DHL is driving a new era of sustainable logistics for Formula 1 in a new partnership with the FIA and I have all the details in this week’s edition of the Sustainable Motorsport Roundup. I also have news on circularity at Mclaren, a hydrogen-powered rally car and much more!
Sustainable Motorsport News
McLaren Racing’s Director of Sustainability Kim Wilson discusses with Supply Chain Digital how the historic marque’s cars are being designed with circularity and sustainability in mind.
“I think there’s a lot of people who think that you have to choose between sustainability and on-track performance,” adding: “We can deliver circularity and on-track performance together.”
United Autosports was awarded the LMP2 Sustainable Endurance Award at the 24 Heures du Mans last month with a suitably sustainable trophy, presented by President of the ACO, Pierre Fillon
It was supposed to be the future of motorsport — a more environmentally friendly option for fans of high-speed competition. But the broader pullback from climate action across political and corporate sectors has hit it hard. Bloomberg explains how EV racing is struggling as climate action falls on the list of priorities for many governments.
Automobili Lamborghini has presented its first Sustainability Report, a document that clearly, transparently and measurably outlines the company’s broad commitment to building a lower-emission future while taking into account the needs of its people and the community in which it operates. This commitment begins with the product, marked by the launch of the brand’s first fully hybrid range of super sports cars, in line with the “Direzione Cor Tauri” roadmap which from the outset has envisioned an evolution focused on emissions reduction while enhancing performance.
Read all the details here.
Formula E’s Change Accelerated Live will be taking place in London on July 25th, 2025. Change Accelerated Live is a conference Connecting industry and political leaders, to unveil new strategies in the fields of sustainability and innovation, driving positive change in sports, business and society.
Sustainable Motorsport Tech
Four-time World Rally Championship champion and Toyota deputy team principal Juha Kankkunen will pilot the latest hydrogen-powered rally car from Toyota at Rally Finland. The Toyota GR Yaris Rally2 H2 Concept will make its debut during the Harju stage on the first two days of the event, which runs from 31 July until 3 August.
The car has been extensively developed at the Toyota WRC team’s headquarters in Jyvaskyla, Finland, and is based around its current GR Yaris Rally2 car – albeit fitted with an internal combustion engine fuelled by compressed hydrogen.
The NTT IndyCar Series introduced its long-developed hybrid system in the middle of the 2024 season, with the first race weekend featuring the new components being the race at Mid-Ohio. The series returned to rural Ohio last weekend, marking one full year with the system in place. Motorsport Week evaluates IndyCar’s hybrid power system one year on.
“Despite actively developing the electric power solution since before the 2022 season, it was the middle of 2024 before the new components were used in a race weekend. Multiple delays pushed the implementation date back, including supply chain issues, reliability issues, and even a decision to abandon a new 2.4-liter combustion engine that was originally part of a single upgrade package with the hybrid unit.”
Two representatives from MotoGP took part in the panel of the recent Energy Asia event called the “Voice of Innovation 1: Sustainable Fuel in Motorsports” to discuss the power of motorsport in driving positive change.
Ferran Juncar, Global Sponsoring Director at MotoGP, and Daniel Carrera, Director of ESG at Dorna Group – the commercial rights holder of MotoGP – joined the panel to explore how motorsport has such power to create change at the same time as ensuring there is no compromise on performance – something equally important in real-world applications when these innovations reach real customers on the street.
They underscored the need to move beyond fossil fuels, highlighting how trackside innovations can fast-track sustainable mobility on a broader scale extending to roads – with collaboration being key to achieving this.
Across all classes in MotoGP, fuel must now be of a minimum 40% non-fossil origin. In MotoGP, teams and factories work with their suppliers, and in Moto2™ and Moto3™, Petronas are the sole, official fuel supplier. In 2027, fuel for all classes must be 100% non-fossil origin – an exciting prospect as performance continues to impress. From development in MotoGP, innovation then reaches real customers on the street – and around the world.
FIA president Mohammed Ben Sulayem reiterated his support for Formula 1 to move to much cheaper V8 engines powered by sustainable fuel as soon as the 2029 season.
“To us, the V8 is happening,” said Ben Sulayem. “With the teams now, I’m very optimistic, happy about it. FOM [Formula One Management] are supportive, the teams are realising it is the right way.”
Nissan and Shell have renewed their Formula E alliance to develop high-performance eFluids, boosting EV racing efficiency and sustainable mobility innovation. The collaboration will focus on developing next-generation lubricants that optimise EV racing performance while supporting the transition to cleaner mobility.
Sustainable Racing
How an all-electric budget race car survives 25 hours of racing
MotorTrend tests the 2026 Hyundai Ioniq 6 N Prototype and is astounded by its performance on the track. “The Ioniq 6 N is the all-electric-powered second act to one of the most impressive performance vehicles we’ve experienced in several years, the Hyundai Ioniq 5 N. Yes, it cribs many of the elements that made the 5 N such grin-shift-inducing fun and a MotorTrend Best Tech award winner. But it’s also poised to make its own mark thanks to several primarily software-based upgrades that build on those of its SUV progenitor.”
Alpine has unveiled the rally version of the A290, the first electric Alpine designed for customer racing. The A290 Rallye was developed by the Viry-Châtillon teams and will be assembled in the competition workshop at the Manufacture Alpine Dieppe Jean Rédélé.
Positioned as a gateway to electric competition and designed to meet the latest rally regulations, the A290 Rallye is ready to prove its capabilities across multiple disciplines, from one-make cups to open competition.
The price of the Alpine A290 Rallye is €59,990 (£51,640) excluding VAT.
Looking for a more electrifying entry to compete in the Tire Rack Ultimate Track Car Challenge Presented by Grassroots Motorsports? You’ll want to talk to Andrew DeKoning and his track weapon of choice, a heavily modified Tesla Model S Plaid.
“The Tesla has virtually had the entire Mountain Pass Performance catalog thrown at it, from upper control arms to brake rotors and pretty much everything in between. Likewise, the air suspension has been deleted, replaced with a setup comprised of KW Suspension components, and a specially programmed Motec race computer helps “enhance” the Plaid’s already impressive performance.”
Tesla’s New Model Y is the next confirmed OEM competing in ecoRally Scotland, round eight of the 2025 Bridgestone FIA EcoRally Cup.
The motorsport event is open to fully electric (EV) and hybrid vehicles (BEV), with teams of two (driver and navigator), set to tackle a road route starting out from Dundee, navigating stunning scenery across the Tayside.
Competitors will need to record all check points within the given times and complete ‘regularity tests’ checking average speed along the route – precision navigating, problem solving and teamwork will be the order of the day.
The recently upgraded Model Y features extensive reengineering, maximising efficiency, comfort, connectivity, and safety, with a completely redesigned interior and exterior.
After five years, it became a global bestseller across combustion and electric vehicles for 2023 and 2024.
Offering 250kWh charging speeds, a reach up to 150 miles in just 15 minutes, and boasting an impressive 99.5% uptime, the Model Y remains the most efficient SUV in its class.
Series News
The Fédération Internationale de l’Automobile (FIA), the global governing body for motor sport and the federation for mobility organisations worldwide, has announced a comprehensive partnership with the world’s leading logistics company DHL. The collaboration will enhance operational efficiency across FIA events while reducing emissions over the racing season.
The FIA has launched the Global Partnership Programme to collaborate with leading organisations across the world who share the FIA’s vision for driving innovation, sustainability and safety across both motor sport and mobility. As Global Logistics Partner, DHL will manage the transport, installation and maintenance of key FIA infrastructure across the FIA’s Formula 1, Formula 2 and Formula 3 championships. This includes FIA trackside infrastructure such as Mobile Office Units and Garages as well as race-critical equipment.
Sustainability is a central pillar of the partnership, reflecting the shared commitment of both the FIA and DHL to reduce environmental impact and promote responsible innovation. As part of the agreement, DHL will deploy seven trucks for European logistics, each powered by hydrotreated vegetable oil (HVO) which cut emissions by up to 83% compared to conventional fuels.
DHL will support the sport to deliver the rationalised calendar that has been developed to create a geographical flow of races, thereby reducing travel distances across the season and enabling the use of lower-carbon freight solutions. These efforts contribute directly to the FIA’s ambition to halve its carbon footprint by 2030 compared to its 2019 baseline.
Here are some articles looking at the implications of the agreement.
- DHL To Power FIA Race Logistics as New Global Partner (FIA)
- FIA and DHL link up for logistics and sustainability partnership (BlackBook Motorsport)
- How DHL’s New Partnership is Powering FIA Race Logistics (Supply Chain Digital)
- DHL to power sustainable F1 logistics as FIA’s Global Logistics Partner (Zag Daily)
- DHL gears up for FIA, powering garages, and trackside operations (Stat Trade Times)
- FIA and DHL Forge Landmark Partnership in Wider Sporting Push for Sustainability (Global Sustainable Sport)
- How DHL Supports Sustainability for Formula 1 (Sustainability Magazine)
- What Does It Take To Move Formula 1 Teams Around The Globe? (Clean Technica)
Formula E has insisted it is in full growth mode and enjoys “unwavering support” from its shareholders, after posting a loss of €78.3m ($93m) in 2023-24, a significant worsening on the prior year’s finances.
BlackBook Motorsport reports that the decrease in revenue was attributed primarily to the reduced number of race events and other race related activities. Unlike the previous season, the 2023/24 campaign did not feature races in Cape Town, Jakarta and Rome, while an event in Hyderabad was eventually cancelled. In their place, Misano, Tokyo and Shanghai all joined the calendar for the season.
Formula E and Vodafone Business have announced a dynamic new partnership, uniting two leaders committed to innovation and shaping a sustainable future. This collaboration designates Vodafone, a global technology communications leader, as an Official Race Partner of the 2025 Hankook Berlin E-Prix and an Associate Partner of Change. Accelerated. Live: London, Formula E’s influential thought leadership forum.
The partnership strengthens Formula E’s expanding ecosystem of world-class partners who are using the global platform of electric motorsport to champion sustainability, accelerate technological innovation, and inspire positive change.
McLaren’s Formula E team is set to be closed down at the end of the current season as efforts to find a buyer for the outfit have proven unsuccessful, Autosport understands. “Despite links to a potential buyout from other manufacturers looking to join Formula E, with Hyundai one of the brands rumored to be interested, the team has been unable to find a buyer for the team.
Electric racing is no longer just a glimpse into the future—it is the now. With Formula E and Extreme E at the forefront, the world of motorsports is undergoing a radical transformation, blending innovation, sustainability, and fan engagement into a high-voltage spectacle. EV Powered looks at how Formula E and Electric E/H are shaping the future of motorsports.
Extreme H has signed media deals with Eurosport, TNT and ITV for their upcoming debut season.
WSC president Marcello Lotti has confirmed that TCR will move to 100% sustainable fuel in 2026 in cooperation with ETS Racing Fuels, increasing from the current 50%. “We have tested the 100% sustainable fuel and we can say that it works,” said Lotti to TouringCarTimes.
“Can’t Shame Someone Into Sustainability” – ABB VP Drops Bold Strategy to Reach NASCAR Fans With EV Prototype. “The glass is half full,” Shigas said, emphasizing patience and long-term thinking. So while the shift to electric may feel jarring for many, it’s not about erasing what made NASCAR great; it’s about making sure it can still roar into the future, even if the sound changes along the way.”
Author: Mark Boudreau
Mark is the publisher of Motorsport Prospects. As a lawyer, he applies his legal background and research skills to assist race drivers by showcasing the resources they need to make their motorsport careers happen.
