Motorsport business powers ahead ‘climate positive’ offer

A new Yorkshire business is the first in the UK to offer businesses and motorsport enthusiasts the opportunity to have a positive impact on the environment, while racing sports cars around top UK and European circuits.

Hype Motorsport is the brainchild of Leeds-based motorsport industry expert and ex-Ginetta team member, Ben Hyland and Southampton based co-founder Mike Jarvis.

The pair have invested more than £300,000 in the business which is now designated ‘ClimatePositive’ thanks to carbon offsetting through SCB, a low-carbon commodity company which redresses and improves on the carbon footprint left by businesses and individuals.

Hype Motorsport will host corporate and group track days for up to 12 people, at circuits including Silverstone, Brands Hatch and Donington Park, as well as across Europe at tracks such as Spa in Belgium.

Professional instructors, including the likes of British Touring Car Championship driver, Jake Hill and FIA World Endurance Championship driver Alex Brundle, have also joined the Hype Motorsport team to offer training and guidance, so drivers can push themselves to their limits.

The cars benefit from extensive track modifications to improve performance and racing reliability, and include a BMW M2 Competition, a Porsche Cayman GTS and an Alpine A110.

Hyland previously ran Pole Position Indoor Karting in Leeds before joining forces with Jarvis to launch want2race, which was based at Donington Park and became the UK’s biggest novice racing driver competition.

In 2019, want2race was acquired by Ginetta and Hyland spent the next two and a half years continuing to develop want2race under the renowned sports car brand’s umbrella.

Hyland said: “Having spent the last two decades working in motorsport and hosting race days and track events, there has been a huge shift in the market, which has been driven by people waking up to the environmental impact of all our decisions.

“As someone who is truly passionate about motorsport, but also concerned about the future of our planet, I was keen to explore how we could improve what we do and create a superb experience for petrol-heads with a conscience.

“We want to offer a pure driving experience that doesn’t cost the Earth, so we’ve worked closely with SCB Group to develop our offering and we’re proud to feature their ClimatePositive seal of assurance.

“The organisation has scrutinised every aspect of our business, from the actual events and cars, through to considering how both our team and guests will travel to the circuits and where they will stay, to ensure we not only compensate for ‘neutral’ carbon emissions – we go further to become climate positive by at least 25%.

“Plus, everyone attending our events will benefit from offsetting the carbon from their road car for 12 months and receive a ClimatePositive car badge to show their vehicle is giving back more to the environment than it’s taking.”

Pauline Tainton, from SCB Group, added: “When we heard about Hype Motorsport’s ambitions, we knew it was a perfect fit for us and we’re glad to be involved.

“We’ve examined all areas of the business and it’s great to see that the company has put sustainability and the environment at the heart of its operations.”