Extreme H has opened up development on their new Pioneer 25 race cars to entice manufacturer involvement and you will find the details in this week’s edition of the Sustainable Motorsport Roundup. I also have updates from Motorsport UK on their sustainability initiatives, the possibilities of Formula E racing in Toronto and much more!
Sustainable Motorsport News
In the most recent issue of Revolution Magazine, Motorsport UK Chair David Richards reflects on the successes and highlights of 2024 and explains how digital, and sustainability changes have put UK motorsport on solid ground. You can read the article here.
Motorsport has a a history of embracing cutting-edge technology and is leading the way in sustainability innovation. As environmental concerns grow, the sport’s innovative nature empowers event organizers to mitigate the carbon footprint of their events and redefine motorsport’s role in a greener future. Carbon Positive Motorsport explains how using the East Stages Rally as an example. Read all about how they are building a sustainable motorsport legacy here.
Maja Czarzasty-Zybert has two excellent articles worth reading. The first is about the innovation inherent in a collaboration between motorsport and the energy industry. The second is about how STEM education is preparing the youth of today to innovate for a sustainable tomorrow. You can read them both below.
- Collaboration between Motorsport and the Energy Industry: A Future Driven by Innovation
- STEM Education and the climate crisis: preparing youth to innovate for a sustainable tomorrow
Sustainable Motorsport Tech
In the video above, Beth Paretta discusses Formula E’s game-changing Gen 3 EVO race car.
There are at least two articles of interest related to sustainable motorsport that can be found in the February 2025 issue of Race Tech Magazine. They are:
- THE RACE F1 CANNOT AFFORD TO LOSE: A cumulative TV audience of more than1.5 billion people can be a double-edged sword when you’ve committed to achieving a net zero carbon footprint by2030. Olivia Hicks quizzes the woman who shapes Formula 1’s sustainability strategy
- SUSTAINABILITY – WITHOUT COMPROMISING PERFORMANCE: Once a source of great pride, motorsport’s expertise with composite materials is hard to reconcile with the drive for sustainability. Or is it? Chris Pickering talks to the pioneers of vegetable-based chemistry in composite tooling
You can get your copy here.
Series News
As Extreme H completes the production run of their new hydrogen-powered Pioneer 25 car, the series has indicated that they are opening up development to encourage manufacturer interest.
“The logic behind that is you’ve got road-to-race-to-road — you can take one of your existing off-the-shelf fuel cells that’s not a race-specific development item and you can showcase it using Extreme H,” Extreme H technical director Mark Grain told RACER. “And we are working with the FIA on a framework for those regulations.”
As returns to Santiago and Cape Town, as well as new venues in Phoenix and Bangkok, are options being considered for the 2025-26 Formula E calendar, news has emerged that Toronto may be the site of a possible race in the future.
According to Formula E Notebook, “FEN understands that a delegation from the city of Toronto visited the Mexico City EPrix paddock this week and held talks with Formula E race makers about a potential future race in the Canadian city for 2027. Toronto has both a rich heritage of hosting motorsport events with the Indycar street race and a strong sustainability and EV promotion credentials.”
As part of a series profiling the shortlisted entrants in the Pioneering and Innovation category at the Autosport Awards, Autosport looks at the introduction of Forest Stewardship Council-certified rubber in F1.
“The introduction of FSC certification for the natural rubber component in Pirelli’s Formula 1 tyres, which also covered those for F2 and F3, represented a significant milestone in Pirelli’s journey towards sustainability,” Isola told Autosport.
“There were no changes to the production process itself and from a technical and performance standpoint, the certification was seamless. However, adhering to FSC standards required a complete revision of the natural rubber supply chain. This involved implementing rigorous traceability systems to ensure that the natural rubber used comes exclusively from FSC-certified forests, which are managed sustainably.”
Read more about the certification process here.
Oschersleben has been announced as the final race to be confirmed for the 2025 NXT Gen Cup calendar and will host the first race of the season on April 25-27 together with the DTM.
“We are delighted to be back at Oschersleben, the circuit where we made our international debut in 2023 and one of my personal favourites as a racing driver,” said Fredrik Lestrup, founder of NXT Gen Cup.
For those wishing to race in the series in 2025, you can apply to express your interest here.
Getting to the Track Sustainably
- Drift-Happy Hyundai Ioniq 5 N DK Edition Might Come to U.S. (MotorTrend)
- LG Energy Solution Powers Aptera’s Solar EV Future (EV Magazine)
- Review: 2024 Porsche Cayenne Turbo E-Hybrid poses a triple threat (Green Car Reports)
- The Man Who Helped Build the First Tesla Believes He Can Decarbonize Big Rig Trucks (MotorTrend)
- Supplier SK On claims solid-state EV battery “breakthroughs” (Green Car Reports)
- BMW Group Expands Circular Supply Chain for EV Batteries (Sustainable Brands)
- Jet Aviation Adds Basel Headquarters to SAF Supply Locations (AIN)
- Plantation Established in Australia for SAF Feedstock (AIN)
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.
