The Future of Motorsports

The unique combination of extraordinary speed, technological innovation, and heart-pounding excitement has drawn people to racetracks worldwide for years. Whether you're a fan of the classic oval tracks of NASCAR, the winding roads and open-wheel vehicles of Formula 1, or the iconic drifts of rally racing, one thing remains true: motorsports are evolving. A new era of racing is on the horizon, and you can get a sneak peek at the factors that will shape the future of motorsports below. 

Greater Focus on Sustainability

Motorsports has followed the recent trend in the consumer automotive sector by shifting its focus toward sustainability. This push to reduce the industry's carbon footprint has led to the development of fully electric vehicles capable of high performance on the racetrack.

• NASCAR unveiled its first all-electric vehicle, the ABB NASCAR EV Prototype, at the 2024 Chicago Street Race. While Formula 1 has no plans to introduce fully electric vehicles, they announced that by 2026, all cars will race with hybrid engines, featuring a 50:50 split between internal combustion and electrical power.
• Since its debut in 2014, Formula E, the first all-electric racing series, has experienced a steady growth in popularity. In 2023, the organization achieved record viewership, underscoring the increasing emphasis on and acceptance of sustainability in motorsports. MotoGP has also introduced MotoE, a series where riders compete on the electric Ducati V211 motorcycle. While traditional combustion engines will remain on racetracks for years to come, the future of racing appears to be moving toward more electric vehicles on the tracks across the globe.
• Motorsports may never completely abandon the combustion engine, but significant efforts are being made to reduce the sport's environmental impact. The world’s largest motorsports organizations are actively researching and incorporating sustainable fuels into their vehicles.

Technology Driving Innovation

Technological advancements are primed to revolutionize racing and bring concepts that were once confined to the realms of science fiction to racetracks globally. And this is no exaggeration — today almost anyone can see remote-controlled drones zooming through the sky and completely autonomous cars competing against one another. We could also be lucky enough to see the introduction of piloted "flying electric race cars" speeding through the skies in the near future.

• The sport of drone racing is quickly gaining popularity and participants can be competing all over the world. From ad hoc courses in local parks to the vibrantly colored, stadium-sized courses of the world's leading drone racing organization, the Drone Racing League.
• The technology to run fully autonomous races is continuously being developed and has already been put into practice. In April 2024, the Abu Dhabi Autonomous Racing League (A2RL) held its first race featuring eight Dallara Super Formula cars and not a single human driver or pilot. The only humans involved were the engineers and coders to program the vehicles. The A2RL is also planning on holding fully autonomous drone and dune buggy races as well.
• Thanks to a company known as Airspeeder, we could see electric flying cars racing through the sky before long. Since 2016, they’ve been working to turn the dreams of their founder into a reality, and they’re not too far off. They already developed their first manned "flying car" designed for racing with the Airspeeder Mk4 and plan to hold races with humans in the driver’s seat within the next few years.

Innovative Fan Engagement

Burgeoning technologies are not only being used under the hoods of race cars but also to engage fans in unprecedented ways. Innovations in virtual and augmented reality provide fans with all-new, immersive and interactive viewing experiences while educating fans.

• The growing popularity and affordability of VR headsets give fans closer views of races than ever before. Formula 1 is also developing an app that incorporates augmented reality features into live race viewing experiences. This upcoming app will let fans access live race data, view leaderboards, and even project a 3D course map into their homes.
• Augmented reality technology also offers interested racing enthusiasts an opportunity to get an up-close view of vehicle designs and engineering to deepen fan appreciation for the incredible machines that make motorsports so captivating. It will allow unprecedented access and interaction with behind-the-scenes race day tours, virtual track walkthroughs and even virtual pit lane experiences.

What Lies Ahead

The future of motorsports will undoubtedly be defined by technology. Whether through advancements in sustainability, cutting-edge fan experiences, or innovations in auto racing that we have yet to imagine, technology will be at the forefront. Though, no matter how the sport evolves, the unrivaled challenge, competitive spirit and pulse-pounding excitement that make us love racing will remain.