A Hydrogen Ligier Maserati at the 24 Hours of Le Mans!
- Published on 28/05/2026 14:21
This Ligier JS2 RH2 powered by a Maserati hydrogen engine embodies a pathway for the future of the 24 Hours of Le Mans and decarbonized endurance racing.
The story of Ligier repeats itself… but this time with hydrogen. At the 2026 24 Hours of Le Mans, the Ligier JS2 RH2 will make a notable appearance in the H2 Village and on track during a demonstration lap, supported by a unique technological alliance between Bosch Engineering, Ligier Automotive, and Maserati.
At the heart of the project: a hydrogen evolution of Maserati’s famous 3.0-liter twin-turbo V6 Nettuno engine. Developed by Bosch Engineering, this hydrogen combustion engine retains several key elements from the Italian gasoline block, including the cylinder head and turbochargers, while adopting a Bosch HIDI LCV direct hydrogen injection and specific engine management. The result: approximately 480 kW and 880 Nm, offering performance close to current Hypercars.
Hydrogen to make endurance greener
Beyond the technological demonstration, this prototype illustrates the potential of hydrogen combustion engines for long-distance motorsport. Since its initial presentation at Le Mans in 2023, the Ligier JS2 RH2 has already completed nearly 8,000 kilometers of testing without any major technical incidents, proving the increasing maturity of the concept.
This partnership between Ligier and Maserati is no coincidence. It directly echoes a little-known but prestigious chapter in the history of the French brand. The original Ligier JS2 already featured a 3.0-liter Maserati V6 in the 1970s. This Italian engine notably allowed the JS2 to win the 1974 Tour Auto.
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More than fifty years later, Ligier and Maserati find themselves together once again facing a new technological challenge. With Bosch orchestrating, this JS2 RH2 may symbolize one of the future pathways for endurance: preserving the spectacle and sensations of combustion engines while drastically reducing emissions.
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This page is translated from the original post "Une Ligier Maserati à hydrogène aux 24 Heures du Mans !" in French.
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