The Toyota GR LH2 Racing Concept Hydrogen racer has been introduced at the 24 Hours of Le Mans hydrogen village and I have the details in this week’s Sustainable Motorsport Roundup. I also have news of Formula E’s Season 12 schedule, Formula 1 making progress on regionalizing their calendar and a surprise appearance by the unreleased electric Porsche Cayenne.
Sustainable Motorsport News
Mark Rushbrook, Global Director of Ford Performance, says the F1 engine of the future must include a certain level of electrification for the brand to remain involved. He also addresses paddock concerns over the 2026 regulations.
“That’s part of what attracted us to the 2026 rules. It’s all about that balance between the ICE (Internal Combustion Engine) and electrification. Does it need to be 50-50? No, not necessarily. As long as we have the opportunity to contribute, to learn and to bring knowledge to our road cars, then that’s ideally what we’re looking for.”
Roman Ziemian, global entrepreneur and motorsport advocate, has announced a bold new vision to reshape the future of motorsports in the Gulf region. His initiative focuses on advancing electric mobility, nurturing homegrown talent, and aligning motorsport development with the GCC’s long-term sustainability goals.
“Motorsport is undergoing a transformation,” says Ziemian. “The future isn’t just faster-it’s smarter, cleaner, and more inclusive. And there’s no region better positioned to lead that charge than the GCC.”
Read more about his plans here.
The latest issue of Sustainability Magazine has a featured interview with McLaren Racing’s Director of Sustainability Kim Wilson who explains how sustainability and winning are perfect partners. You can read the interview here.
In If Arnold Schwarzenegger’s climate get-together taught me one thing it’s that athlete investors, not advocates, may be better positioned to move the needle, Matthew Campelli of Sustainability Huddle reports back on the recent Austrian World Summit in Vienna.
Nico Rosberg, meanwhile, joked about his own sins compared to his fellow panelists. While they were hitting tennis balls and skiing down hills, he was tearing around racetracks in a combustion engine car, 60 laps at 200mph, multiple times a year.
To make up for it, he’s now backing sustainable technology through Rosberg Ventures. The fund has raised $75 million and invested in over 35 startups and scaleups across e-mobility, energy management and plant-based food. One of its key partners, Khosla Ventures, has also invested in areas like sustainable agriculture, solar, lower-carbon cement, mass transit and hydrogen.
Sustainable Motorsport Tech
Toyota has taken the covers off the liquid hydrogen-powered GR LH2 Racing Concept, the latest manifestation of its desire to race in the 24 Hours of Le Mans and FIA World Endurance Championship with hydrogen power in future.
“Our main target right now is to expand the possibilities of hydrogen combustion engine technology. There is more to come, and to get to the right level, we believe we need to improve the technology further and there is more we have to do. This is the first step to learn what are the challenges.”
Read more about Toyota’s plans at Sportscar365 here.
In more hydrogen motorsport news, the FIA World Motor Sport Council has approved the Federation’s first-ever set of safety regulations for vehicles powered by liquid hydrogen, marking a major milestone in motor sport’s sustainable transition. By establishing a secure regulatory model, the FIA aims to position motor sport as a catalyst for hydrogen innovation across the broader mobility sector.
Daily Sportscar columnist Lawrence Butcher looks at the viability of alternative fuels in sportscar racing. “The ACO seems to have settled on liquid hydrogen storage as its preferred route. But even ignoring the energy density challenge (if the technical regulations were revised enough, you could feasibly achieve the same lap times and stint lengths as the current Hypercars with weight reduction, ICE efficiency improvements and more potent hybrid systems), it is still a pig to handle.”
The FIA has confirmed the technical regulations for GEN4 of Formula E at its World Motor Sport Council meeting in Macau on Tuesday. Maximum power has almost doubled, going from 350kW to 600kW, while the car’s regeneration capability will go up from 600kW to 700kW, making the car capable of generating more power than it will use. RACER has more details.
Michelin will introduce a new range of slick tires for the World Endurance Championship and the IMSA SportsCar Championship next year produced from 50% sustainable materials. The use of new materials and technologies in the WEC tires is part of Michelin’s drive to introduce tyres made from 100% sustainable materials for the road by 2050. Read more at Autosport.
In a time where every technological shift seems to spark ideological conflict, electric karting stands out as a rare example of quiet evolution. Blue Shock Race founder Artis Daugins, in a recent interview, offered a refreshingly pragmatic view: electric karts aren’t here to save the planet—but ignoring innovation just because it’s new is equally misguided. Vroom Kart explains.
Sustainable Racing
The upcoming electric Porsche Cayenne doesn’t exist yet, but Porsche just ran it up a public hill climb. “On Sunday, Porsche entered the electric Cayenne in prototype form at the 2025 UK British Championship Hillclimb at Shelsley Walsh. It’s hard to miss what this thing is because the “camo” wrap has Porsche Cayenne written all over it in neon purple and blue letters. Hilariously, the prototype also had a roof rack installed.” Check out The Drive for all the details.
Series News
Formula E and the FIA have announced the first provisional calendar for the 2025-26 season of the ABB FIA Formula E World Championship following validation from the FIA’s World Motorsport Council Meeting. The schedule features a record 18-race 2025/26 calendar with new venues in Miami and Madrid.
- Formula E, FIA unveil record 18-race 2025/26 calendar with new venues in Miami and Madrid (Formula E)
- New Formula E calendar has an eye on continuity – and the future (RACER)
- How Formula E has gone against its DNA with latest calendar announcement (Autosport)
Katy Fairman of Autosport explains why Formula E needs a proper rain tire. “It’s clear that something needs to be done soon as discussion of two separate races being cancelled across two consecutive race weekends cannot be the norm. These drivers and teams deserve the respect of a tyre compound that lets them race in whatever the conditions.”
Formula 1 has confirmed that Madrid will host its inaugural Grand Prix on 11th to 13th September 2025, replacing Imola as the final European event in a 24-race calendar. The 2025 calendar has remained at 24 races and has reflected further adjustments aimed at improving logistical efficiency and reducing the sport’s environmental footprint. “These calendar revisions align with Formula 1’s broader strategy to support sustainability goals ahead of the 2026 regulation changes, which include the introduction of power units running on 100% sustainable fuel.”
Extreme H has completed its final testing on its new hydrogen-powered race car, the Pioneer 25, in Fontjoncouse, the south of France. The session focused on fine-tuning performance, testing technical components, and evaluating the vehicle’s latest tyre developments, all critical enhancements designed to handle the series’ unique and demanding race environments.
Former Extreme E Champion, and E.ON Next Veloce Racing driver, Molly Taylor, became the latest driver to get behind the wheel of the Pioneer 25. Offering her insights on the vehicle’s evolution, Taylor said: “It was really cool! The car’s got a lot more potential to be pushed further. It’s instantly very confidence inspiring.”
Read more about the test at the Extreme H website here.
NXT Gen Cup and MEYLE AG have announced a new partnership for the 2025 season, uniting two leaders in electric racing and automotive parts. The Hamburg-based company’s products – available in over 120 countries – are known for being top-quality spare parts designed to meet the demands of the independent aftermarket. Around 20 MEYLE components are already integrated into the fully electric LRT NXT1 race car, based on the MINI Cooper SE road car. This technical foundation demonstrates how MEYLE’s parts live up to the rigorous standards of a racing environment.
Getting to the Track Sustainably
- United invests in e-SAF start-up Twelve and next-gen blended wing aircraft developer JetZero (Green Air News)
- Green Fuel Forward industry initiative formed to drive SAF uptake in Asia-Pacific (Green Air News)
- Beta Makes First Electric Flight into New York City Airport (AIN)
- Beta Technologies, in a first, lands passenger-carrying electric aircraft at NY airport (MSN)
- Pipistrel Velis Electro Trailblazing Electric Aviation (Business Jet Traveler)
- Million Air Aims for ‘Beyond Green’ at White Plains Forum (AIN)
- Qantas and Airbus pursue SAF technologies through venture capital investment (Green Air News)
- Swiss-based Metafuels to develop an e-SAF production plant in Rotterdam (Green Air News)
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.
