The Saudi Automobile and Motorcycle Federation (SAMF) — a leading sports entity that supports and supervises motorsport activities in the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia — has expressed its utmost support for "Dakar Future", a transformative energy transition plan dedicated to fostering green innovation in the world of rally raids. Spearheaded by the Dakar Rally, "Dakar Future" aims to ensure that, by the year 2030, all participants involved in the event are to utilize low-emissions vehicles, and that emissions related to the logistics of the organization are also reduced significantly. The sustainability program — which was first announced after Stage 9 of the 2021 edition of the Dakar Rally held in NEOM, Saudi Arabia — aligns with NEOM's unveiling of THE LINE, a revolution in urban life that promises carbon positive residential developments powered by 100% clean energy. Here, approximately one million residents will be connected via a 170-km belt of communities in completely natural surroundings, free of cars and streets, extending 460 km along the coast of the Red Sea. The Dakar Rally will be using future events as an "open-air laboratory" to stimulate, test and validate the technical advances made by the constructors to ensure that the race vehicles of today are the production vehicles of tomorrow. For example, next year's edition, in 2022, will see the launch of a new T1-E category for low-carbon emission prototypes. By 2026, all the vehicles driven by Elite competitors in the car and truck categories of the Dakar Rally will be subject to new ultra-low emission standards. After a few years, the technology is expected to enable amateur competitors to obtain vehicles that meet the same environmentally friendly standards. Therefore, by 2030, both car and truck categories will be fully powered by alternative energy with zero emissions. Commenting on Dakar Rally's positioning with the Saudi Vision 2030, Prince Khalid Bin Sultan Al Abdullah Al Faisal, chairman of SAMF, stated: "SAMF welcomes environmentally effective innovation and technology, and we are keen to harness our capabilities for such causes, with thanks to the unlimited support of the Custodian of the Two Holy Mosques, King Salman and Crown Prince Muhammad Bin Salman. "We are also grateful for the trust of Prince Abdulaziz Bin Turki Al-Faisal, minister of sports, and the dedication to Vision 2030 to develop and support such exciting innovations, which have become the norm during the construction of the city of NEOM. Not only will it be one of the world's smartest cities, but it is also set to become a spectacular environmentally friendly tourist destination for the whole world." Prince Khalid added: "What makes us especially proud of this plan for a more sustainable future is that it arrives in conjunction with the announcement of the first phase of NEOM, made by the Crown Prince. This is just a small part of the forward-thinking, ambitious and wise vision of the leadership of our Kingdom, a continuous endeavor to ensure a bright future and prosperity for all citizens." "Dakar Future" not only aims to ensure that all participants involved in the event are to utilize low-emissions vehicles, but that emissions related to the logistics of the organization are also reduced significantly. This includes temporary accommodation camps 100% powered by renewable energy, shipping, the use of recyclable materials, and a number of other factors directly or indirectly related to the event. Part of Vision 2030, which is dedicated to investing in people and striving for development, progress, and prosperity, is to secure new sources of energy, as outlined by the Council of Economic and Development Affairs (CEDA). — SG
