Doha, August 25 (QNA) - In a new achievement reflecting the growing momentum of its sustainability journey, Lusail International Circuit (LIC) has been named the Most Improved and Biggest Mover circuit in the Sustainable Circuits Index 2026.

The achievement follows a significant leap in the circuit's rating this year, gaining 17 points and climbing 31 places in the global rankings, marking the largest year-on-year improvement of any circuit included in the assessment.

The recognition builds on an established record of excellence and sustainability. LIC holds the Three-Star Environmental Accreditation from the Federation Internationale de l'Automobile (FIA), the highest rating under the FIA Environmental Accreditation Programme. This places it among a select group of international motorsport circuits to hold this prestigious accreditation while hosting all three major motorsport world championship series.

With this latest achievement, Lusail International Circuit continues to consolidate its position as one of the world's leading motorsport destinations and one of the most committed to sustainability, adopting an integrated institutional approach that places environmental and social considerations at the heart of its operations, long-term strategy and future ambitions.

The Sustainable Circuits Index is one of the leading international benchmarks for measuring and assessing the performance of motorsport circuits according to a comprehensive set of environmental, social and governance (ESG) criteria within a collaborative framework involving a range of stakeholders.

Under the strategic oversight of the non-profit Sustainable Motorsport Alliance, Enovation Consulting collects and analyzes comprehensive data covering 115 international motorsport circuits. The results then undergo an independent academic assessment led by Professor Paolo Taticchi of University College London's School of Management, based on 21 criteria covering various aspects of sustainability and institutional performance.

This significant progress reflects the effectiveness of Lusail International Circuit's approach to translating its environmental commitments into tangible operational programs and practices with measurable impact. These efforts are led by the circuit's Three-Star Environmental Accreditation, alongside the implementation of an integrated range of sustainable solutions and initiatives, including the use of solar energy across its facilities and the adoption of an electric operational vehicle fleet.

The circuit also continues to develop initiatives aimed at embedding a culture of sustainability and encouraging greater environmental engagement among spectators. These include recycling stations designed using repurposed wood and an interactive recycling wall in the Formula 1 Fan Zone.

The Sustainable Circuits Index report also highlighted the circuit's efforts to enhance accessibility and inclusion and provide an experience that better accommodates the diverse needs of spectators, including quiet spaces designed to address sensory needs during race weekends hosted at the circuit.

Commenting on the recognition, CEO of Lusail International Circuit Abdulaziz Ali Al Mohannadi said the recognition reflected LIC's firm commitment to sustainability and demonstrated that meaningful progress begins by turning ambitions into tangible practices and measurable impact.

Al Mohannadi added that being named the Most Improved and Biggest Mover circuit in the 2026 Sustainable Circuits Index, alongside holding the FIA's Three-Star Environmental Accreditation, represented two major milestones in LIC's journey and, at the same time, provided further motivation to continue developing, improving its performance and expanding its sustainable impact.

He added that LIC remained firmly committed to contributing to the ambitions set out in Qatar National Vision 2030 and was determined to continue playing an active role in developing a more sustainable and responsible motorsport ecosystem, further establishing Lusail International Circuit as a global model combining sporting excellence, environmental leadership and positive social impact.

As part of its long-term commitment to climate action and advancing sustainability in sport, Lusail International Circuit has formally joined the Sports for Climate Action Framework under the United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change (UNFCCC), reflecting its commitment to expanding its ESG initiatives across its events and operations. This approach is built around a set of strategic priorities, including protecting nature and enhancing biodiversity, improving the sustainability of event-related operations, reducing carbon emissions, improving waste-management efficiency, raising environmental awareness and expanding community engagement.

Although Lusail International Circuit continues to work toward achieving an even higher position in the index, its exceptional rise in the 2026 rankings demonstrates the rapid progress of its sustainability framework and its institutional capacity to deliver tangible improvements within a relatively short period.

The circuit continues to build on this momentum by embedding sustainability practices at the core of its operations and improving its performance year after year, in line with its ambition to establish a global model for sustainable motorsport by 2030, combining the highest standards of sporting excellence, environmental responsibility and social impact. (QNA)