Toyota to compete in the 24H Le Mans hydrogen category

This morning, the Automobile Club de l’Ouest held a press conference. A packed room discussed the centenary edition of the event, as well as the future hydrogen category.

Hydrogen Today was there and we had the opportunity to underline the importance of hydrogen this year. The MissionH24 and H24 are once again on display, both in the village and on the track. But the most surprising is the hydrogen village set up by the Automobile Club de l’Ouest that looks like a mini-show in itself.

At the press conference, Pierre Fillon gave a progress report on the MissionH24 programme. In the last 5 years, it has created an ecosystem and tested the technology on the track. “It’s a world first and a technological laboratory,” stressed the president of the ACO. The 2023 livery of this car was recently presented in Brussels at a high-level event. “The car is at the heart of our strategy and of the Hydrogen Village” Pierre Fillon went on to say. “And it will continue being developed.”

Toyota reveals the GR H2 racing car at 24h Le Mans

The President of the ACO then spoke about the hydrogen category, which will be introduced in 2026. Akio Toyoda, the chairman of Toyota, came in person at 24H Le Mans to unveil the “mystery car” that sits in the middle of the Hydrogen Village. He said that the race was an opportunity to “push the limits.” A video then revealed the GR H2 Racing Car which is powered by a hydrogen engine.

The chairman of Toyota is convinced that hydrogen can win at 24H Le Mans and is encouraging competitors to invest in this technology. And that’s not all, he will also be driving the GR Corolla H2 on the circuit on Saturday at 12.20pm.

Besides Toyota, the 24H Le Mans will welcome even more hydrogen hypercar competitors with the arrival of Alpine, BMW and Lamborghini next year.

Article written by Laurent Meillaud and translated by Logan King