Hydrogen is coming on strong in the competition

MissionH24 and Toyota Gazoo Racing form a strategic partnership to bring hydrogen to the 24 Hours of Le Mans.

MissionH24, a program supported by the Automobile Club de l’Ouest (ACO) and H24Project, announces a major partnership with Toyota GAZOO Racing, the sports division of the Japanese manufacturer. This collaboration aims to jointly develop hydrogen technology for motorsport and promote the decarbonization of the sport.

This partnership mainly focuses on two technical areas: aerodynamics and the cooling system of the H24EVO, MissionH24’s latest electric-hydrogen prototype. Toyota will provide its expertise to optimize these key elements, essential for track performance. The H24EVO uses a fuel cell, not an internal combustion engine. The goal is to demonstrate that hydrogen propulsion can compete with current technologies. This collaboration will allow for the study, testing, and validation of innovative solutions to make these cars competitive.

By 2028, a new category dedicated to hydrogen is expected to appear in endurance racing. Future prototypes will be powered by liquid hydrogen, either through a fuel cell like the H24EVO or with an adapted combustion engine, a solution being developed by Toyota.

The announcement of this partnership was made during a press conference organized by the ACO on the sidelines of the 24 Hours of Le Mans. According to Pierre Fillon, president of the ACO, this collaboration marks an important milestone. Jean-Michel Bouresche, director of H24Project, also praises Toyota’s technical support. Kazuki Nakajima, vice president of Toyota Gazoo Racing Europe, highlights that Toyota has been developing its hydrogen technologies for several years in the Japanese Super Taikyu championship. He also mentioned the recently presented GR LH2 liquid hydrogen concept as an illustration of the manufacturer’s global ambitions.

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