Sustainable motorcycle racing is prominently featured in this week’s Sustainable Motorsport Roundup as both the WSBK and MotoE take the spotlight.

The WSBK is switching to sustainable fuels while MotoE should get a bigger spotlight in the world of motorcycle racing as they hit the track with their new electric Ducati racing bikes. I also have news regarding Super GT, Extreme E, the Intercontinental GT Challenge and more.

In addition to this I have a huge Getting to the Track Sustainably update this week that features some fascinating developments in sustainable transportation including a tiny 22-lb hydrogen engine that may replace the traditional combustion engine, an airplane that flies on liquid hydrogen and new developments in sustainable shipping.

All this and more in this week’s Sustainable Motorsport Roundup on Motorsport Prospects. Its green news racers can use.

Sustainable Motorsport News

British Formula E race team Envision Racing has launched a global call to address the growing problem of electric waste and support the transition to e-mobility. Through an active schools engagement program across the United Kingdom, Envision have launched the Waste to Race competition to explain why we need to reuse and recycle electrical waste, and how children and young people can get involved.

With three categories ranging from 9-21 years old, children and young people are being offered the chance to build their own replica mini-racing car made entirely of e-waste. The competition offers the chance to share design ideas with the world and win a sustainably sourced laptop as well as a range of Envision Racing and Formula E special prizes. Annual electronic waste production is on track to reach a staggering 75 million tonnes by 2030, with the UK generating the second largest amount of e-waste as a country in 2022, Items thrown away include mobile phones, laptops, MP3 players, plugs and batteries themselves.

The Waste to Race competition has three categories: 9-11 years, 12-16 years and 17-21 years. It is free to enter, with entries required by 1 July 2023.

Further information can be found at: https://envision-racing.com/recover-e/

Grassroots Motorsports is reporting that Summit Point Motorsports Park recently announced that both all-electric and hybrid vehicles are no longer permitted in motorsport activities on its track on safety grounds.

Summit Point supports the growth of Electric and Hybrid vehicles in motorsports. Summit Point Motorsports Park’s decision to take a “tactical pause” in halting the use of electric and hybrid electric vehicles in all motorsports disciplines at our location is purely based on ensuring we establish an EMS response policy and procedure based on technical knowledge provided by the electric and hybrid electric vehicle industry community to better support the motorsports community.

To our knowledge, Industry best practices supporting emergency response procedures to electric and hybrid electric vehicles in motorsports are under development. We hope to be a frontrunner in development of the industry standard to ensure that we can support a safer response to all stakeholders in the future.
Edwin Pardue, Director of Motorsports Operations at Summit Point Motorsports Park

The latest issus of EV Magazine is out and it has a feature on MotoE called MotoE: Electrifying Motorcycles – Retaining the Racing Spectacle which is well worth a read.

Sustainable Motorsport Tech

A decision has been made by the Superbike Commission of the FIM World Superbike Championship (WorldSBK) to use fuels containing at least 40% non-fossil components for the upcoming 2024 season. BMW Motorrad Motorsport is working on the development of these alternative fuels as a partner of the company NORDOEL, as part of the federally funded joint project DeCarTrans.

“NORDOEL provides us with alternative fuels, which we test on our engine test bench under different conditions,” explained Thomas von Westberg, project overseer on behalf of BMW Motorrad Motorsport. “The focus is currently on our WorldSBK engine, in which we will use these alternative fuels as early as 2024. We carry out analyses, fuel experts evaluate the fuels from the chemical side, and of course, the focus is on the test bench work with operation in the fired engine with the corresponding analyses regarding combustion process, mixture formation, performance and consumption.”

“In addition, there are other topics that come with alternative fuels. We also carry out further basic tests with other engines, for example our EWC engine. We play the results back to NORDOEL, and the colleagues there can then make appropriate adjustments. There is a transparent, close exchange here. The aim of the development is a fuel that complies with the regulations defined by the FIM and at the same time achieves the best possible performance and consumption values in combination with our WorldSBK engine.”

Series News

The Autobacs SUPER GT Series will introduce ETS Racing Fuels’ (part of Haltermann Carless GmbH) Renewablaze R100 carbon-neutral racing fuel at the season-opening Okayama GT 300km Race on 15-16 April according to Daily Sportscar but it will only be a partial introduction. The GT Association (GTA), promoter of the SUPER GT Series, said in a statement last Monday: “Due to the wide variety of manufacturers, car models and engine types, and the time required to respond, we are extending the preparation period for the introduction of the new fuel system.”

Extreme E chief marketing officer Ali Russell discusses the launch, the logistics, and the purpose of the series to website Sportcal. “I don’t think there’s been another sport that’s ever been created with the goal and ambition to communicate climate change and to also be the testbed for climate change mitigation,” says Russell.

SRO Motorsports Group is re-evaluating the Intercontinental GT Challenge calendar for 2024, which could feature fewer rounds according to Stephane Ratel. One of the factors in any decision they make will include sustainability. Ratel said the foundation of the 2024 calendar will have teams and manufacturers rely exclusively on sea-freight, with potential consideration also taken to avoid overseas races during the European season. “One thing is for sure: we can’t have a calendar that requires air freight,” he said. “It’s too expensive and it’s environmentally unfriendly.”

Getting to the Track Sustainably

Getting to the Track Sustainably is my occasional column on developments in sustainable transportation that could have some application to motorsport. Since most carbon emissions come from logistics and transportation, this topic is of utmost importance as motorsport works to make itself more sustainable. Here are some articles you may find of interest.

How Hydrogen Empowers the Energy Transition

Over the last decade, engineers have been tasked to reduce greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions while maintaining or improving the products they produce. But pressure from consumers, regulators and governments continues to push the art towards net-zero GHG. This transition can’t be done with the energy systems widely used today.

A white paper from 3DS covers the role that hydrogen can play in a more sustainable world. It also covers the changes needed within the aerospace and automotive industries to make this a reality.

Sustainable Land Transportation

Hyperion XP-1 (Photo: Courtesy of Hyperion Companies, Inc.)

Sustainable Aviation

Sustainable Shipping

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.