A motor circuit project near Laon, in the Aisne, dedicated to electric mobility, should see the light of day. All self-powered by a photovoltaic park, a world first!
It has been years since a motor circuit project was to see the light of day near Laon, in the Aisne, on the site of a former military base. Faced with strong local opposition, particularly from environmentalists, it was finally decided to make it a space entirely dedicated to electric mobility, all self-powered by a photovoltaic park. A world first!
The ambition of the owner of the premises, the English MotorSport Vision, which already owns some of the most beautiful British circuits (Brands Hatch, Oulton Park, Snetterton, Donington Park…), is to create from scratch the very first “eco-tour” in the world. The initial project to run large supercars there was therefore abandoned, in favor of a circuit reserved for electric vehicles only.
The boss of MotorSport Vision is none other than former Formula 1 driver Jonathan Palmer. To carry out this ambitious project, he announces a circuit 100% turned towards electricity, but also a complex entirely powered by a dedicated photovoltaic power plant, of just over 300 hectares, installed on site. It should make it possible to provide all the energy necessary to operate the entire infrastructure as well as guarantee the recharging of all the vehicles that will come to drive on the circuit.
Jonathan Palmer wants to make this new circuit a reference in terms of eco-responsibility, a non-polluting and relatively quiet place, very far from the usual standards of a motor racing circuit.
The launch of this route, a little over three kilometers long, is nevertheless going in the direction of history, with the obligation imposed on manufacturers not to release any new thermal models in Europe by 2035. C It is therefore in France that the very first eco-responsible circuit could open in the next 4 to 5 years.