Motorsport, sustainability, and community – for Julius Martin, these topics belong together. The mechanical engineering graduate from Leipzig is the chairman of Racing For The Climate e.V., which, among other things, organizes the RCCO World eX Championship. The 31-year-old German explains why virtual races can be so much more than fast lap times, why planting real trees is part of the concept, and how motorsport can set an example for a more open approach to new technologies.
Julius, where did your passion for motorsport come from?
I feel like it was always there. In our family, we watched Formula 1 – my uncle had a wall full of Michael Schumacher models – and eventually my room looked much the same: lots of Ferrari red, little cars, motorsport everywhere. It was simply part of my childhood. It really got serious at DTM races at the Norisring. My grandmother ran a hotel near Nuremberg at the time, which housed the security team. As kids, my brother Markus and I got unusually close to the action because of that. Suddenly you’d be standing in the pit lane and really getting a feel for what motorsport is like live. That atmosphere left a lasting impression on me.
Which racing series do you follow today?
Formula 1 is still my greatest passion. At home, we watch a full race weekend whenever possible – including free practice sessions, if the schedule allows. On top of that, I follow DTM, MotoGP, and Formula E. Formula E has actually surprised me with its live experience: it feels different from traditional race events – more immediate and with its own distinct identity.
Professionally, you’ve also stayed close to the automotive world…
I studied mechanical engineering with a focus on vehicle technology and work in the automotive sector for several German OEMs, mainly in chassis development. My connection to cars has been there from the very beginning.
How did you get into sim racing?
I had a racing wheel in my room since 2010, when I was 15. It became more serious during the pandemic: all of a sudden there were digital events, qualifying sessions, and races tied to DTM or the ADAC GT Masters. I had only set up my wheel for about three weeks, but I still entered my first events. After that, I started looking for a community where sim racing wasn’t seen solely as a competition. Sure, it’s about driving and competion. But with World eX, I found exactly the sense of community I was hoping for. You can hardly just quietly drive your laps – you become part of a cool, connected community.
What sets World eX apart from a classic sim racing league?
For us, it’s explicitly not just about who wins. We combine motorsport with a broader vision: we want to open people’s eyes – to sustainability, to technological development, and to people who might never otherwise have a conversation with each other. You can see that in our so-called Bizz Talks, too. Before the races, we host interesting guests. Often, it’s the conversations you least expect that turn out to be the most fascinating. In my view, that combination of racing, exchange, and a social mission is what truly sets us apart. We also have our own car, the eX ZERO, strong partners, professional photography, and a wealth of expertise from within the community. Developers, organizers, creatives, sim racers – everyone brings something to the table. As a result, we have a remarkably high standard across the board.
A special element: a tree is planted for every participation in a race – and you’ve done that yourself, too …
It’s important to me that this doesn’t remain an abstract number or a certificate. My brother and I took part in a tree-planting event ourselves this year. We planted trees alongside students from a local school, spoke with a ranger, and experienced firsthand that this initiative makes sense on the ground. Going back there later, taking a walk, and knowing that these trees are standing there because we planted them together – that’s a very special feeling. Of course, a single planting event doesn’t answer every question about sustainability. But it makes the topic tangible, raises awareness, and inspires people to think further. That’s exactly what we want to build on – with more actions and perhaps entirely new projects.
Your organization’s motto is ‘Motorsport als Vorbild’, ‘motorsport as a role model. What does that mean?
Motorsport has always been most exciting to me when it’s been searching for new solutions. As a fan, I found it fascinating to see before every race: What’s been developed? What’s technically new? Today, that spirit of innovation needs to focus even more strongly on efficiency and resource use. The central question isn’t just: How do you make a car faster? But also: How do you reach your goal more intelligently, more efficiently, and with fewer resources? That said, sustainability shouldn’t be reduced to what happens on the track alone. Logistics, travel, material use, and the overall organization of large-scale events all play a crucial role. It’s about thinking through the entire chain. What frustrates me is a reflexive skepticism toward new technologies and powertrains. Not every new solution will end up being the right one. But we should be open enough to give them a chance. That’s exactly where motorsport can be a role model: not standing still, not jumping to quick judgments, but experimenting, learning, and evolving. There are plenty of positive examples, which we present on our website in a wiki that we continuously update.
Where do you see the association developing going forward?
We have a lot of room to grow. Everyone can start by getting involved in sim racing, entering races, or participating in our Bizz Talks. Beyond that, we want to broaden our scope in the medium term. Youth development is particularly close to my heart. I myself didn’t come from a family with connections in the automotive industry. I had to pave many of my own paths. That’s why I find the idea so powerful of giving young people opportunities, direction, and people they can turn to. Sim racing can be a genuine platform for that – not as a replacement for real motorsport, but as an accessible entry point into technology, competition, and a valuable network. Our community is made up of very diverse people and absolute experts with a wealth of contacts.
Who would you love to have in your community?
We’re not just looking for people with answers. We’re also excited to welcome those who bring questions, new perspectives, or concrete project ideas. Whether you’re an experienced industry professional, a young driver, or a passionate fan: if you’re eager to think about motorsport, sustainability, and community together, you can make a real difference here. Of course, we’re also happy to welcome sponsors from the industry. Our current partners – ABT Sportsline, the AvD (Automobilclub von Deutschland), and the Scherer Group – make so much of what we do possible in the first place, from the professional organisation of the racing series to the tree-planting events. The greater the support, the greater our ability to create lasting positive impact.