Hydrogen in motorsport is not yet ready to race but as you will see in this week’s Sustainable Motorsport Roundup, progress towards that goal is strong. I also have an opinion on how climate change is impacting sports, saving water with the Las Vegas Grand Prix and a methanol-powered engine.
Sustainable Motorsport News
Dr. Madeleine Orr, Visiting Professor at FIA University, discusses her career, sustainability in motorsport and how climate change is impacting sports for a feature in Sustainability Magazine. “I like to say that climate action is a team sport and I believe that motorsport will be a key player.”
DHL is actively driving change towards a sustainable future in motorsport, particularly through its partnership with Formula 1 according to Global Sustainable Sport . They are focused on reducing carbon emissions in logistics operations by utilizing biofuel-powered trucks, fuel-efficient aircraft, and exploring Sustainable Aviation Fuel (SAF). DHL’s efforts align with Formula 1’s ambitious Net Zero by 2030 commitment.
In a recent Sustainability Huddle Wrap-Up, they look at how the Las Vegas Grand Prix saves water. “In partnership with the Southern Nevada Water Authority and MGM Resorts International, the organisers have installed an ‘atmospheric water generator’ (AWG) – a high-tech bit of kit that literally pulls water out of thin air.” You can watch a video about this initiative here.
Clare Motor Club (Clare MC) has announced the success of its recent recycling initiative, which took place during the two-day Autocross event in Doonbeg, Co. Clare. Demonstrating the club’s growing commitment to environmental sustainability, more than 300 plastic bottles were collected for recycling over the course of the weekend.
Sustainable Motorsport Tech
Bcomp has collaborated with Japanese composite specialist Tras to develop racing bodywork for the Suzuki Motor Corporation’s factory race team, Team Suzuki Carbon Neutral (CN) Challenge. The 2025 Team Suzuki CN Challenge GSX-R1000R will have feature fenders, winglets and fairings made from Bcomp’s natural-fiber composites, ampliTex and powerRibs.
Bruno Famin, Alpine’s vice president of motorsport, has urged rule-makers to ‘send a proper signal’ regarding the future of hydrogen cars in the FIA World Endurance Championship, explaining that the series has a “chicken and egg” problem due to a lack of technical regulations.
“There is no regulation and as there is no regulation we can’t even build the project to go to the top management saying, ‘We can do this, this is what it what it will cost. On the other side, there is no manufacturer decision. Somebody has to move on. I think it’s the promoter that has to move first because it’s always like that. We need the promoter to send the proper signal for us to have the right information, to be able to have a project, have a proper study and have a go or no go from our board.”
As the global auto industry begins to look past the first wave of electric vehicles, China is offering up a fresh contender in the race for sustainable transportation: methanol. This shift marks another chapter in the evolution of car engines — one that started with the push to reduce emissions, led to hybrids blending combustion and electric power, and later, to fully electric drivetrains.
A few weekends, Forze Hydrogen Racing offered visitors of Jack’s Racing Days a unique glimpse into the future of sustainable motorsport. At the TT Circuit Assen, the student team from Delft presented their latest hydrogen race car: the Forze IX.
Although the Forze IX is still under development, the car took part in the Supercar Challenge races, a class typically dominated by combustion engine vehicles. Despite being in an interim configuration, the team proved that hydrogen can already today be a powerful and emission-free alternative to fossil fuels, even in the world of motorsport.
On the final week of July 2025, the HyDriven student team from the University of Twente and Saxion University of Applied Sciences etched their name into motorsport history. Their hydrogen-powered racecar, Nova, became the first fuel-cell Formula Student car to drive on Austria’s iconic Red Bull Ring.
Sustainable Racing
In the latest issue of Motorsport UK’s Revolution magazine, they provide race drivers with resources to enable you to calculate your carbon emissions. You can check out the resources here and read the article in Revolution online here.
Series News
Formula E’s 11th season crowned a dominant champion in Oliver Rowland. But amid progress on and off the track, including bold diversity initiatives and standout social media moments, measuring itself against Formula One risks distracting from the very strengths that set the all-electric championship apart. BlackBook Motorsport reviews the 2025 season.
Sticking with Formula E, Fast Company explains how Formula E made EV racing a global phenomenon but Formula E star Nick Cassidy has warned that the forthcoming Gen4 era is potentially a “make or break” moment in the all-electric championship’s history..
Since becoming the promoter in 2016, ETRA Promotion GmbH (ETRA) has led the series through one of its most transformative decades, delivering growth, innovation, and increased industry relevance while keeping the heart of truck racing beating strong. After a decade at the helm, ETRA has decided not to submit a proposal in the FIA’s current Expression of Interest process for the future promotion of the Goodyear FIA European Truck Racing Championship from 2026 onwards.
Here are some key sustainability milestones that marked this journey:
- Sustainability leadership: In 2021, the Goodyear FIA ETRC became the first ever motorsport series to switch entirely to 100% renewable HVO fuel by TotalEnergies. Championship partner Goodyear was instrumental in driving forward sustainability in truck racing, retreading used racing tyres for on-road use and introducing tyres made from 55% sustainable materials.
- Shaped the technological direction: Through a technology-open approach, ETRA has paved the way for alternative drive systems such as LNG, hydrogen, and electric power – placing sustainability at the heart of the championship’s strategic direction, exemplified in visible and tangible ways, such as Iveco’s fully electric and LNG-powered Pace Trucks.
- Top FIA honour for sustainability efforts: ETRA Promotion received the prestigious FIA Three-Star Environmental Accreditation, the highest level of environmental sustainability recognition from the governing body, for its sustainability efforts in the Goodyear FIA ETRC.
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.
