Speyside Stages sets the pace for a sustainable rally season

This weekend sees the Scottish Rally Championship season burst into life in Elgin with the McDonald and Munro Speyside Stages, for what promises to be another season of intense competition.

The event is working in partnership with Carbon Positive Motorsport by offering all competitors the opportunity to offset 200% of their competition-based carbon emissions generated during the event using a combination of a world class local carbon offsetting project based at Loch Ness and Carbon Reduction Units.

Jock Armstrong has been a Carbon Positive Motorsport ambassador since the first year of the initiative.

This year’s event once again brings together several of Carbon Positive Motorsports ambassadors who support the carbon offsetting initiative by raising awareness of the benefits to the sport and the environment through competing with their carbon emissions being offset. They include multiple winner David Bogie, and Jock Armstrong, John Wink, Willie Patterson, Niall Cowan Jnr and local crew Brett McKenzie/Barry Young.

Niall Cowan Jnr is well known for his involvement in the MG3 championship which is part of this year’s Scottish Championship.

Speaking ahead of the event co-driver Barry Young said,  “As a local to Elgin, my driver Brett is excited to be competing again on his home ground. Our last event on gravel was the Snowman Rally back in October where we achieved an excellent 17th overall. With some tough competition on the Speyside, it’s going to be a challenge to replicate that result, but we are looking forward to getting back into the rhythm again.”

Brett McKenzie and Barry Young are looking forward to a strong result on their local round.

Carbon positive motorsport director, Paul Glass added, “It’s great to be supporting the McDonald & Munro Speyside Stages again, for what will be the fourth year in succession, especially with so many of our Positive About Motorsport ambassadors featuring as part of the entry and helping us to promote our initiative and our message to go greener - faster!

"Since our launch in 2022 competitors and events such as the Speyside Stages have helped to enable offsetting of over 1,000,000 kg CO2e, and it’s great to know that most of this has been possible through the use of our world class carbon offsetting project located locally at Loch Ness.“

The Loch Ness Carbon Offsetting Project that is exclusively used by Carbon Positive Motorsport.

 

“It’s an incredible figure, but there is still so much more we need to do to help make our sport and the environment sustainable for future generations to enjoy. By investing in high integrity carbon offsetting projects as we do, we can meaningfully offset emissions by capturing more carbon than is generated by the competitors who will include offsetting on this year’s event. Thank you to all those who chose to offset their emissions.”

As the 2025 Scottish Rally Championship gets underway, the McDonald and Munro Speyside Stages has once again shown how rallying can move forward with a clear focus on sustainability. With increasing support from competitors and ambassadors who are choosing to offset their emissions, the event reflects a growing awareness of the positive changes we can all contribute to within the sport.

At Carbon Positive Motorsport, we’re proud to continue working alongside organisers and competitors who share our vision for a more sustainable future. Thanks to initiatives like our locally-based carbon offsetting project at Loch Ness, and the commitment of our ambassadors, we’re helping to reduce the environmental impact of motorsport - while keeping the spirit of competition alive.

If you're competing this season, why not go the extra mile and offset your full championship?

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