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The Formula One Teams Association (FOTA) aims to cut the carbon footprint of Formula One emissions by 15% by 2012.

Trucost consultancy carried out an external and independent audit, resulting in a carbon reduction programme for Fota. whose chief operating officer is Richard Mattison. It found that the racing itself accounts for under 1% of Formula One?s emissions, with the majority of it being due to transporting equipment and people to each race.

Trucost?s Chief Operating Officer Richard Mattison explains: "We?ve been able to analyse all drivers of carbon emissions, from logistics right down to the engines themselves. There?s a lot of data in teams - more so than in most businesses - and we were able to analyse it and see how and where they were going to make reductions."

In 2013, Fota and the FIA ( the sport?s governing body, Federation Internationale de l) also hope to continue reducing their carbon impact by working on the 2013 technical regulations ?ensuring that all engines and powertrains used in Formula One by that date will showcase, and provide a platform for the ongoing development of, technologies designed to enhance fuel efficiency," according to Martin Whitmarsh, Fota chairman and team principal of Vodafone McLaren Mercedes.