The project to build a 'green' race track for electric vehicles

PARIS: For years, a project to build a motor racing circuit has been envisioned near Laon, in the Aisne region of France, on the site of a former military base.

Faced with strong local opposition, especially from environmentalists, it was finally decided to make the track a destination dedicated entirely to electric vehicles, with on-site power provided by a solar park. A world first!

The site's owner, the British company MotorSport Vision — which already owns some of the UK's most prestigious race tracks (Brands Hatch, Oulton Park, Snetterton, Donington Park, etc.) — is to create from scratch the world's very first "eco race track."

The initial project to race powerful supercars at the site has been abandoned in favour of a circuit reserved for electric vehicles only.

At the helm of MotorSport Vision is none other than the former Formula 1 driver, Jonathan Palmer.

As part of this ambitious project, he announced a 100% electric race track, but also a complex entirely powered by a dedicated solar park, spanning a little more than 300 hectares, and installed directly on-site. This should be able to provide all the energy needed to operate the site's infrastructure, as well as ensuring electric vehicle charging.

Palmer hopes to make this new "green" race track a reference in terms of eco-responsibility, as a non-polluting and relatively quiet place, far from the usual image of a motor-racing track.

Moreover, the launch of this race track, which is just over three kilometers long, falls in line with current industry trends, since manufacturers will be obliged to stop selling new combustion engine cars in Europe by 2035.

As such, France looks set to be home to the world's first "eco race track," expected to open in the next four to five years.