In the ever-evolving world of automotive journalism, few events stand out as spectacularly as Top Gear magazine’s annual Speed Week. This year, the renowned British motor magazine took its passion for performance cars to a whole new level by hosting its greenest Speed Week ever on Sweden’s GotlandRing and charged using Nimbnet’s fast charger. Let’s dive into the details of this exceptional event and its significant focus on sustainability.
Top Gear’s Carbon Offset
Speed Week, as Top Gear describes it, is the highlight of their year. This year, they hosted the most sustainable Speed Week, successfully cutting down the carbon without sacrificing the speed. Top Gear sent 12 of the 15 contending cars (including the Lamborghini Sterrato, Porsche 911 GT3 RS, and a fully electric Hyundai Ioniq 5 N) to Sweden on a pair of Scania transporter trucks that ran on Hydro-treated Vegetable Oil (HVO). The cars and crew were transported to GotlandRing, a track situated on an island off the east coast of Sweden. The electric cars are charged at Nimbnet’s fast-chargers fully powered by energy generated on-site from seven wind turbines. Top Gear pulled off another exciting Speed Week, all while paying attention to their carbon footprint—a nod to the increasing importance of sustainability in the automotive industry.
GotlandRing: A Sustainable Oasis
Top Gear’s visit to GotlandRing this autumn marked a significant moment for both parties. For Top Gear, it was the largest production of the year, involving a team of 16 journalists, photographers, and videographers who immersed themselves in the world of sustainable motorsports. And the world’s most sustainable race circuit, GotlandRing, was not only the venue for Speed Week but also featured on the cover of Top Gear’s November issue. The cover features “The Stig” alongside 15 race cars on GotlandRing’s track. In addition to the excitement surrounding Top Gear’s visit, GotlandRing also celebrated its 20th anniversary this autumn.
A Green Vision for Motorsports
Top Gear and GotlandRing were not the only ones celebrating this milestone; Nimbnet celebrated their first established station. For a young company like Nimbnet, this is one huge leap forward in their mission for reducing carbon footprints. With the help of Kempower chargers and Virta’s charging platform, Nimbnet’s GotlandRing charging station is now public and operable. There was a buzz among Nimbnet that the first users of the brand-new charging station were none other than the renowned crew from Top Gear. The charger powered a Hyundai Ioniq 5 N at 272 kW for 8 minutes which was astonishing! You can read more about the specifications of our charging station here.
Top Gear magazine’s Speed Week on GotlandRing in 2023 was not just about speed and luxury cars; it was a testament to the shifting paradigm in the automotive industry. As the world embraces sustainability, even the most thrilling and high-octane events like Speed Week are aligning with eco-conscious principles. GotlandRing’s dedication to sustainability and Top Gear’s commitment to showcasing it on a global stage have set a new standard for motorsports and automotive journalism, proving that the thrill of speed can go hand in hand with a greener future.