The JDS Rali Ceredigion, winner of the Motorsport UK Environmental Sustainability Award, will take place between 30 August and 1 September.  

As well as the Motorsport UK British Rally Championship and Protyre Asphalt Championship, the event will host a round of the 2024 FIA European Rally Championship (ERC), in a move that will see this major international competition return to Wales for the first time in 28 years. 

Rali Ceredigion is the only rally in the UK to have achieved FIA environmental accreditation and is the first rally in the UK to introduce a class purely for electric vehicles. The route has been adapted to minimise unnecessary road miles, with a park and ride scheme to reduce spectator traffic movements and digital documentation in place to reduce paper usage. 

Established in 2012, the Motorsport UK Environmental Sustainability Award was created to acknowledge a truly exceptional achievement or contribution towards environmental responsibility and active promotion of sustainability within motorsport activities, events and communications. 

Motorsport UK Chairman David Richards CBE said: “The Environmental Sustainability Award is testament to Rali Ceredigion’s commitment to reducing its environmental impact and the organiser’s efforts to integrate sustainable practices. Their dedication to preserving the beautiful landscapes of Ceredigion and its surroundings, while still offering competitors and spectators thrilling experiences, showcases the harmonious coexistence of motorsport and environmental sustainability. 

“The event’s work in promoting eco-friendly practices is a shining example for all organisers. Motorsport UK is confident that Rali Ceredigion’s commitment to environmental sustainability will inspire other events to follow in their footsteps, ultimately contributing to a more sustainable future for our sport.” 

Chairman of the JDS Machinery Rali Ceredigion organising committee Phil Pugh was delighted to receive the award: 

“From the first time the event was held in 2019, we have focussed on sustainability. Each year, working together with our partners, we have explored new opportunities to decarbonise our event, implementing initiatives that will further reduce our impact on the environment, support local communities and educate people on options for lower-carbon transport.” 

In 2023 Rali Ceredigion offset 100 tCO2e via responsible and certified rewilding programmes in partnership with Carbon Positive Motorsport, one of the highest offsetting amounts by any rally event globally. 

About the event 

Rali Ceredigion ran for the first time in 2019 and in doing so, became the first ever stage rally held on closed public roads in Wales. The event was heralded a great success, an accolade that saw it extend over two days, with more competitive mileage and a spectator stage in Aberystwyth town centre when it ran for the second time in 2022. 

Building on achievements, organisers stepped things up further in 2023, increasing the length of the route, introducing further attractions for spectators and developing the rally’s sustainability credentials that saw it become the first UK rally awarded two-star FIA Environmental Accreditation.