NewswireTODAY - /newswire/ - Chennai, Tamil Nadu, India, 2007/12/29 - On the last day of 2007 Besant Nagar Beach in Chennai, India will see a group of over 60 international adventure aficionados take the helm of 26 autorickshaws, as they set off on their 1024KM race to Kannyakumari. This time though, they’re going green.

South India’s internationally renowned Classic Autorickshaw Challenge became famous in 2006 for its ground breaking move into adventure tourism and the autorickshaw rally scene. This year organisers are taking their responsibilities to the environment one step further with the implementation of a carbon-offsetting scheme, which will see the development of sustainable local agriculture and the planting of trees in Tiruvannamalai. With this simple but historic move, the CEAT Classic Autorickshaw Challenge 2007 becomes the world's first environmentally responsible motor sport event.
For lovers of motor sports, rallies and racing, the guilt of environmental impact can be a difficult subject. The organizers of the CEAT Classic Autorickshaw Challenge 2007 are very aware of this compromise and in conjunction with ‘Trees for the Future’ have developed a scheme in which the total CO2 emissions of the rally will be offset. ‘Trees for the Future’ is an NGO which specializes in seed distribution, agro forestry training, and helping communities around the world plant trees; and they will facilitate the voluntarily planting of over 6,000 trees in the Tamil Nadu village of Tiruvannamalai.

Hailed as "An amazing race for the clinically insane", the Autorickshaw Challenge supports teams through every type of micro-climate possible; from major cities to off-the-map rural villages. The group of 67 like minded international participants are privileged to an intimate journey of cultural experiences, of both land and people. Past Autorickshaw Challenges have focused on improving educational supplies and resources, this year the participants will respond to their environmental conscience too. Future events will continue the success their charitable commitment; this however will be the first time that the environment will receive an equal place in the planning and execution of an expedition level event. Chennai Event Management Services, the organizers behind the Challenges, hope that the success of this hugely innovative program will be a pivotal development for the larger motor sports and tourism industries.

Every tangible aspect of the race has been figured into the carbon "sequestering" quota; from the carbon footprint of the participants' flights to the support vehicles to the baggage transport. At present international certification standards for this form of agro forestry are non-existent, both the organizers and Trees for the Future have therefore pioneered a program design specifically for the race. It is with this forward thinking style of organisation that Chennai Event Management Services hope to see a new era of environmental accountability.

Agency / Source: Chennai Event Management Services

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