How DHL's New Partnership is Powering FIA Race Logistics

The Fédération Internationale de l'Automobile (FIA), the governing body for world motor sport, is partnering with DHL.

This was announced during the FIA Sustainability Innovation Series at the FIA Formula 1 British Grand Prix.

The partnership will aid in operational efficiency and sustainability.

Streamlining operations

 The FIA has launched the Global Partnership Programme as a means to collaborate with leading organisations around the world. 

It is partnering with groups who have a focus on driving innovation, upholding sustainable practices and ensuring safety across motor sport and mobility.  

For DHL, the partnership with the FIA is a significant step in the organisation’s growing involvement in motorsport.

Paul Fowler, Head of Global Motorsports Logistics at DHL, comments: “The FIA is a long-standing pillar of the motor sport community, so taking on the role as its Global Logistics Partner is a great honour to us. 

“Our connection extends beyond the track. We share essential values such as safety, quality, speed and precision, and we are both deeply committed to sustainability.” 

The partnership will allow for enhanced efficiency across events, as DHL will act as a streamlined transportation and logistics provider.

Through this, there will be a more focussed supply chain, and DHL can provide support in every part of the events.

DHL will manage the transport, installation and maintenance of FIA staging and equipment across the Formula 1, Formula 2 and Formula 3 championships.

It will be responsible for the transit of race-critical equipment as well as larger resources such as garages. 

With DHL’s specialised solutions for industries including engineering and manufacturing, alongside its expertise in international shipping, the FIA can have full confidence in this partnership and the streamlined chain of operations it will provide.

A sustainable focus

In its 2023 sustainability report, the FIA reported that the organisation produced 21,120.63 tonnes of  CO₂e. Motorsports has significant GHG emissions through burning fuel through the cars themselves, and transport to and from the event.

The FIA aims to halve its 2019 emissions (18,910.69 tonnes CO₂) by 2030. 

To meet these goals, the FIA has introduced these partnerships as a means to be more sustainable, especially as motorsports is growing every year.

The partnership with DHL will create a smoother pathway for sustainable practices.

FIA Chief Commercial Officer, Craig Edmondson, says: “This partnership with DHL is a great opportunity to collaborate not only on the vital behind-the-scenes work that goes on at any track event, but also to drive sustainable practices across our industry.”

“Pushing for greater sustainability across both motor sport and mobility is a priority for the FIA, and we are constantly seeking to embed this ethos into our ways of working, including our relationships with commercial partners.”

DHL will deploy seven trucks for European logistics–likely transporting staging and other necessary equipment–using hydrotreated vegetable oil (HVO) instead of fuel. This alone will cut emissions by up to 83%.

HVO is a “drop-in” biofuel alternative, so any pre-existing engine that burns diesel can run on it, meaning specialised trucks don’t need to be built. 

As a result, it is an immediate switch, and it means there are no wasted engines as DHL makes the switch.

DHL is also helping to deliver the rationalised calendar the FIA is creating as a way to streamline geographical flow. This means that back-and-forth travel distances should be reduced, and the use of lower-carbon freight solutions can be introduced.

Paul adds: “Together, we champion alternative power sources and groundbreaking drive technologies that help reduce emissions along with regionalisation of racing calendars.”

With DHL’s already-established sustainable practices, the FIA is on track to meet its 2030 goals with the help of this partnership.