24h Le Mans
While a category dedicated to hydrogen cars isn't officially planned until the 2027 24 Hours of Le Mans, the new energy option was highlighted at this year's Centenary running of the race.
More than a dozen exhibitors explained hydrogen to several thousand spectators at the H2 Village. MissionH24, Alpine, Toyota, Ligier Bosch, GCK Solution F, the University of Le Mans, GreenBox, the SNCF, Neopolia, Watea and Plastic Omnium shared their know-how, input and hydrogen research.
Toyota Chairman Akio Toyoda himself unveiled the Japanese marque's concept destined for the new H2 category at the 24 Hours of Le Mans.
The Minister of Sports, Olympic and Paralympic Games, Amélie Oudéa-Castéra, completed a lap of the circuit as a passenger in the LMPH2G hydrogen-electric prototype developed by the MissionH24 programme (founded by the ACO and H24 Project) to create an H2 category for the race. Oudéa-Castéra congratulated the ACO and programme partners for their work to decarbonise racing and mobility.
MissionH24's LMPH2G was given the opportunity to take a lap of the circuit 18 minutes before competitors took the start in the 24 Hours of Le Mans Centenary, with Stéphane Richelmi (MissionH24 development driver and 2016 LMP2 winner with Alpine) at the wheel. On paper, a lap of the circuit seemed like a simple undertaking, but in racing, anything can happen. Fortunately, the LMPH2G met the challenge brilliantly in front of tens of millions of viewers.
