FIA has officially appointed 11 professional racing drivers from multiple motorsport categories as ambassadors for the 2026 Smart Driving Challenge. The global initiative aims to improve road safety and sustainable driving habits through artificial intelligence technology and direct involvement from elite motorsport figures.
Under the programme, the ambassadors will lead teams of everyday drivers using the FIA Smart Driving Challenge app. Participants will receive driving performance statistics, safety guidance, and exclusive content from their chosen drivers through both the application and official social media channels.
This year’s ambassador line-up includes World Endurance Championship drivers Yifei Ye and Malthe Jakobsen, Formula E competitor Edoardo Mortara, and several World Rally Championship representatives including Yohan Rossel, Taylor Gill, and Romet Jürgenson.
The FIA has also selected World Rally-Raid Championship driver Aliyyah Koloc, GT and DTM specialist Kelvin van der Linde, rally driver Kajetan Kajetanowicz, INDY NXT racer Tymek Kucharczyk, and racing driver plus content creator Hana Burton.
The FIA Smart Driving Challenge is now entering its eighth season since launching globally. The system uses artificial intelligence technology developed by Greater Than to analyse driving behaviour through smartphone connectivity linked directly to participants’ vehicles.
Drivers simply download the app and connect it to their vehicles via Bluetooth to receive real-time scoring related to driving safety and energy efficiency. According to the FIA, the platform is designed to encourage small behavioural improvements that can create a major impact on road safety and emissions reduction.
“The FIA Smart Driving Challenge is unique because it connects everyday drivers with leading figures from motorsport to help create safer and more sustainable mobility around the world,” said FIA Secretary General for Automobile Mobility, Sustainability and Tourism Willem Groenewald.
During the previous season, participants from 97 countries joined the initiative, achieving an average reduction in battery usage or CO2 emissions of nine percent. FIA data also showed that participants demonstrated a 37.5 percent lower driving risk level compared to average road users.
The 2026 Smart Driving Challenge will continue until December with seven heats scheduled before the top 20 participants advance to the playoff stage. Two finalists will eventually compete in a live head-to-head finale to determine the World’s Smartest Driver.
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