The challenge of using hydrogen in motorsport is just one of the topics covered in this week’s edition of the Sustainable Motorsport Roundup. I also look at Misano Circuit’s KiSS initiative, sustainable power at next year’s European Grands Prix and a different kind of rally. All this and more from your source for sustainable high performance motorsport news.
Sustainable Motorsport News
Misano World Circuit Marco Simoncelli will be hosting a double dose of MotoGP which means a double edition of KiSS Misano-Keep it Shiny and Sustainable, the environmental and social sustainability program promoted by MWC Marco Simoncelli as part of its Misano Green Circuit project. The International Motorcycling Federation (FIM), Dorna and IRTA, will be active at both the Gran Premio Red Bull di San Marino e della Riviera di Rimini (Sept. 6-8) and the Gran Premio dell’Emilia-Romagna (Sept. 20-22) of MotoGPTM.
Modern and technological, MWC is a circuit that has been investing in sustainability for many years now. The facility has a quality system that complies with the requirements of UNI EN ISO9001:2008 standard for quality management and UNI EN ISO 20121:2013 standard for sustainable event management, an Organization, Management and Control Model pursuant to Legislative Decree 231/01, and a Code of Ethics. It also obtained FIA Environmental Accreditation 3 Star. MWC was the first circuit in Italy to equip itself with a photovoltaic system, built above the roof of the covered grandstands: the system produces 540,000 Kw per year of zero-CO2 emission electricity. In recent years, interventions have been made to contain noise and reduce electricity consumption (-30%) of the lighting system. In 2023, the Circuit was
honored with the FIM Environment Trophy; the award to the circuit in the world that has
distinguished itself most for activities aimed at limiting its impact on the environment.
“Major international events – says Andrea Albani, Managing Director MWC – are a formidable accelerator in spreading messages about environmental savings and inclusion. With KiSS Misano we started a path that over the years has landed at the contents of Misano Green Circuit and the sharing with all the protagonists of MotoGP, on the grandstands and in the paddock, of gestures and behaviors that feed a new and responsible culture.”
Find out more here.
In the run-up to the Dutch Grand Prix there was a release of interesting facts regarding the circuit and especially its sustainability initiatives.
“Sticking with Formula 1, the recent Dutch Grand Prix at Zandvoort saw a number of sustainability initiatives utilized. In 2022, 98% of visitors used sustainable transport to and from the circuit, with organizers expecting to have matched or exceeded this figure in 2024. The event has also transitioned to a permanent green power grid, and has worked with handicap.nl to offer special care amenities for those with disabilities. Cleaning teams were deployed at the circuit to make sure there was no rubbish left behind, and a token recycling system was in place so that fans could win prizes post-event with the goal of encouraging guests to return their cups.”
You can read more here.
The Scottish Motor Racing Club Eco Rally Scotland showcased a new sustainable motorsport discipline as competitors using electric vehicles fought out a challenging regularity rally in the Scottish Highlands, drawing praise from both competitors and the local community alike.
The event, which is Bridgestone FIA Eco rally Cup candidate event, took place with the events whole carbon footprint being carbon neutral through the use of high integrity certified international carbon reduction units, with the same level of carbon emissions being positively offset in the future using a world class woodland carbon code certified carbon offsetting project located locally in the highlands.
Read more over at Carbon Positive Motorsport.
In more news from Carbon Positive Motorsport, this year’s JDS Machinery Rali Ceredigion is believed to be setting a new world record for carbon offsetting in rallying, with 200,000 kg CO2e in total expected to be positively offset from this year’s event. The estimated carbon footprint of all competitors, ticket-holding spectators, and mandatory organizers’ vehicles will be immediately offset with Carbon Reduction Units for the first time.
In total, Carbon Positive Motorsport has enabled 1 million kg of carbon emissions to be offset. That’s the equivalent of over 6,000 planted and developed mature trees, or the consumption of 431,000 litres of fuel.
The Fédération Internationale de l’Automobile (FIA) has entered into a partnership with UN Tourism to advance sustainable sports tourism globally, marked by the signing of a Memorandum of Understanding during the F1 Grand Prix in Monza. FIA President Mohammed Ben Sulayem, recognized for his dedication to sustainability in motorsport, has been appointed as UN Tourism’s Ambassador for Sustainable Tourism in the Sport category. This collaboration aims to harness the growing sector of sports tourism, valued at $609 billion, by promoting responsible travel and integrating sustainability into all FIA events and initiatives.
Full details of the collaboration can be found here.
In the video above, Martin Kochman, VP, of Customers and Industries at Hitachi Vantara, Sam Clarke, Chief Vehicle Officer at GRIDSERVE and Peter Gallagher, Commercial Director at Extreme-E explore the transformative potential of EVs in revolutionizing the transportation sector.
EVs represent a promising technology to reduce greenhouse gas emissions, improve air quality, and build more sustainable and resilient economies. The discussion will delve into the latest innovations, trends, and challenges in the EV industry, including the role of EVs in decarbonization efforts, the state of EV the state of EV infrastructure, and the impact of EVs on different industries.
Sustainable Motorsport Tech
Formula 3 has revealed their new Dallara F3 2025 last weekend at Monza that will focus on overtaking, safety and sustainability. The design philosophy of this new car, which will be raced in the 2025, 2026 and 2027 F3 seasons, is to give young drivers who aspire to race in Formula 2 and Formula 1 the best opportunity to progress through the pyramid.
Some of the sustainability features of the new car are:
- Will run on fuel that meets the FIA’s 100% sustainability fuel standard
- The new car will also run on new Pirelli 16” tyre which from 2025 will have a natural rubber component certified by the Forest Stewardship Council (FSC)
FIA President Mohammed Ben Sulayem: “In addition to updated safety and performance, we are proud that this new generation of cars integrates cutting-edge technology initiatives aimed at helping to reduce racing carbon emissions, running on advanced fuel that meets the FIA’s 100% sustainable fuel standard, just like Formula 1 from 2026. This demonstrates our commitment to work towards lowering motorsport’s greenhouse gas emissions while driving innovation.”
Hydrogen power is slowly but surely emerging onto the motorsport scene. This year, we have already seen hydrogen race cars enter the Fuji 24 Hours, hillclimbs and the Dakar Rally, while 2025 brings with it the world’s first hydrogen championship in the form of Extreme H, and by 2027 hydrogen prototypes are expected to race at the Le Mans 24 Hours. PMW has a look at the advantages and challenges of using hydrogen in motorsport. You can read their feature here.
Pitlane News looks at Toyota’s work with hydrogen in motorsport. “Hydrogen, a pillar of the ACO’s strategy to decarbonize racing, is a theme that the Japanese manufacturer has been developing for several years. On the road, Toyota Mirai are already on the streets in France. On the competition side, in 2023, during the 24 Hours of Le Mans, Toyota GAZOO Racing presented the GR H2 Racing Concept, a hydrogen prototype which could join the Hydrogen category in Endurance, while the GR H2 Corolla Concept, regularly driven by Toyota Chairman Akio Toyoda, concentrates the research on the use of liquid hydrogen.”
The future of Alpine in the top class of sportscar racing appears bright, with an open-ended commitment to the FIA WEC’s Hypercar class, the potential for an expansion to IMSA GTP and continued interest in the forthcoming hydrogen regulations.
“(Hydrogen) It’s something we are considering. We are working on the hydrogen technology. In Le Mans we had the Alpenglow complete a lap before the start and we are working hard on that. At the Paris Motor Show, we will show off a new version of that car. And if the regulations are clear and affordable we would be happy to consider it. No decision has been taken but everyone, the ACO, the FIA, knows we are very active on this technology and we may consider it for sure. What we know is that we won’t be able to do both programmes in parallel. It will be a traditional car with traditional technology or a Hydrogen car. We will not do both.”
Read more at Daily Sportscar.
The BWT Alpine F1 Team celebrated the official launch of their new motorhome at last weekend’s Italian Grand Prix in Monza. The motorhome was designed by iconic creator Philippe Starck. The three-storey travelling race hub is for the use of partners, VIP guests, media, and team personnel at the European rounds of the Formula 1 season.
BWT also worked in collaboration for the new motorhome, providing water filtration technology to the entire water distribution system. They have provided the unique technology at each of the bar positions within the motorhome.
Further sustainability has been achieved by using the latest Renault Truck models, which provide a 10% fuel saving and 10% CO2 reduction by using the latest DE13 Turbo Compound Engine. All equipment used has been selected against efficiency criteria.
Get all the details here.
Nissan has made a competition car out of its 1911 kg SUV, the Nissan X-Trail e-POWER e-4ORCE. Uniquely this mundane vehicle is a series rather than parallel hybrid. In other words it has all four wheels electrically driven with an associated internal combustion engine confined to charging the battery. Race Engine Suppliers has all the details.
Series News
Formula 1 has announced a partnership with UK-headquartered power generation firm Aggreko that will see low-carbon power solutions featured at all European grands prix from the 2025 season. Aggreko also concluded an agreement with Formula E back in April.
The multi-year partnership with Aggreko will now see centralized energy generation compounds created at each European race in the 2025 season. The compound will be powered by low- and zero-carbon solutions including HVO, biofuels, solar panels, and battery energy storage systems.
Engineering And Technology has more details here.
The age of artificial intelligence (AI) is upon us, and it is no surprise that Formula One, so often a leader in sport when it comes to technological innovation, is playing a role in its adoption. That digital transformation has also helped reduce the need to transport physical equipment between racetracks, supporting the series’ ongoing sustainability drive.
“We’re not having to send masses of data down a big tube all the way back to [the Formula One headquarters in] Biggin Hill,” Rob Smedley said in August last year. “Now, we’ve got a digital archive all stored in the cloud. All the data we’re bringing off the cars and the timing systems goes into the cloud too.”
Read more at SportsPro Media.
The Jeddah E-Prix will make its mark on the Season 11 FIA Formula E World Championship calendar, assuming hosting duties from Diriyah. The Saudi Arabian Ministry of Sport has sanctioned the switch from Diriya to Jeddah and the short circuit is now awaiting FIA approval ahead of the February FE debut on the Red Sea Coast.
More details at Motorsport Week.
Getting to the Track Sustainably
- ZeroAvia attracts further support from American and new investment from Japan’s ITOCHU (Green Air News)
- OXCCU celebrates opening of SAF demo production facility at Oxford Airport (Biofuels International)
- US awards $291 million in grants to accelerate low-emission aviation technologies and SAF production and use (Green Air News)
- Aircraft lessor SMBC says next generation jets at least a decade away, stressing importance of SAF (Green Air News)
- SAF production set to surge in the US through a series of major new international partnerships (Green Air News)
- US production capacity for SAF to grow, says the EIA (Biofuels International)
- New investment funds Clear Sky and SAFFA target sustainable aviation financing (Green Air News)
- Despite new incentives, sustainable aviation fuel rollout faces steep challenges (Trellis)
- The Challenge of Decarbonizing Business Logistics (B The Change)
- TotalEnergies Marine Fuels supplies its first B100 biofuel bunker in Singapore (Biofuels International)
- Renewable diesel surpasses biodiesel production in the US (Biofuels International)
- Hyundai Plans To Build the N Vision 74 (Road&Track)
- The Ariel E-Nomad Is Here to Teach the Cybertruck About Electric Off-Roading (The Drive)
- VW working on synthetic leather made from hemp (Green Car Reports)
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.
