Formula E is showing promising signs of growth as they just released their year-end numbers, and I have the details in this week’s Sustainable Motorsport Roundup. I also have a look at the viability of EV racing according to Nitrocross, a seminar on understanding EV powertrains and how to race your Tesla 3. All this and much more.

Sustainable Motorsport News

PRI asks Is EV Racing Running Low or Recharging for the Future?

“Our vehicle wasn’t born out of a strong environmental stance, it was born out of, ‘What can we extract the maximum performance from?’” Chip Pankow, the general manager of Nitrocross in Las Vegas, Nevada, was describing a rallycross vehicle that produces 1,088 horsepower, goes 0–60 mph in under 1.5 seconds, and clears 100-foot jumps with ease. Introduced in 2022, the Nitrocross FC1-X car is not only faster than its internal combustion engine (ICE)-powered predecessor, Pankow estimates it’s also roughly half the cost. “We set out to build a car for our sport, and we wanted to build the fastest, most powerful, most efficient, and most cost-effective platform for what we’re trying to do,” said Pankow. “For our particular sport, electric checked all of those boxes.”

Read the full article here.

Aston Martin F1 has announced that representatives of Aramco, Honda and Valvoline have signed a “technical collaboration agreement” which “aims to leverage each of the world-class partners’ expertise and technology to create the best possible opportunities” ahead of F1 2026.

“As part of this strategic partnership, Aramco will deliver advanced fuels, with Honda developing a new works power unit that incorporates a 50:50 split between electric and combustion power. Additionally, Valvoline will provide leading-edge lubricants for the power-unit and expertise from its 150 years in automotive and industrial solutions. All parties will work together with the aim of placing the team at the forefront of performance, reliability and sustainability.”

Sustainable Motorsport Tech

Team Würth Power 135 TRD Hilux is competing in the 2024 AXCR with a custom made Bcomp natural fibre bodywork on their Toyota Hilux.

Driver & Tras CEO Masanao Nitta commented: “This year a new charcoal colored natural fibre Bcomp body will implement the new charcoal-colored fibers. Based on last year’s positive experience we have confidence in the natural fibers and have applied a new charcoal colored version this year.The AXCR 2024 will again be a long-distance rally with extreme road conditions, so car maintenance and care by the TRD crew will be key. The team will work together to reach this goal with Würth Power 135 TRD Hilux.”

Sustainable Racing

Grassroots Motorsports explains the mods you need to make a Tesla Model 3 into a competitive racer. “They’re comfortable. It’s almost like being in your living room while in traffic,” says Sasha Anis of Mountain Pass Performance, a Tesla prep shop. “They’re also quite powerful and have a really good chassis. It’s a great car to drive on the road and it’s super fast on the race track.”

Read the how you can race your Tesla here.

General Motors is looking to patent an “Endurance Mode” to help electric race cars go the distance. “Endurance Mode is designed to emphasize range over outright pace, according to a GM patent application published by the United States Patent and Trademark Office (USPTO) on Aug. 22, and originally filed by GM in early 2023.”

Read the full article in Green Car Reports.

Formula E Shows Promising Signs of Growth

From the recent edition of the SCCA newsletter. “Solo Town ain’t no backwater outpost – even if the Sept. 3-6, 2024, Tire Rack SCCA® Solo® National Championships is themed “Wild Wild West.” This winner-take-all event has had electricity – specifically, electric vehicles – for years now. Still, a little surprise piqued the interest of onlookers on Tuesday and Wednesday when Wichita Region’s Chad Stoughton rolled onto the courses in a battery-powered sled running in Kart Modified Electric.”

Series News

While Formula E celebrates the various automotive manufacturers who have taken part in Formula E competition, they have proudly announced their record audience growth over the 2024 season.

23% growth in fans worldwide, up from 304m average in S9 to 374m in S10, peaking at 386m at start of the season, materially closing the gap on F1 and Moto GP and maintaining its position as the fastest-growing motorsport on the planet
Formula E now boasts 118m Chinese; 27m Indonesian; and 11m Brazilian fans respectively
35% growth in TV audience, an increase of 105m to 491m cumulative audience worldwide
US, Japan, Mexico and Spain each saw the highest ever audience of a singular programme in Formula E history
Monaco delivered the highest ever audience for a race – 40m
Six S10 races outperformed the most viewed S9 race that totalled 31m audience
Fans believe Formula E is more exciting than ever before and nearly twice as innovative as F1 (39% in favour of Formula E vs 21% for F1 for innovation)
20% growth in Formula E’s social media following
1 billion impressions across all Formula E owned social channels
147% growth in video views across Formula E owned and operated platforms (social, web, app)

Read what the series has to say about these numbers here.

As they work towards their transition to the hydrogen-powered Extreme H, Extreme E is delaying its final three events of the year and says it is “reviewing alternative solutions” to finish the season.

Alejandro Agag, Founder and CEO of Extreme E, explained: “As we continue our transition to Extreme H, we are fully committed to becoming the world’s first hydrogen racing series. The investment and progress in the innovations are in full flow. Excitement grows every day as the industry continues to turn its head towards the possibilities hydrogen presents.

“In this current year of evolution, we all want to find a conclusion to Extreme E, which enables us to finish what we started, whilst at the same time, allows us to commit maximum resource into our Extreme H developments.”

In better news, the Spark-produced Pioneer 25 car that will race in Extreme H next year has become the first hydrogen-powered racing car to pass FIA crash tests.

“The biggest news since Scotland [site of the car’s first public test run in July] is that we have undertaken and passed the mandatory chassis FIA crash tests,” Extreme H’s technical director Mark Grain told RACER. “I’m pleased to say that in both cases, the two tests in the two orientations were passed with flying colors.”

Formula 1 has been pretty upfront about the need to regionalize their 24-race calendar in order to hit their Net Zero 2030 targets but some race promoters are still resisting. One of the obvious solutions is to pair the Miami and Montreal races together, something that Miami Grand Prix organizers are open to.

“While Miami might have very little wiggle room when it comes to rescheduling in the calendar, Miami Grand Prix president Tyler Epp would have no issues becoming a double-header alongside Canada. “It is a larger F1 question, we don’t get to dictate that,” he said.”

Getting to the Track Sustainably

A capsule has been propelled through a hyperloop test tube in a step forward for the transit system (AP)
Long-range 600km battery electric Volvo FH set for launch next year (Freight Carbon Zero)
Bcomp CEO, Christian Fischer, Reflects on the Future of Automotive in a Circular Economy (Bcomp)
BMW sees volume in hydrogen cars, forms fuel cell alliance with Toyota (Green Car Reports)
McLaren’s CEO on Supercars, Decarbonization, and Why He’s Optimistic About the Future (Robb Report)
Materials & Packaging BMW, Volkswagen Eyeing Plant-Based Future for Car Interiors (Sustainable Brands)

The world’s largest wind-powered cargo ship just made its first delivery across the Atlantic (Fast Company)
Shock Wave: How the Electric Grid Will Prepare for Mass EV Adoption (MotorTrend)
Volvo Trucks increases use of low carbon steel across its truck production range (Freight Carbon Zero)
MAN to unveil new 12-tonne eTGL electric truck at IAA Hannover 2024 (Freight Carbon Zero)

Author: Mark Boudreau

Mark is the publisher of Motorsport Prospects. As a former 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.