Toyota reveals hydrogen-combustion prototype for Le Mans 2026

Toyota volition contention a hydrogen-engined prototype astatine the 2026 Le Mans 24 Hours - and it has pledged to proceed improvement of hydrogen-combustion powertrains for roadworthy cars arsenic it doubles down connected its content that it is simply a imaginable way to zero-emissions mobility.

To item its decision, the institution has unveiled the Toyota GR H2 Racing Concept astatine Le Mans this greeting up of the 100th day of the race.

Race organisers person created a hydrogen people for 2026 - unfastened to hydrogen-combustion and hydrogen-fuel-cell racers - and person besides pledged to usage the category’s 'balance of performance' rules to enactment the cars connected a par with the fastest racing cars, opening up the imaginable for a hydrogen-powered car to triumph outright.

From 2030, organisers person said they expect each cars racing astatine Le Mans volition beryllium hydrogen powered. While the regulations let hydrogen substance cells and combustion engines to beryllium used, the second is favoured by galore -  including Toyota - arsenic it retains the sound and visceral emotion of today’s racing machines.

Very fewer method details of the Toyota GR H2 Racing Concept person been revealed, beyond the information that it is powered by a hydrogen motor linked to a hybrid strategy and is 5100mm agelong and 2050mm wide. The LMP1-H Le Mans Prototype racer that starts this weekend’s contention arsenic favourite is 4650mm agelong and 1900mm wide.

Toyota has agelong pioneered hydrogen arsenic a zero-CO2 substance source, commercialising the Toyota Mirai fuel-cell roadworthy car arsenic good arsenic processing respective heavy-duty uses for the powertrain. However, successful caller years, it has stepped up its improvement of hydrogen-powered motor technology, particularly for usage successful motorsport.

Since 2021, it has been competing successful the Super Taikyu Series successful Japan utilizing a hydrogen-engined Toyota Corolla. It has besides utilized the car successful ace endurance racing successful Thailand, and earlier this twelvemonth finished the Fuji 24 Hours with the car.

"Le Mans is simply a spot we tin propulsion boundaries and realise the future. My extremity is to scope c neutrality without compromising the velocity oregon excitement of racing," said Akio Toyoda, speaking to journalists. 

"I wouldn’t put successful this exertion if I didn’t deliberation we could triumph with it... Hydrogen is not conscionable astir zero emissions but a genuinely breathtaking technology: it delivers sound. Torque and dynamics. It is each of these things. For c neutrality we volition prosecute each technology, from artillery electrical powerfulness onwards; hydrogen is conscionable 1 way we are taking," Toyoda said. 

In a connection astir its contention programme, Toyota said it had been “honing its technologies successful the harsh situation of motorsports and, with like-minded partners successful and extracurricular the automotive industry, accelerating its efforts for producing, transporting, and utilizing hydrogen toward the realisation of a carbon-neutral society. Toyota intends to further beforehand specified efforts for making ever-better motorsports-bred cars  utilizing a hydrogen-engine Corolla.”

On the imaginable of hydrogen-powered engines being developed for roadworthy applications, Toyota said: “We are astir 50% done the improvement way that is required to get to roadworthy car production. We don’t cognize if we’ll get there, but we are not giving up yet.

“Considering the multitude of lawsuit requirements and the situation crossed each markets wherever Toyota sells cars, we similar to support a multi-tech attack open.”

Toyota has antecedently demonstrated hydrogen-engined versions of the GR Yaris, GR Corolla and Corolla Cross.

The Toyota GR H2 Racing Concept volition beryllium developed into a full-blown contention car successful a collaboration betwixt Toyota’s probe installation successful Higashi Fuji and Toyota Gazoo Racing Europe successful Cologne, which runs the team's existent contention cars. 

It has not yet been decided if the hydrogen racers volition vie astatine Le Mans successful 2026, oregon if immoderate of the team’s existent roster of drivers volition transportation to the programme. To date, the Corolla has been raced by prima names including outgoing Toyota CEO Akio Toyoda nether his Morizo nickname and erstwhile World Rally Championship operator Jari-Matti Latvala.

Le Mans organisers person talked astir moving a hydrogen-powered people astatine the contention since 2018, and person antecedently doubly pushed backmost the deadline to motorboat a class for the cars. However, it has present tentatively committed to 2026 and to giving cars that vie an adjacent footing with today’s hypercars. Initially it was anticipated that the class would beryllium tally to a one-make chassis spec, but it is believed that determination is present capable involvement among manufacturers that it volition beryllium unfastened for idiosyncratic developments.