Toyota showcased a racing prototype that runs on hydrogen at the Circuit de la Sarthe ahead of the 24 Hours of Le Mans. Toyota competes in the World Endurance Championship using the GR010 Hybrid Hypercar, derived from the GR LH2 Racing Concept. Kazuki Nakajima, vice chairman of Toyota’s WEC team, says that the company’s main goal is to “expand the possibilities of hydrogen combustion engine technology.” Toyota unveiled a new hydrogen-powered racing car at the Circuit de la Sarthe ahead of this weekend’s 24 Hours of Le Mans. This is part of the company’s ongoing work to improve hydrogen racing technologies. It is said that the GR LH2 Racing Concept is based on the same chassis as the GR010 Hybrid Hypercar, which races in the WEC. Unfortunately, Toyota didn’t provide any information about the hydrogen system or engine except to mention that the cars were built at their Higashi-Fuji Technical Center in Japan. This car’s frame was made at Toyota’s Gazoo Racing plant in Cologne, Germany. Kazuki Nakajima, vice chairman of Toyota’s WEC team and three-time winner of the 24 Hours of Le Mans, told motorsport.com that the company wants to “test not only the combustion engine but to learn a lot about the infrastructure and fueling system.” Our primary focus at the moment is to broaden the potential of hydrogen combustion engine technology,” Nakajima stated. The person was told by Nakajima that the LH2 would be on the track soon, but he didn’t give a date. Hydrogen racing was initially planned to be part of the World Endurance Championship as early as 2024, but those plans have been pushed back until at least 2028. At this week’s FIA Motor Sport World Council in Macau, the FIA passed new rules for storing liquid hydrogen, which may soon make this possible.
