ADAC Rallye Deutschland steps up its commitment to environmental protection

• Stronger experts team ensures the German WRC rally's eco-friendliness
• Expansion of successful pilot projects to make the event ever more sustainable

Munich. The ADAC Rallye Deutschland means motor sport at its best. However, this is by no means everything that brings the unique flair to the German WRC rally: the nature of the Saarland and the neighbouring regions also plays a major role in this. To conserve nature, ADAC has continuously improved the environmental concept of the event: again this year (16 to 19 August), we will see a stronger commitment and new measures.

Expanded environmental team and new environmental audit

The environmental team has welcomed another addition to the 2018 ADAC Rallye Deutschland: it now consists of 6 environmental experts from various disciplines ranging from geology to agricultural science to recycling. It was their task to ensure the eco-friendly planning of the itinerary, spectator areas, parking areas and roads before this year's event. In an authorisation procedure involving the Saarland Agency for Environmental and Labour Protection (LUA) and the Saarland Ministry for the Environment, the ADAC Rallye Deutschland was confirmed to be eco-friendly.

The environmental experts will also be on duty during the ADAC Rallye Deutschland: shortly before the first car starts into a Special Stage, they will inspect the track and check the setup for its eco-friendliness. After the event and removal of the Special Stages, it will be the experts' job to perform another check of the track: their 2017 review and the subsequent verification by the authorities did not show any negative environmental impact. The ADAC Rallye Deutschland has achieved its stated objective: leave nature in the rally region as intact as before the event.

Expansion of successful pilot projects

The environmental measures introduced last year in the framework of pilot projects have proved to be successful and will be expanded in 2018: at this year's event, eco-friendly materials will be used for the first time at 3 long Special Stages. This means a total of some 20,000 fully biodegradable zip ties and approx. 45km of recyclable plastic fencing. The latter comes EXW with a new fastening system that uses fewer zip ties. This alone helps cut the number of zip ties by approx. 5,000. It is intended to use eco-friendly materials at all Special Stages of the ADAC Rallye Deutschland from 2019.

Water and soil protection is key

There are a series of measures in place at the ADAC Rallye Deutschland to protect water and soil: the people working on the vehicles and handling hazmats in the AUTODOC Service Park must comply with detailed regulations. Water and soil protection at the Special Stages was advanced already last year: again in 2018, marshals at particularly sensitive route segments will be equipped with special materials binding oil, brake fluids and coolants to be able to provide rapid first aid in an environmental emergency. Fortunately, there were no incidents in 2017. The above measure complements the environmental emergency car: this first responder car, with experts on board, is on standby at any Special Stage and carries all the equipment and tools necessary to protect the soil and water as well as to recover and dispose of contaminated soil.

Optimised spectator management

Since spectators play a major role in the eco-friendliness of the ADAC Rallye Deutschland, ADAC has implemented improvements also in the area of spectator management. This is based on the shortest possible access routes and will be the case in 2018 because of the closeness of the Special Stages and the central location of the AUTODOC Service Park. In addition, the design of the spectator guidance system will be improved. It will systematically lead the fans from motorways or extra-urban roads to the selected car park to prevent unnecessary traffic. A free shuttle bus service will take spectators to the St Wendel Super Special Stage (16 August) and the highlights of the Panzerplatte stages (18 August). The barriers along the paths and areas at the Special Stages serve both for spectator safety and the protection of particularly sensitive natural habitats. The marshals will strictly ensure that nobody enters no-go areas. A dense network of waste bins and sanitary facilities helps spectators to show their best eco-friendly behaviour.

ADAC Rallye Deutschland eco tips at a glance:

• Follow the spectator guidance system.
• Use the free shuttle bus services (St Wendel & Panzerplatte SS).
• Keep to the designated roadways and spectator areas.
• Stay out of no-go areas.
• Try not to generate waste.
• Dispose of your litter in one of the 6,800 rubbish bags provided at the event.
• No smoking or open fires in the woods.
• Camp only on official campsites.
• Use the sanitary facilities.
• Set an example to the other fans!

Get your rally and day passes in pre-sale now!

Passes for the ADAC Rallye Deutschland are available from the official ticket shop on the web: go to www.adac.de/rallye-deutschland (under the Tickets tab) to get your four-day rally passes or day tickets (Thursday, Friday, Saturday or Sunday). Pre-sale buyers will enjoy discounts and an attractive package offer that includes the official event magazine. Just like last year, the pre-sale price of a rally pass package is EUR70 (EUR65 for ADAC members). Day passes are available for EUR35 exclusively in pre-sale. During the ADAC Rallye Deutschland, the regular price for a rally pass will be EUR80 at all on-site sales points.

The rally passes cover:

• Access to all Special Stages on all days
• Access to the AUTODOC Service Park on all days
• Access to the Shakedown on Thursday
• A spectator map providing all the essential information about the rally
• ADAC Rallye Deutschland lanyard
• ADAC Rallye Deutschland sticker
• ADAC Rallye Deutschland magazine (in German with essential information in English and French)

ADAC Rallye Deutschland information:

The ADAC Rallye Deutschland has a unique worldwide reputation. Its mix of hairpin stages in the vineyards, tough tracks on the Baumholder tank range and fast asphalt roads presents extreme challenges for both the teams and the drivers. Excellent driving skills and versatility are of the essence here. Diversity, high-class action and closeness to the fans are the ingredients that make the ADAC Rallye Deutschland such an attractive package for spectators as well. Year after year, this major event draws enthusiastic crowds from all over Europe, giving it a special, international atmosphere.