Cadillac Racing has been named the recipient of the 2026 DHL Sustainable Endurance Award in the Hypercar category, marking a significant recognition of its structured and data-driven sustainability program within global endurance racing. The award, presented in association with the FIA, the ACO and DHL during the build-up to the iconic 24 Hours of Le Mans, highlights teams that demonstrate measurable environmental responsibility alongside competitive performance.
The recognition places Cadillac Racing among the most forward-looking competitors in endurance motorsport, particularly for its holistic approach to sustainability. According to the award organizers, Cadillac Racing’s submission stood out not only for the breadth of initiatives but also for the clarity of measurement, traceability of impact, and direct connection to operational decisions at Le Mans.
Unlike general sustainability statements often seen in motorsport, Cadillac Racing’s dossier was described as “comprehensive, structured and evidence-based,” covering every major operational domain—logistics, hospitality, procurement, waste reduction, catering, energy management and community engagement. The program reflects a wider transformation in endurance racing, where environmental performance is increasingly considered alongside speed, reliability and engineering excellence.
A logistics strategy built on measurable emissions reduction
One of the strongest components of Cadillac Racing’s submission was its logistics strategy, which focused on reducing transport-related emissions across the full Le Mans operation. Motorsport logistics are traditionally one of the largest contributors to a team’s carbon footprint, making this area a key focus for improvement.
Cadillac Racing increased its reliance on sea freight for transporting equipment associated with Cadillac Wayne Taylor Racing operations, moving from 70 percent coverage in 2025 to 90 percent in 2026. This shift significantly reduces the carbon intensity of international freight compared to air transport, while maintaining operational reliability for race preparation schedules.
In parallel, the team introduced more efficient movement of personnel and equipment across Europe. U.S.-based staff traveling for the race weekend used rail transport between Paris and Le Mans, reducing short-haul emissions and road congestion during peak event periods. For European logistics operations connected to JOTA, road transport was optimized from the United Kingdom into France, ensuring consolidated shipments and reduced redundant trips.
In addition, Cadillac Racing emphasized local sourcing and European storage strategies, ensuring that non-critical equipment is stored or procured closer to the event location. This approach reduces repeated transcontinental shipping and helps establish a more regionally efficient supply chain model for endurance racing.
Hospitality transformation and energy efficiency upgrades
Another key area recognized by the jury was Cadillac Racing’s hospitality program at Le Mans. Hospitality operations in motorsport often require significant energy consumption, especially through temporary structures, lighting, climate control and catering systems.
Cadillac Racing implemented a reuse strategy for its hospitality infrastructure, ensuring that structures are not rebuilt or discarded annually but instead refurbished and redeployed. This significantly reduces material waste and embodied carbon emissions associated with construction.
Energy monitoring systems were also introduced to establish a clear baseline for 2026 operations. By measuring real-time energy consumption, the team is now able to track improvements and identify inefficiencies more precisely. This marks an important shift from estimation-based reporting to data-driven environmental management.
Additional improvements included the adoption of LED lighting systems and energy-efficient appliances across hospitality units. The team also implemented operational adjustments designed to reduce air conditioning demand, including improved insulation practices and smarter layout design to minimize heat buildup. These combined efforts contributed to a measurable reduction in energy intensity during the race weekend.
Catering emissions reduced through menu redesign
One of the most notable achievements highlighted by the jury was Cadillac Racing’s progress in reducing the carbon footprint of its catering operations. Food services at large motorsport events can contribute significantly to overall emissions, depending on sourcing, menu composition and waste handling practices.
Cadillac Racing reported a reduction in average carbon emissions per meal from 7.13 kg CO2e in 2024 to 6.49 kg CO2e in 2026. This improvement was achieved through a combination of menu redesign and sourcing changes, including a deliberate reduction in beef consumption and a broader shift toward plant-based meal options.
The team also prioritized local sourcing to reduce transportation emissions associated with ingredients, while maintaining nutritional quality for athletes, engineers and staff working long hours during race weekends. Another key element was food surplus management. Unused meals and ingredients were donated to Les Restos du Cœur, ensuring that excess food was redistributed rather than wasted.
This combination of dietary optimization, responsible sourcing and food redistribution allowed Cadillac Racing to demonstrate that performance-focused catering can also deliver measurable sustainability outcomes without compromising team operations.
Plastic reduction and water sustainability initiatives
Cadillac Racing also made significant progress in eliminating single-use plastics from its operations. The team installed five BWT water stations across its hospitality and operational zones, providing continuous access to filtered drinking water and reducing reliance on bottled alternatives.
To further support this transition, 1,000 reusable bottles were distributed to fans and team members, reinforcing behavioral change beyond the immediate team environment. In hospitality areas, single-use plastic items were completely eliminated, aligning with broader sustainability goals across endurance racing events.
These initiatives collectively prevented the use of approximately 4,000 plastic bottles over the race period. The environmental impact was quantified as a reduction of roughly 114.8 kg of plastic waste and 319.3 kg of CO2 emissions. This level of precise measurement was a key factor in the jury’s evaluation, as it demonstrated not just intent but verified environmental impact.
Broader sustainability commitments beyond environmental metrics
Beyond operational improvements, the jury also highlighted Cadillac Racing’s broader sustainability and social responsibility initiatives. The program integrates environmental stewardship with ethical procurement policies, community engagement and diversity-focused initiatives within motorsport.
A key focus area has been support for women in motorsport and STEAM (Science, Technology, Engineering, Arts and Mathematics) education. Through outreach programs and partnerships, Cadillac Racing aims to expand access to motorsport-related careers and inspire the next generation of engineers and drivers from more diverse backgrounds.
Community engagement efforts also included collaboration with the Gaston Bachelard School in Le Mans, where Cadillac Racing participated in educational initiatives designed to connect students with real-world engineering and sustainability challenges in motorsport.
Responsible procurement practices were also embedded into the team’s operations, ensuring suppliers align with environmental and ethical standards. This includes consideration of material sourcing, production methods and long-term sustainability commitments from partners.
Leadership perspective and team collaboration
Accepting the award on behalf of the organization, Keely Bosn of Cadillac Racing emphasized that the recognition reflects collective effort across multiple stakeholders and partners. She highlighted that the sustainability achievements are the result of coordinated action across racing teams, suppliers and corporate partners rather than isolated initiatives.
She stated that the award represents recognition of work that often happens behind the scenes—systems, processes and decisions that are not visible during race broadcasts but are essential to the long-term evolution of endurance racing. According to her, the sustainability program is deeply integrated into Cadillac Racing’s operational philosophy, where continuous improvement applies not only to vehicle performance but also to environmental responsibility.
Bosn also acknowledged contributions from Wayne Taylor Racing, JOTA, General Motors, as well as suppliers and technical partners who supported the implementation of sustainability measures across logistics, hospitality and procurement systems.
A broader signal for endurance racing’s sustainability direction
The 2026 DHL Sustainable Endurance Award reflects a broader shift within endurance motorsport toward verifiable environmental accountability. Teams are increasingly expected to demonstrate not only competitive excellence but also structured sustainability frameworks with measurable outcomes.
Cadillac Racing’s recognition signals how top-tier motorsport programs are evolving into integrated sustainability ecosystems, where logistics optimization, energy management, dietary planning and community engagement are treated as interconnected performance areas.
As endurance racing continues to grow globally, initiatives like those implemented by Cadillac Racing are likely to become benchmarks for future competitors. The focus is no longer limited to reducing environmental impact in abstract terms but to quantifying improvements across every aspect of race weekend operations.
In this context, the award represents more than a ceremonial honor. It underscores a transition in motorsport culture—one where sustainability is embedded into performance strategy itself, and where success is defined not only by laps completed but also by the efficiency and responsibility with which those laps are achieved.
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