2 per year, a pilot like Alejandro Geppert generates almost double that: 5.7 tons of CO2 more than the average.
Kilometers without a footprint: a unique initiative
It is rare for a pilot to worry about the carbon footprint he generates and even less so to take measures to combat it. However, Alejandro Geppert is one of the few exceptions that we know of. He has launched an initiative called Kilometers without a footprint, through which he offsets the additional emissions he generates with concrete actions, such as planting trees during each competition season.
Alejandro Geppert’s career
Alejandro Geppert began his career in karting before entering the touring car discipline. Last year, he made the jump to the GT4 category with the aim of participating in the best world endurance races, such as the 24 Hours of Le Mans. His dream is to win this prestigious race as a factory driver, without leaving a CO2 footprint in the process.
Achievements and goals
At only 21 years old, Alejandro Geppert has already achieved important achievements in his career. He won the McLaren Trophy Europe event in Hockenheim and achieved fifth place in the GT4 Iberian Supercars. His main goal is to triumph in the 24 Hours of Le Mans as a factory driver, being the first to achieve this without leaving a CO2 footprint in the process.
Alejandro Geppert’s McLaren 570S GT4
The vehicle that Alejandro Geppert drives in these races is a McLaren 570S GT4 equipped with a 3,800 cubic centimeter biturbo engine that delivers 430 horsepower. This car features a Monocell II carbon monocoque chassis, a seven-speed dual-clutch sequential transmission, and reaches a top speed of 328 km/h.
Emissions offsetting and tree planting
During the 2022 season, Alejandro Geppert’s sporting activity generated the equivalent of 5,741 kilos of CO2, while last year this amount decreased to 4,309 kilos. As part of his Kilometers Without a Trace initiative, he has planted 100 and 83 trees in each of these seasons, respectively. These trees are carefully selected based on their variety and age to adapt to the terrain where they are located. The plantation includes holm oaks, oaks and stone pines.
Last planting and thanks
At the end of March, the last planting took place in the Valdelacasa Business Park in Alcobendas. On this occasion, 53 trees were planted, including holm oaks, oaks and stone pines. Alejandro Geppert thanks his collaborators, including the Alcobendas City Council, for making this initiative possible.
Promoting measures to reduce emissions
The Traceless Kilometers project not only seeks to offset the emissions of an individual driver, but also to promote measures to reduce emissions in the sport of motorsport. Alejandro Geppert is aware that there is a lot of room for improvement in terms of sustainability in this area. For this reason, he encourages teams and pilots to take measures to compensate for their footprint and look for less polluting propulsion systems. He also advocates for more ambitious environmental goals for organizing entities.
