At the Dutch Grand Prix in Zandvoort, the FIA - the world governing body of motorsport - deployed the URBANFILTER concept on a Formula 1 circuit for the first time.

The same filter concept was proven on Frederiksberg Allé in Copenhagen, where a pilot showed that the filter retained more than twice as many solids and tyre-derived microplastics as a conventional road gully. In Zandvoort, under far more extreme conditions, retention rates of up to 99% were recorded, depending on rainfall intensity and particle characteristics.

Why a race track matters

Formula 1 is a demanding environment: high speeds, hard braking and intense tyre wear concentrated on a single stretch of asphalt. That makes a circuit an ideal stress test for a technology designed to capture tyre wear particles, brake dust, microplastics and other suspended solids before rainwater carries them into the drainage system – and from there, in many cases, straight into rivers, lakes and the sea.

"We are proud that the FIA is giving this important issue a global stage and a testing ground under extreme conditions," says Sven Veit, Managing Director of the Audi Environmental Foundation, which has supported the development of the URBANFILTER concept together with researchers at TU Berlin since 2020.

A strong validation for the Nordic market

BAIONYX is responsible for the product in the Nordic region and has adapted the filter to Nordic gully dimensions and conditions.

"We are seeing a clearly growing interest in our solution as the focus on protecting water environments and nature keeps increasing. At the same time, we are investing in strengthening our documentation further, including through a collaboration with the Danish Technological Institute. The FIA's test in Formula 1 is another strong validation of both the technology and the relevance of reducing the discharge of harmful substances from our road networks," says Søren Dandanell Nielsen, CEO of BAIONYX.

He adds a personal note: "As a lifelong motorsport fan, I am genuinely proud that the technology behind our filters has passed the FIA's scrutiny. But what matters most is that Formula 1 is now shining a light on a problem that is often overlooked, yet very real: pollutants from our roads wash into sewers that were never built to hold them back."

An upgrade for the gullies we already have

The BAIONYX PRS is, in effect, a facelift for existing road gullies. It fits directly into the gully, turning a passive drainage point into an active retention point that holds back the majority of harmful particles right where they enter the system.

Because the solution uses infrastructure that is already in the ground, there is:

• No excavation - no heavy machinery or construction work
• No road closures - no disruption for residents or traffic
• No new maintenance routines - gullies fitted with PRS are emptied and serviced exactly like any other gully

That is what makes the approach practical for municipalities, road authorities and site owners who want measurable impact without a major infrastructure project.

Want to know whether PRS fits your gullies? Get in touch.

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