Interviews / 3/25/2025

Rapidity, colour and quality: this is how Mapei enters the motorsport world

Elisa Portigliatti, Corporate key account manager at Mapei, explains the reasons that led to the choice of Mapecoat TNS Race Track for coating road markings in prestigious international circuits

Interviewee

Elisa Portigliatti

Corporate key account manager Sport Flooring at Mapei

For its rapid-filming and non-slip properties, Mapecoat TNS Race Track acrylic resin continues to be chosen by professional applicators to create run-off areas and protect kerbs on circuits hosting top-level competitions such as Formula 1 and MotoGP. This interview highlights the advantages of using the innovative technology that Mapei has developed specifically for the world of motorsport.

Mapei enters the world of motorsport with new track maintenance solutions, what are the needs of the sector?

The world of motorsports is like an incubator for cutting-edge technologies: so Mapei could not miss out on making a contribution. Mapei has always been committed to meeting the challenges of the construction market, even more so when related to sports facilities.

In motorsport, the stage for the exploits of great drivers is the asphalt track, which today is increasingly colourful. The tracks in circuits are enclosed along the edges by kerbs, often in concrete, and by road markings typically in standard colours such as white, red and green.

Nowadays, it takes only a few seconds watching a car or motorbike race to witness a spectacle that is a kaleidoscope of colours, with a sequence of bright colours and intricate patterns, all accompanied by the colourful logos of the sponsors. This palette of colours is possible thanks to the modern technology of rapid-filming acrylic resin, in which the Mapei R&D laboratory has excelled by developing Mapecoat TNS Race Track: the coloured paint that actively contributes to enhance the safety on the track.

Rapidity, colour and quality: this is how Mapei enters the motorsport world

Apart from having high aesthetic impact, what performance properties are required by FIA and FIM for professional races, such as F1 and MotoGP?

Mapecoat TNS Race Track is a coloured acrylic resin that, in order to be applied on circuits hosting top-level competitions such as F1 and MotoGP, must be approved by the governing Federations: Mapecoat TNS TNS Race Track had to go through stringent test procedures before being approved by FIA (Fédération International de l’Automobile) and FIM (Fédération Internationale de Motocyclisme).

One of the properties required is rapid film-forming (just 15 minutes at 23°C!), a distinctive and fundamental characteristic for the world of motorsports, where the time available to work on a track is often extremely limited. The other property required for the top F1 and MotoGP competitions is that it must be non-slip: Mapecoat TNS Race Track must in fact offer the same grip as uncoloured asphalt to ensure the same response from the tyres.

Mapecoat TNS Race Track rapid film-forming and non-slip coating was applied at Most circuit to ensure safe, colorful and resistant road markings.

The projects carried out with Mapecoat TNS Race Track range from Australia to the Middle East, from Asia to Europe: what has been the feedback from operators in the sector?

In recent years, the Mapei brand has entered the world of motorsport, quickly developing an enviable portfolio of circuits and gaining a reputation for the quality and durability of its products. For the 2025/26 F1 and MotoGP world championships season, many prestigious national and international circuits have chosen Mapecoat TNS Race Track for the third consecutive season: a sign that those who choose Mapei technology never leave it. A clear acknowledgement by the operators in the sector of the quality of the product, technology and serviceappMapecoat TNS Race Track has been the protagonist at the Lusail circuit in Qatar where the 2025 season of the World Endurance Championship opened after having already "conquered" circuits of international relevance such as Portimão in Portugal, Jerez in Spain, without forgetting the legendary “temple of speed” in Italy: Monza circuit.

Mapecoat TNS Race Track was applied on the Jerez circuit in Spain to coat kerbs and runf-off areas.

Mapecoat TNS Race Track paint is easy to apply, but how important is the applicators' experience in creating graphics that look like works of art?

Mapecoat TNS Race Track is easy to apply, either by roller or spray, and thanks to an almost infinite availability of colours, it meets the demands of modern motorsport communication. The patterns to be realised become increasingly more detailed and complex and there are very few installers specialised in this field worldwide. The precision required and the variety of shapes to be realised require a quick and easily sprayable product, cutting-edge technology, but above all, installers with the highest level of expertise. No comparison could fit better: Mapecoat TNS Race Track is a Ferrari...but one to be entrusted to the most experienced "drivers".

Roadgrip Ltd chose Mapecoat TNS Race Track coating for the run-off areas and kerbs within the Lusail circuit. Photo credits: Roadgrip Ltd.

What developments for the future of Mapei in motorsport?

The continuous technological innovations in motorsport are not limited to vehicles, but also concern the incessant research into construction materials, whether it be paint or asphalt for the track, as well as materials for safety barriers and so on. In this scenario, Mapei actively supports research groups that bring together the major experts in the sector, such as the FIA Working Group, making its know-how available in the sectors of greatest interest to motorsport, including the challenge of sustainability.

Thanks to its wide range of colours, at Lusail circuit Mapecoat TNS Race Track made it possible to create surfaces in different colours inspired by Sadu, a traditional Middle-East handicraft technique. Photo credits: Roadgrip Ltd.