The Astara Team has saved 13.25 tons of CO2 at the halfway point of the 2024 Dakar Rally, equivalent to the emissions of the average passenger vehicle during 100,000 km. To absorb this amount of CO2 had it been emitted, 433 trees would need to be planted in one year.

This is possible thanks to the use of synthetic fuel in its competition vehicles, as well as the assistance vehicles and power generator. For the moment, the calculation does not consider the emissions from the team's travels. With this achievement, Astara demonstrates that it is possible to compete at the highest level – the Laia Sanz-Maurizio Gerini duo is currently in the 17th position in the overall car standings – in the most sustainable way.

In the words of Laia Sanz, “it is an honor to be part of an initiative that prioritizes sustainability during the competition. This year we are using a lighter engine with better performance, and our participation with the Astara 02 Concept is entirely emissions-neutral. It is important to participate in competitions like the Dakar Rally while being aware of our impact because it is the footprint we leave for future generations”.

According to Patricia Pita, whose participation has also been pivotal in promoting emissions savings, “this team has always stood out from the rest due to its awareness of engaging in environmentally-friendly competition. Being part of it and contributing to that sustainable commitment makes me proud. We are conveying a very important message."

In the world's greatest challenge of motorsports, Astara has been a pioneer in the use of synthetic fuel since 2022. The Astara 02 Concept, an evolution of last year's vehicle, has improved the formulation of synthetic fuel to achieve a completely neutral carbon footprint (zero emissions) in its competition vehicles, compared to 90% in 2023 and 70% in 2022, while also enhancing performance, aerodynamics, and propulsion.

Furthermore, with the goal of further reducing the carbon footprint during this 2024 edition, the team is also using renewable origin fuels in all its support and assistance vehicles.

Synthetic fuels are increasingly positioning themselves as one of the alternatives for transitioning from combustion engines to more sustainable mobility, and sports competitions should not be excluded from this new scenario. In Europe, the horizon of 2035 marks the end of the sale of vehicles with combustion engines, except for those using synthetic fuels.

The Astara Team was born with the premise of leading the transition towards sustainability in one of the world's most prominent motor competitions, the Dakar Rally. At the end of the competition, similar to previous years, the team will measure, report, and offset greenhouse gas emissions from all its operations and members, both direct and indirect. Additionally, emissions data for each stage will be made public, a practice not offered by any other team.

As in the previous edition, the process will be carried out transparently and certified by reputable independent organizations.