Drivers from the Rally 6 Cities North of Portugal (October 23/25), including Pedro Almeida, Martins Sesks, Josh McErlean, José Pedro Fontes, Pedro Meireles, Ricardo Teodósio, and Guilherme Meireles, took part this Thursday in a tree-planting event on Monte da Penha. The initiative, promoted by the Municipality of Guimarães in partnership with the Irmandade da Penha, is part of Guimarães's commitment as European Green Capital 2026 and its goal of climate neutrality by 2030.
The municipality of Guimarães, part of the group of 100 European cities committed to climate neutrality by 2030, aims with this action to leave a legacy and mitigate the ecological footprint of motorsport events. Alberto Martins, Councilor for Environment and Sustainability of the Guimarães City Council, highlighted the symbolic importance of the action in the 'green lung of Guimarães', emphasizing the balance between hosting major events and environmental preservation.
Since 2022, rally cars in the Rally2 and Rally3 categories have been using 100% sustainable and fossil-free fuels, following the FIA's environmental policy. The promotion of sustainability in sporting events is a moral obligation, with an increasing number of competitions including tree-planting actions.
Manuel Roriz Mendes, president of the Irmandade da Penha, emphasized the importance of the chosen species, the strawberry tree, for its ability to provide food for local birds and contribute to biodiversity. The Irmandade da Penha, a religious and social organization, is the 'guardian' of the religious, environmental, and cultural heritage of Monte da Penha.
The Rally 6 Cities North of Portugal is the seventh and final round of the European Rally Championship (ERC) and the penultimate round of the Portuguese Rally Championship, bringing together elite young international drivers aspiring to become future stars of the World Rally Championship (WRC).
