The WRC’s stars joined forces at last weekend’s Vodafone Rally de Portugal to promote a set of simple tips urging fans to respect the environment whilst enjoying the action.

Ten drivers from the four manufacturer teams, including world champion Sébastien Ogier, fellow Frenchman Sébastien Loeb, rally winner Ott Tänak and Elfyn Evans contributed to a video from the FIA aimed at managing waste and promoting sustainability.

The rally finished three days before the UN’s World Environmental Day today (Wednesday) and organiser Automóvel Club de Portugal reinforced its determination to revalidate its FIA Sustainability three-star level for environmental practices.

The WRC is the first FIA world championship to have made top-level environmental accreditation compulsory for all events since 2016 and Portugal is at the forefront of those advances.

Recycling bags and oil spill kits were made available to all competitors and environmental teams were on hand at spectator areas to educate spectators on the correct separation of waste into plastic, glass, paper and unsorted waste.

Eco-marshals passed on environmental information and promoted the use of recycling zones, ensuring areas were cleared as soon as possible to avoid possible long-term damage to the ecosystem.

WRC Promoter managing director Oliver Ciesla said high-level environmental practices were as essential in the WRC as in everyday life and the efforts made by all events to obtain top-level accreditation should be applauded.

“Chile, a new entrant to the WRC, is already on target to achieve this in its first year, just as Rally Turkey did in its first year in 2018.

“Achieving a neutral CO2 balance across all aspects of a rally weekend is a key focus of our discussions with existing and potential new events. The championship is proud of its achievements in this field and honoured to also highlight them to our partners,” he added.

Dani Sordo is pictured with a team of environmental volunteers in charge of waste collection and education in spectator zones. You can watch the WRC drivers’ message to fans below.

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