World RX strengthens sustainability credentials

As the FIA World Rallycross Championship races towards a more environmentally-friendly future in its exciting new electric era, a further two key building blocks have recently slotted into place, with the appointment of a dedicated Sustainability Manager and Sustainability Project Specialist.

Sustainability is an integral element of all World RX activities, and with the transformation in the wider automotive industry creating a number of challenges and opportunities, Santiago Peña Gomez and Vincent Krohne have joined the WRC Promoter family – which alongside World RX, run by Rallycross Promoter GmbH, incorporates both the FIA World Rally Championship and FIA European Rally Championship – to focus on the topic.

Sustainability Manager Santiago practised intellectual property law for five years in his hometown of Bogotá in Colombia, where he advised sports organisations such as FIFA, UEFA and Nike in trademark prosecution matters.

He subsequently moved to Lausanne, Switzerland, where he pursued a Masters’ degree in sports management, collaborated with UEFA on a women’s football development project and got his first experience of sustainability in sport at the International Olympic Committee, showcasing the best sustainability initiatives among 17 International Sports Federations and National Olympic Committees.

Santiago’s enthusiasm for racing then took him to the FIA in Paris, where he worked in the motorsport and mobility spheres as Sustainable Mobility Programmes Manager, leading projects such as the FIA Smart Cities initiative, the Environmental Accreditation Programme for mobility stakeholders and the mobility secretariat of the Environment & Sustainability Commission.

“My passion for motorsport played a natural role in my decision to join the Promoter, but beyond that is my true belief that the innovations and technologies trialled in the sport are pivotal to developing sustainability solutions and helping to tackle the climate crisis,” he explained.

“I am eager not only to contribute to improving the sustainability and innovation outlook of rallycross, but also to communicate the wealth of contributions that this sport can bring to society.”

Sustainability Project Specialist Vincent developed a passion for sustainability while finishing his BA in Business Management in Sydney, Australia. Following his degree, he worked for a property fund management company on implementing ESG criteria in the acquisition process of various funds, as well as developing sustainable solutions for the organisation’s existing portfolio.

“Joining the Promoter gives me the chance to bring my passion to an area not typically associated with sustainability,” he reasoned. “The innovations and technologies developed and displayed in motorsport offer amazing opportunities to bring significant changes to everyday technologies and, therefore, help to fight the climate crisis.

“With its new electric era, World RX in particular sets a great example of how a championship can deploy new technologies and develop advances for road cars and other appliances. Communicating past and future achievements to a wider audience is a task I am looking forward to, and I’m honoured to be part of a team that will develop the world of rallycross into an example of innovation and sustainable management standards.”