Is Sustainable Racing Truly Feasible? IMSA and Michelin Have a Strategy

      Cadillac

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      At first glance, the term sustainability doesn’t seem to resonate with “auto racing.” While we cherish motorsport, it's undeniably wasteful, consuming fuel, rubber, and other resources, not to mention financial investment, all for the sake of abstract achievement. Nevertheless, as the racing world continues at full speed, what does the coexistence of racing and environmental consciousness actually look like?

      Perhaps it's better expressed this way: just as racing has driven genuine engineering progress that has enhanced cars over the years, could the same intense focus that trims fractions of a second from lap times also be harnessed for renewable fuels, tire durability, and energy efficiency? Is it possible to demonstrate that high performance, sustainability, and enjoyment can coexist harmoniously?

      IMSA, along with its tire partner Michelin and fuel partner VP Racing Fuels, believes this is achievable. I attended the Petit Le Mans at Road Atlanta last month to explore their perspective on why motorsport serves as an ideal testing ground for sustainability, aimed at enthusiasts. It’s easy to be skeptical about ambitious claims, such as Michelin’s goal of producing 40 percent of its 200 million tires annually from renewable materials by 2030, or VP Racing Fuels’ development of a completely petroleum-free racing fuel that matches traditional gasoline performance. However, significant progress is already being made.

      Cadillac Fred Hardy II

      The key question remains: will it lead them in the direction they assert?

      Innovative Concepts

      IMSA stands as the largest sports car racing governing body in North America, Michelin is the top tire manufacturer globally, and the two have recently renewed their partnership for another decade. Michelin will continue as the Official Tire of IMSA through the 2035 season, and both organizations have pledged to enhance material sustainability and lower their carbon footprint. They appear genuinely committed and ambitious in their endeavors.

      IMSA has already made strides to boost sustainability and lessen its dependence on non-renewable materials. This initiative began with the introduction of the hybrid-electrified Grand Touring Prototype (GTP) class in 2023—the first of its kind in North American professional motorsports featuring hybrid-powered race cars. The GTP vehicles comply with IMSA’s LMDh and the Automobile Club de l’Ouest’s Le Mans Hypercar regulations, making them eligible for the Hypercar class in the FIA World Endurance Championship (WEC). Similarly, WEC’s LMH prototypes are now eligible for the GTP class of IMSA’s WeatherTech Championship.

      The more impactful news is that in the same year, IMSA transitioned to using VP Racing Fuel, composed of eighty percent renewable sources, which reduced carbon dioxide emissions in GTP race cars by twenty-six percent compared to the previous fuel.

      Jordan Lenssen

      David Pettit, IMSA’s Senior Vice President of Marketing and Business Operations, noted that IMSA’s sustainability pledge goes beyond what’s been mentioned. It also encompasses a reduction in on-site media production and engineering staff facilitated by enhanced data connectivity. IMSA’s support trailers are now equipped with enough solar panels to function off-grid, even providing power for manufacturers’ demo EVs and PHEVs on site.

      In 2023, Michelin also launched new Hypercar racing tires and, in collaboration with IMSA, reduced tire allocations. Combined with an increase of thirty percent in renewable materials in these new tires, this led to an 18.8 percent decrease in metric tons of carbon dioxide per GTP car. On the development front, Michelin has ramped up its use of simulators and modeling, significantly cutting down on the need for track testing. By the end of 2024, sustainable materials are expected to constitute thirty-one percent of Michelin’s racing tires.

      Kamil Kaluski

      That said, it's reasonable to question the tangible impact of these initiatives. Hybrid systems, such as those featured in the new GTP cars developed by Bosch, Xtrac, and Williams Advanced Engineering, rely on lithium, nickel, and other mined metals. The extraction, transportation, and processing of these materials have their own environmental costs. Additionally, more support vehicles and personnel are now required to service these systems. Among the GTP manufacturers, Acura, Aston Martin, BMW, Cadillac, Lamborghini, and Porsche, two don’t even sell hybrids. The racing sector is making efforts to evolve, but whether that evolution is recognized by fans or benefits the environment is still uncertain. Will racing enthusiasts even be aware of these changes?

      Looking Ahead

      IMSA and VP Racing Fuels, similar to Formula 1, plan to implement one hundred percent certified sustainable fuel by 2026. Michelin has recently introduced a new generation of its Pilot Sport Endurance racing tires. The two organizations collaboratively established a Sustainability in Racing Award, which will honor the GTP car demonstrating the highest sustainability performance at each race, accumulating to