It’s no secret that auto racing is not the most environmentally friendly sport out there. But a number auto-racing companies are teaming up with clean energy companies in an effort to make the sport more green.

One such company is Renault, a French automaker that recently signed a deal to have Trina Solar (NYSE:TSL), a Chinese solar panel maker, sponsor its Formula 1 racing team. Under the conditions of the deal, Trina Solar’s logo will adorn Renault’s R30 racer for the rest of the 2010 Formula 1 racing season. Trina will also partially fund a solar installation atop one of Renault’s facilities at races.

Other teams expressed interest in the solar-panel sponsorship deal. But Trina selected Renault based on the company’s demonstrated commitment to building more environmentally friendly cars; Renault will soon release a new line of electric vehicles. The French firm also agreed to explore the possibility of a photovoltaic (PV) solar energy installation atop the automaker’s manufactring building in Enstone, England.