Toyota Gazoo Racing is committing to its long-running FIA WEC and Le Mans 24 hypercar program, as much as and together with constructing a next-generation automotive powered by hydrogen. The collection had beforehand introduced that it will permit hydrogen-powered autos to compete within the high flight Hypercar class, the place Toyota at the moment races the gasoline-electric hybrid GR010, for the 2026 season, however that has now been postponed to 2028. Throughout this 12 months’s Le Mans festivities again in June, Toyota unveiled a preliminary take a look at the GR H2, the hydrogen-powered automotive it plans to run, proven right here.
The rules haven’t but been finalized for hydrogen energy, and Toyota is patiently ready for updates from the FIA and ACO. It isn’t but clear if the rules would permit for hydrogen combustion, which Toyota prefers, or if the automobiles have to be hydrogen gas cell electrical autos. It isn’t but clear whether or not the groups might be allowed to retailer hydrogen in liquid kind aboard their race automobiles. And there’s no readability concerning pit stops or stint lengths. Toyota, nevertheless, are making ready to run the race with hydrogen energy regardless. Most of its eggs are on this basket.
Within the 2028 season producers who want to enter hydrogen-powered automobiles might be restricted to operating them in simply three races to assist develop this system to a full season in 2029. Toyota has been operating its GR010 since 2021 with minimal modifications, and it says that it couldn’t probably develop its alternative similtaneously the GR H2. Due to this fact, the GR010 will proceed on with minor evolution till Toyota can step right into a full-time hydrogen program.
“It might be very tough. That might be two sorts of automotive,” John Litjens, Toyota Motorports mission chief famous. “…however to develop two full automobiles in parallel will not be potential.”
As luck would have it, Toyota is already racing a hydrogen-fueled combustion engine-powered GR Corolla in Japan’s Tremendous Taikyu collection, and even entered the identical automotive within the Idemitsu 1500 Tremendous Endurance occasion in Thailand to get some long-race testing with the machine.
To Toyota’s credit score, it most likely is aware of extra about racing with hydrogen gas than another automaker on the planet, and if anybody can flip that into success at Le Mans, it’ll be Toyota.