Toyota Launches Hydrogen-Powered Test Car at Le Mans 24 Hours

Toyota has revealed a new step forward in alternative-fuel racing by presenting a hydrogen-powered test car during the Le Mans 24 Hours week. Dubbed the GR LH2 Racing Concept, this car is Toyota’s latest attempt to learn more about running high-performance engines with liquid hydrogen.

The GR LH2 Racing Concept is based on the chassis from the existing GR010 HYBRID Le Mans Hypercar and was designed at the Toyota Gazoo Racing Europe facility in Cologne, Germany.

While key technical details about its engine and hybrid systems have not been shared, Toyota engineers at the Higashi-Fuji Technical Centre in Japan are leading the powertrain’s development.

Toyota officials, including chairman Kazuki Nakajima, say the main focus right now is on gathering important knowledge about hydrogen combustion and the related fueling infrastructure. Nakajima stated that the company aims to expand the possibilities for hydrogen engines in motorsport and improve the technology with further testing and development.

While Toyota has yet to share a specific date for when the car will appear on track, Nakajima confirmed the debut is not far away. Toyota has already built experience with hydrogen-powered cars in racing.

Since 2021, the company has fielded modified Corollas running on hydrogen in Japan’s Super Taikyu series. In 2023, a newer version, the GR Corolla H2, started racing with a liquid hydrogen tank instead of the original gas hydrogen technology.

Toyota publicly shared its intention to advance hydrogen racing at Le Mans and the FIA World Endurance Championship in 2023 when it introduced the GR H2 Racing Concept. Originally, the use of hydrogen in the Le Mans 24 Hours was set for introduction as early as 2024.

However, delays have pushed that expectation back to at least 2028. Toyota has been clear that a competitive readiness for these cars depends strongly on finalized technical regulations, which are still being developed. Recent FIA rule changes also play a major role in shaping the regulatory environment for such technology.

A major milestone arrived this week, as the FIA confirmed new safety rules for the use of liquid hydrogen in racing. Approved by the FIA Motor Sport World Council meeting in Macau, these new protocols set high standards for integrating, storing, and refueling liquid hydrogen in motorsport vehicles.

Measures like pressure-tested tanks and leak detection systems have been included to address important safety considerations for teams and drivers. This announcement at Le Mans shows Toyota’s ongoing commitment to challenging the possibilities of sustainable racing.

As more details about the car and future race appearances emerge, motorsport fans and industry insiders will watch closely to see how hydrogen technology shapes the next era of endurance racing.