The Future of Motorsport in Focus at World Motorsport Symposium 2026

RACE TECH’s World Motorsport Symposium returns to the prestigious Royal Automobile Club in Pall Mall, London, on 16–17 November for its 22nd edition, bringing together some of the industry’s foremost engineering minds to examine the future of racing.

The two-day event will be chaired by two of motorsport’s most respected engineering figures, Pat Symonds and Ulrich Baretzky. Symonds, whose extensive Formula 1 career includes senior technical roles at several leading teams, is now an executive consultant to Cadillac’s Formula 1 team. Baretzky, meanwhile, played a pivotal role in Audi’s endurance racing success as its former Director of Motorsport Engine Development.

From hydrogen powertrains and sustainable tyres to artificial intelligence and aerodynamics, the World Motorsport Symposium returns to London for two days of discussion on the technologies shaping racing’s future.

Bringing together leading engineers, manufacturers and decision-makers from across international motorsport, the Symposium will explore the industry’s most pressing challenges. With championships seeking to reduce their environmental impact without compromising performance, alternative fuels, electrification and sustainable materials will feature prominently throughout the programme.

Hydrogen technology will be among the major talking points, with Toyota Racing providing an insight into its liquid hydrogen demonstration car project at Le Mans in 2026. The MissionH24 programme will also feature, bringing attention to the engineering challenges associated with integrating hydrogen powertrains into competitive motorsport. From onboard storage and packaging to the competing demands of efficiency and performance, the discussions will explore the potential of hydrogen as an alternative to conventional racing fuels.

The future of endurance racing will come under the spotlight through a joint keynote from the Automobile Club de l’Ouest (ACO) and IMSA, examining how the two organisations can continue building momentum within the discipline.

Battery technology and high-performance electric vehicles will provide another focus, as engineers explore the challenges of developing electric powertrains capable of meeting the demanding performance requirements of competitive motorsport.

Sustainability will extend beyond propulsion, with tyre development forming a significant part of the programme. Pirelli’s Matteo Battaini, Chief Sustainability and New Mobility, will examine the technology behind the future of motorsport tyres, before a wider discussion involving Michelin and Bcomp considers how material innovation could help reduce environmental impact while maintaining the grip, durability and consistency demanded by competitive racing.

While sustainability provides a central theme, the Symposium will also examine the engineering technologies transforming how racing cars are designed and developed.

Aerodynamics and simulation will provide another major focus, with discussions exploring new hardware and computational techniques for Formula 1 aerodynamic development. Artificial intelligence will also come under scrutiny, particularly its potential to accelerate engineering simulation, improve computational efficiency and influence the design and optimisation of future racing cars.

Beyond the technical challenges, the Symposium will consider the wider future of the sport, from strategic discussions involving leading manufacturers to the importance of grassroots motorsport and encouraging greater participation.

The event has established itself as a forum for open technical discussion, with its panel sessions held under the Chatham House Rule to encourage candid debate among industry leaders.

For delegates, the Symposium also presents an opportunity to engage directly with some of motorsport’s most influential engineering figures, exchange ideas and develop connections across the industry.

With sustainability, technological innovation and the future direction of racing all firmly on the agenda, the World Motorsport Symposium 2026 promises two days of discussion on the challenges and opportunities that will help define the next generation of motorsport.

Further information, including the full programme and delegate registration, is available at www.worldmotorsportsymposium.com