HVO100 highlights motorsport’s role in promoting sustainable road transport

The Goodyear FIA ETRC championship was officially recognized by the FIA in 2006. Can you give us an overview of the series’ 20-year history?

Although the FIA European Truck Racing Championship officially gained FIA European Championship status in 2006, the history of European truck racing dates back to 1985 after the inaugural Truck Grand Prix at Donington Park in 1984. A major milestone came in 2006 with the creation of the FIA European Truck Racing Championship. Another key step forward came in 2016, when ETRA Promotion became promoter of the championship, driving its commercial and sporting development for a decade. The series also strengthened its sustainability credentials in 2021 by introducing renewable fuel in partnership with TotalEnergies. Today, 2026 marks a new chapter as the FIA assumes direct responsibility for the championship, building on more than 40 years of truck racing history while shaping its future development. As well as continuing to oversee the Goodyear FIA ETRC’s sporting and technical regulations, the FIA is taking a more hands-on approach in running the championship. Areas such as partnerships, calendar development, circuit relations, competitor engagement and paddock operations are all being managed directly by the FIA.

What are the technical specifications of these behemoths—with over 1,000 hp—that reach speeds of more than 150 km/h on the track?

Goodyear FIA ETRC racing trucks are highly developed racing versions of two-axle tractor units, designed to retain as much of the architecture of standard production trucks as possible while delivering exceptional circuit performance, although stringent safety measures remain a key focus. With a minimum weight of 5,300 kg, including at least 3,150 kg on the front axle, they produce around 1,200–1,300 bhp and approximately 6,000 Nm of torque, making them among the most powerful vehicles competing on European circuits. Despite this performance, their maximum speed is limited to 160 km/h for safety reasons. The race trucks rely on pneumatic brake systems, but the extreme braking forces and heat generated during racing require water-cooled brakes, with approximately 200 litres of water used during a 30-minute race. Sustainability is also an important part of the championship. In 2021, the FIA ETRC became the first FIA-sanctioned championship to switch to 100% sustainable fuel, adopting HVO100 supplied by TotalEnergies.

Is the race format the same as for cars, with free practice and qualifying sessions? What’s a typical Goodyear FIA ETRC race weekend like?

Each Goodyear FIA ETRC event consists of four Championship races, organised over a two- or three-day weekend. Before the first race of each day, there is a three-phase qualifying session, run in an elimination format: all trucks participate in the first phase, followed by the top 12 and then the top 6. The final qualifying results determine the starting grid for the first race of each day. The second and fourth races use a reverse grid for the top eight finishers of the preceding race, giving drivers further down the field an opportunity to fight for positions at the front. The races themselves are sprint-format races lasting approximately 30 minutes, preceded by a formation lap behind an IVECO S-eWay serving as the pace truck. The Goodyear FIA ETRC calendar typically consists of seven events per season, held between May and October.

There’s always a huge crowd and plenty of entertainment at the events. It’s a championship that clearly appeals to fans. What are the keys to its success?

Truck racing has a particularly loyal and passionate fan base. The Nürburgring event remains the traditional highlight of the season, attracting close to 130,000 spectators every year, many of whom come from the road transport industry. However, a Goodyear FIA ETRC weekend is much more than a sporting event. It brings together manufacturers, transport companies, professional drivers, suppliers, industry stakeholders and fans in a unique environment. One of the championship’s greatest strengths is its ability to combine sport, business and community. Our ambition is to further develop FIA ETRC events into true transport festivals, with truck racing at their core and complemented by industry exhibitions, technological innovation, entertainment and networking opportunities. In many ways, a Goodyear FIA ETRC weekend is an open-air road transport exhibition, where the industry can meet, showcase innovations and engage with fans and the wider public. This unique concept is one of the key reasons for the championship’s continued success and popularity.

The Le Mans race is one of the season’s highlights. Tell us about this particular event, which will take place in late September at the Bugatti Circuit.

Le Mans is, together with the Nürburgring, one of the flagship events of the Goodyear FIA ETRC season. Held at the iconic Bugatti Circuit, it is much more than a race weekend: it is a true truck festival that brings together the Goodyear FIA ETRC, the French Truck Racing Championship and the British Truck Racing Championship. The event, which has been held since 1981, combines high-level sporting competition with a unique fan experience. It attracts most major truck manufacturers, who use the occasion to showcase their latest products and technologies. The paddock is transformed into a lively exhibition area featuring entertainment, demonstrations and activities for visitors. Le Mans also plays an important role for the road transport industry, serving as a platform to promote careers in the sector and helping companies address the growing demand for professional drivers. This combination of motorsport, industry engagement and fan activities makes Le Mans one of the most popular and important events on the Goodyear FIA ETRC calendar.

TotalEnergies has been a partner and the exclusive supplier of HVO100 biodiesel fuel to the Goodyear FIA ETRC since 2021. What has TotalEnergies brought to this championship with this new fuel?

The partnership with TotalEnergies in 2021 was a major milestone for the Goodyear FIA ETRC. By introducing HVO100 as the exclusive fuel for the championship, the Goodyear FIA ETRC became the first FIA-sanctioned series to compete using 100% renewable fuel. This significantly reduced visible exhaust emissions, particularly black smoke, and demonstrated that motorsport can play a meaningful role in promoting more sustainable technologies. The initiative also supported the FIA’s global sustainability strategy while strengthening the championship’s relevance to the road transport sector.

What are the main advantages of HVO100 fuel for the teams?

The main advantage of HVO100 is that it provides teams with a certified sustainable fuel that can be used without compromising performance. It supports the FIA’s sustainability objectives by significantly reducing greenhouse gas emissions compared with conventional diesel, while maintaining the reliability and competitiveness required at the highest level of truck racing. The introduction of HVO100 also showed how motorsport can help promote more sustainable solutions for the road transport industry. Teams embrace its use and use it as part of their own promotional activities.

What does the future hold for the Goodyear FIA ETRC championship in the medium and long term? Are there any upcoming changes?

In June the World Motor Sport Council approved the general principles of an updated technical roadmap for the Goodyear FIA ETRC. This includes the introduction of a new technical platform for the next generation of race trucks. The current specification of trucks will continue to compete under dedicated a set of regulations, known as Category II, and are expected to remain eligible until at least 2030. Alongside the Category II, a new Category I specification will be introduced to increase road relevance and facilitate the integration of future powertrain technologies. The new regulations are being developed with several key objectives, including reducing vehicle weight and operating costs, improving safety, increasing the use of components derived from series-production trucks, and further enhancing sustainability. In addition, the Category I trucks will be ballast-compatible and designed to accommodate multiple energy sources, including fully electric, hybrid and liquid hydrogen (LH₂) powertrains in the future.

As in most motorsports series, sustainability is a key concern for the Goodyear FIA ETRC

The roadmap presented to the Commission foresees completion of a first draft of the new Category I chassis regulations by the end of 2026, allowing homologation from 2027, with the objective of becoming eligible for Goodyear FIA ETRC competition from 2028. Development of the Category I powertrain regulations will follow a separate timeline, with a first draft planned by the end of 2027 and development work commencing in 2028. The introduction of these new regulations aims to secure a sustainable long-term future for truck racing while maintaining continuity for existing competitors. Beyond the Goodyear FIA ETRC, FIA Truck Racing regulations are also adopted by a number of national truck racing competitions across Europe, therefore the new technical road map is set to have a broader impact on the future of the discipline. However, this evolution must be carefully managed alongside the current regulations, ensuring a stable and sustainable environment for competitors while protecting the championship’s existing business model. While the sport must continue to evolve, it is equally important to preserve the DNA of the Goodyear FIA ETRC. The close connection with the road transport sector, the presence of industry stakeholders in the paddock and the unique community that surrounds truck racing are fundamental strengths that we want to maintain and further develop in the years ahead.