“Motorsport is our best test laboratory”

Cologne, October 2026 — Countless teams across all disciplines and performance levels rely on Motul: from amateur sports to world leaders, from pocket bikes to MotoGP and from karting to Formula 1. With the final rounds in numerous racing series, the 2026 motorsport season is turning onto the home straight. Motul's knowledge gained on the slopes is incorporated into product development. This benefits the teams supported by the company first — and finally everyone who uses Motul lubricants in their vehicles in everyday life.

When hundredths of a second decide whether to win or lose, every technical component counts. Racing engines operate at extreme speeds and temperatures. Engine oil is therefore important for performance and reliability. That is why numerous teams rely on a close development partnership with Motul as a specialist in high-performance lubricants. Manthey is one of them: The team supported by Motul will be defending champions and championship leaders in the DTM finale at the Hockenheimring. “For Motul, technical partnerships come before pure sponsorship: True to our claim as 'Co-Creators of Performance, 'we want to make a contribution in the vehicle, not just be visible on it,” explains Dmitry Bakumenko, managing director of Motul Germany. “This goes so far that our product is sometimes also effective in vehicles that do not have a Motul logo on them.” In addition, the products with which Motul supports motorsport teams can also be purchased in stores — in the case of Manthey and the DTM, this includes the high-performance 300V motor oil.

From the racetrack to the road
Especially in the long-haul and high-performance sector, it is clear how resilient the products really are. The knowledge gained in this way is indispensable for lubricant development. The continuous load typical of motorsport causes racing engines to experience extreme mechanical and thermal loads as well as structural and operation-related contaminants. These factors have a particularly strong influence on lubricity and protective function. Based on oil analyses after the race, it is possible to understand how the oil reacts to these loads. The results and experiences from motorsport are also incorporated into the further development of the formulations. By reducing frictional losses in the oil circuit, mechanical energy is recovered — this provides a performance advantage in the race. This knowledge is also relevant for modern series engines: In order to meet current emission standards, they often work with turbocharging, high mean pressures during combustion and as little internal engine friction as possible.

Focus partnerships with racing teams
The technical benefits of cooperation play a decisive role for Motul when selecting partner teams — in automotive as well as in motorcycle racing. In the DTM, in addition to Manthey, the Grasser Racing Team (GRT) also relies on Motul's know-how. The 24-hour races at Le Mans and at the Nürburgring, in which Motul works with Manthey, Sauzmotoren Motorsport and numerous other teams, provide particularly valuable insights into continuous load. Even in top-class Formula One, the partnership between Motul and the McLaren team goes far beyond a supplier relationship: In close cooperation between Motul research and development engineers in Paris and McLaren transmission specialists, tailor-made lubricant solutions were developed from scratch to meet the team's specific requirements. Motul tested the transmission oil for the McLaren MCL 40 for the 2026 season according to McLaren's precise specifications, continuously developed it and designed it for maximum performance in order to exploit even the smallest potential on the racetrack.

With professional motorsport, Motul also focuses on practical product tests and promoting young talent. This shows the commitment to motorcycle racing: Motul accompanies riders from the ADAC junior series to professional racing. In professional series such as the EURO MOTO Superbike, the company cooperates with the GERT56 and HRP teams, among others. Motul is also working closely with Kawasaki — here too with a clear focus on technology: In the ZX-4 RR Cup, NGEN technology proved its full suitability for motorsport in just the second season. High-quality re-refined base oils are used to produce these sustainable motor oils.

“Motorsport is and will remain an important driver of innovation for us — particularly with regard to new technologies and more sustainable solutions,” summarizes Sarah Petschel, Motorsports Partnerships & Event Coordinator at Motul Germany. The company's overall motorsport strategy thus combines the development of high-performance products with long-term technical partnerships across disciplines and performance levels.