How Goodyear Racing continues to push forward sustainability in WEC

The first round of the FIA World Endurance Championship in Qatar marked LMGT3’s arrival to the championship, with Goodyear as the exclusive tire supplier. Through its new specification of LMGT3 tire and improvements to the logistical component of supporting the category, Goodyear has supported WEC and the FIA’s sustainability objectives to make the sport cleaner and more environmentally responsible. 

Goodyear manufactures every LMGT3 tire at its state-of-the-art facility in Hanau, Germany. The factory is International Sustainability and Carbon Certification (ISCC) PLUS certified. ISCC PLUS certification demonstrates Goodyear Racing’s commitment to advancing circularity and traceability, two major sustainability targets. Using bio-based and recycled materials in its racing tires decreases the demand for finite resources. 

This year, every LMGT3 tire comprises 33% roughly sustainable material. The new tire specification represents one of the highest proportions of sustainable material currently used in GT racing. Sustainable materials include natural resins, carbon black, polymers and recycled steel. In addition, wet tires include rice husk ash silica.  

A key element to managing a sustainable production is producing less. Since returning to world championship level endurance racing in 2020, one of Goodyear’s objectives has been to reduce the carbon footprint of its endurance racing program. It’s achieved this by:

Making only one dry compound available each race

In 2022, Goodyear switched to using a single slick compound, significantly reducing the number of tires produced. Multi-compound championships often have to produce an excess to meet demand and give teams strategy choice, but simplifying the structure allows for more accurate forecasting. This small change alone has seen a 33% reduction in the number of tires produced over the course of a season. 

Removal of tire warmers 

WEC was the first FIA World Championship to step away from permitting the use of tire warmers in 2023. For tire manufacturers, this helps improve sustainability in a number of ways. Firstly, it lowers the amount of equipment that’s shipped to each race and simplifies logistics. Secondly, it significantly lowers the trackside energy consumption associated with tires. Goodyear developed this spec of tire in 2022, allowing for fast warm up to compensate for teams being unable to artificially heat tires.

Tires that last multiple fuel stints

Endurance racing has always been about going further with the same resources, and that philosophy is present in Goodyear’s LMGT3 tire range. Five stints on a single set of tires is possible at Le Mans this year, equivalent to three times the distance of a Formula 1 Grand Prix. 

Intelligent logistics to reduce carbon emissions 

In 2024, Goodyear Racing’s stock and equipment will travel by sea freight, making logistical operation behind the scenes more sustainable. Long-haul flights emit 47 times more greenhouse gases than ocean freight per ton a mile³.

Multiple uses for tires after use

Mike McGregor, Goodyear Racing’s Endurance Program Manager: “We’re fully committed to lowering the carbon footprint of our motorsport program. Whether it’s transporting fewer tires overall or using cutting-edge technology to increase the amount of sustainable material in our tires, it all contributes to setting the standard in motorsport. 

“In addition, Goodyear’s racing activity directly informs the future of road-going tires, too. The collaboration between our race and road development teams reaffirms our commitment to international motorsport, with the continuous progress we can bring to our tires enjoyed by drivers all over the world.”

 ^{1. https://www.environmentalreport.fia.com/}

^{2. A sustainable material is defined as a bio-based/renewable, recycled material or one that may be produced using or contributing to other sustainable practices for resource conservation and/or emissions reductions including mass-balance materials.}

^{3. Air Freight vs Sea Freight Carbon Footprint (The Real Numbers in 2023): https://8billiontrees.com/carbon-offsets-credits/carbon-ecological-footprint-calculators/air-freight-vs-sea-freight-carbon-footprint/}

About The Goodyear Tire & Rubber Company

Goodyear is one of the world’s largest tire companies. It employs about 71,000 people and manufactures its products in 55 facilities in 22 countries around the world. Its two Innovation Centers in Akron, Ohio, and Colmar-Berg, Luxembourg, strive to develop state-of-the-art products and services that set the technology and performance standard for the industry. For more information about Goodyear and its products, go to www.goodyear.com/corporate.