Partners since 2018, TotalEnergies, the Automobile Club de l’Ouest (ACO), and Le Mans Endurance Management (LMEM) have announced a five-year renewal of their partnership, up to 2028. As a multi-energy partner, TotalEnergies will support the ACO in its energy transition.
Committed to an ambitious strategy entitled “Race to 2030”, ACO’s goal is to achieve net zero by 2030, cutting its carbon emissions by 30 percent and developing a carbon offset program.
Under the terms of the partnership, TotalEnergies will provide its energy transition expertise and will guide the ACO through an energy audit of its infrastructure, installing charging stations for electric vehicles (EVs) and photovoltaic panels on its buildings and car parks.
We’re delighted to renew our partnership with the Automobile Club de l’Ouest and Le Mans Endurance Management, to support them in their energy transition and help them get to net zero. Motorsports, especially endurance racing and the 24 Hours of Le Mans, are a real testing ground for TotalEnergies and a showcase for the innovative solutions the Company offers its customers, said Patrick Pouyanné, Chairman and CEO of TotalEnergies.
TotalEnergies will also pursue its long-term connection with endurance competitions by offering alternatives to fossil fuels, such as biofuels and hydrogen.
I am very happy to renew our partnership with TotalEnergies, a loyal ally that provides concrete solutions in response to environmental issues. TotalEnergies will help us to make the Bugatti circuit a trailblazer for the energy transition up to 2028 and will allow us to keep pioneering innovations in endurance events. The contract covers all the ACO championships and major races: FIA WEC, Asian Le Mans Series, European Le Mans Series, 24 Hours of Le Mans motorcycle race, and Michelin Le Mans Cup. I would like to thank TotalEnergies for their trust and expertise, said Pierre Fillon, Chairman of Automobile Club de l’Ouest.
Endurance races with sustainable waste-based fuel
Like an open-air laboratory, the race track plays a key role in innovation, because the extreme conditions of endurance competitions—long races and high mileage—drive the development of ever more efficient fuels that will one day be available for motorists.
To meet these requirements, TotalEnergies has developed Excellium Racing 100, a racing fuel produced from wine waste and residues – lees and grape pomace – that meets all the demands of automakers, motorists, and the European Renewable Energy Directive (RED II).
According to the company, the fuel reduces carbon dioxide (CO2) emissions by at least 65 percent over its life cycle compared to its fossil equivalent.
Using an approved mass-balance approach, Excellium Racing 100 is certified as 100 percent sustainable, and the fuel was first introduced at the FIA World Endurance Championships (WEC) in March 2022, at the 1,000 Miles of Sebring race (USA), and was used for the entire starting grid.
Biofuels have an important role to play in driving progress in the transportation sector by cutting CO2 emissions immediately, and we’re delighted to make a 100 percent sustainable fuel available for the ACO, said Patrick Pouyanné.
The FIA WEC and the European Le Mans Series have pioneered the use of this type of fuel for all competitors.
TotalEnergies has stood by us since 2018, making us pioneers with the arrival of an entirely renewable fuel and allowing us to considerably reduce our carbon footprint during our races. We’re keen to pursue our fruitful partnership with TotalEnergies in the championships organized by LMEM: the FIA WEC, the European Le Mans Series, the Asian Le Mans Series, and the Michelin Le Mans Cup, which all act as open-air laboratories, said Frédéric Lequien, CEO of Le Mans Endurance Management.
