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24H Backstage | 24h-lemans.com

Pierre Fillon, President of the Automobile Club de l’Ouest, took part in the third Hydrogen Symposium held at the Palais des Congrès et de la Culture in Le Mans today (21 September 2021), with “Local Authorities and Hydrogen” as its main theme. At a round-table session on motor racing, the organiser of the 24 Hours of Le Mans shared a few details on the future hydrogen-electric prototype class to be introduced at the 2025 24 Hours of Le Mans, paving the way for zero-emission endurance racing.

<p>The Automobile Club de l’Ouest first announced its hydrogen programme for zero-emission racing and zero-carbon mobility in 2018. Today (21 September 2021), Pierre Fillon, President of the ACO, which is actively committed to the deployment of hydrogen, took part in the Hydrogen Symposium held in Le Mans. At a round-table session on car and motorcycle racing, he was joined by Jean-Michel Bouresche, MissionH24 Operations Manager and Team Principal of H24Racing, the joint programme headed by the ACO and GreenGT, Fred Barozier (Pipo Moteurs, which is working on hydrogen combustion engines), Emmanuel Esnault, Managing Director of TEXYS (H2 Motronics), Philippe Croizon (via a video message), a quadri-amputee athlete set to compete in the 2023 Dakar rally in an H2 buggy, Jean-Luc Fleureau (H2X Ecosystems), and this symposium’s keynote speaker, Victorien Erussard, captain of the Energy Observer hydrogen vessel.</p>

<p>Jean-Michel Bouresche analysed the performance of H24, the new H24 Racing prototype, on the track during the Michelin Le Mans Cup test sessions during the Spa round of the European Le Mans Series last weekend. Meanwhile, Pierre Fillon responded to facilitator Laurent Meillaud’s questions to present the future hydrogen-electric prototype class to be introduced at the 2025 24 Hours of Le Mans.</p>

<p>The challenge has already attracted several partners. It will be a one-design class with a single chassis produced by Red Bull Advanced Technologies-Oreca, a powertrain supplied by GreenGT and fuel tanks from Plastic Omnium. Meanwhile, teams that sign up to the class will be free to develop the fuel cell, the potential of which is huge. Pierre Fillon indicated that the chassis of the future racing cars may also be fitted with a hydrogen combustion engine. Refuelling of the hydrogen electric prototypes in 2025 will be ensured by TotalEnergies, while Michelin is currently developing special tyres for this type of vehicle.</p>

<p>At this year’s 24 Hours of Le Mans in August, spectators were able to view a mock-up of a Mission H24 programme prototype, and were unanimous about this future technology.</p>

Mission H24 - Ils ont découvert le projet et ils en parlent

<p>On the eve of the 2021 24 Hours of Le Mans, a number of personalities from the automotive sector were treated to a demonstration lap on-board the LMPH2G. They included American Jim France, IMSA and Nascar Chairman, and Hisatake Murata, head of Toyota Motorsport.</p>

Mission H24 - Baptême Jim France dans la LMPH2G

<p>They were all highly impressed with the car’s performance. “It’s a racing car!” they said, astonished by the progress and potential of this technology, which has sparked real interest among several manufacturers.</p>

“In 2025, a hydrogen-powered car may well challenge the other prototypes”

The entry list for the 4 Hours of Monza, first race of the 2021 Le Mans Virtual Series, has been released. The start of the round will be given on Saturday 25 September at 12:30 French time.

<p>Among the drivers set to participate in the 4 Hours of Monza, first round of the 2021 Le Mans Virtual Series, are recently crowned European Le Mans Series champion and 2020 Le Mans Virtual winner Louis Delétraz, his teammate Yifei Ye, Sérgio Sette Câmara (Formula E), Beitske Visser (W Series and FIA WEC), Will Stevens (FIA WEC and ELMS), Bruno Spengler (IMSA competitor and previous DTM champion), Jan von der Heyde, Michi Hoyer and Nuno Pinto.</p>

<p>The event will take place via the rFactor2 platform at the virtual Monza circuit with the live stream kicking off at 12:30 French time on Saturday 25 September. A total of 38 cars will compete in two different classes: 21 in LMP2 and 17 in LMGTE. In the latter, teams have a choice between a Ferrari 488 GTE, a BMW M8 GTE, a Porsche 911 RSR GTE, a Corvette C8.R and an Aston Martin Vantage GTE. In LMP2, they will uses an ORECA 07. Traffic management will certainly add a bit of pressure during the race.</p>

<p>Free practice sessions will be held on Thursday 23 and Friday 24 September, with a one-hour test race on Thursday evening to check servers as well as team and broadcast communications. Qualifying is scheduled for Friday at 19:00 French time (18:00 in the U.K.) and the session will be live streamed. The race follows on Saturday starting at 12:30 French time on the FIA WEC YouTube channel, on Twitch on the TraxionGG channel and on social media platforms.</p>

<p>Click for the Le Mans Virtual Series <a href="https://lemansvirtual.com/wp-content/uploads/2021/09/LeMansVirtualSeries_team-entry-list.pdf">entry list</a>.</p>

<p>For more info, go to the official <a href="https://lemansvirtual.com">Le Mans Virtual Series</a> website.</p>

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Le Mans Virtual Series – Competitors ready for first round at Monza

In June, the Automobile Club de l’Ouest unveiled its CSR (Corporate Social Responsibility) strategy. During the 2021 24 Hours of Le Mans, specific and ambitious actions were put in place and here are various resulting findings.

<h3>EngageMans for the planet</h3>

<h4>100%</h4>

<p>During the 89th 24 Hours of Le Mans, the Automobile Club de l’Ouest and TotalEnergies announced the introduction of 100% renewable fuel next season in the FIA World Endurance Championship (WEC), including the 2022 24 Hours of Le Mans, and in the European Le Mans Series. It will be produced on the basis of bioethanol from wine residues from the French agriculture industry and also from the circular economy. This fuel is expected to allow an immediate reduction of at least 65% of CO2 emissions from cars on the track.</p>

<h4>305</h4>

<p>The number of Kilowatt-hours (KWh), the amount of electricity produced by hydrogen generators, which produce zero CO2 emissions.</p>

<h4>ACO Sustainable Endurace Award winner Team WRT </h4>

<p>This year, the ACO created an award for the commitment by participating teams to Corporate Social Responsibility (CSR). This trophy serves to highlight progress made by the teams from one year to the next. With its "Drive Fast, Act Faster" initiative, Team WRT won the first ACO Sustainable Endurace Award presented by DHL. </p>

LMA_2124A__D519268.jpg

<h3>EngageMans for a responsible economy</h3>

<h4>360</h4>

<p>The weight of PET plastic bottles in kilograms collected by the association of three-way carriers. To this figure should be added 380 kg of aluminum cans.</p>

<h4>1,663</h4>

<p>The number of food products collected from participating teams and redistributed to Restos du Cœur.</p>

<h4>100%</h4>

<p>The amount of volunteers thanked with a 24 Hours of Le Mans kit.</p>

<h3>EngageMans for all</h3>

<h4>10</h4>

<p>This is the number of children saved thanks to actions in support of Mécénat Chirurgie Cardiac through donations made and solidarity products purchased by the 24 Hours of Le Mans community.</p>

<h4>3,000</h4>

<p>The quantity of tickets offered to nursing staff at the Le Mans hospital and to firefighters in the city of Le Mans.</p>

<h4>2,175</h4>

<p>In euros, the amount donated to the association Le Rire Physician thanks to the sale of 435 eco-designed solidarity bracelets.</p>

<p><em>Figures based on the week of 16-22 August 2021.</em></p>

<p> </p>

2021_RSE_BILAN-INFOGRAPHIE-EMAILING-v4.png

Key EngageMans figures from the 89th 24 Hours of Le Mans

Victory at the 4 Hours of Spa-Francorchamps secured the LMP2 Team and Driver titles for Orlen Team WRT, Robert Kubica, Yifei Ye and Louis Deletraz.

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