A short announcement from the ACO President Pierre Fillon and FIA Endurance Commission President Richard Mille has confirmed that the future regulations for hydrogen-fuelled automobiles at the 24 Hours of Le Mans will now encompass Hydrogen combustion technologies as properly as retaining the solution for Hydrogen Fuel Cell tech.

The ACO have been at the forefront of a drive to introduce Hydrogen as a fuel supply in the sport considering the fact that 2018 and, considering the fact that then, there have been progressive methods in improvement collectively with their technologies partners on demonstration projects, while continuing dialogue with interested makers.

No specifics are but provided on interest from makers but current media reports in France appear to confirm that the re-current interest from Hyundai in fielding a fuel-cell powered vehicle in the coming years is nonetheless alive while sources close to Toyota have recommended to DSC that their present technologies demonstrator racer utilising Hydrogen combustion marks the early stages of building that route towards additional capable race (and road going) machinery.

At present the line from the ACO is that they are, “in close collaboration with the FIA, operating towards the creation of a class for Hydrogen-powered prototypes at the 24 Hours of Le Mans in the subsequent couple of years.”

Their is continued improvement also on MissionH24, a joint venture amongst the ACO and GreenGT, conducting analysis and improvement in regions such as security, overall performance and refuelling.

Pierre Fillon, President of the Automobile Club de l’Ouest: Because 2018, the hydrogen ecosystem has evolved enormously. We are understanding by performing. We are exploring possibilities. And that is precisely the objective we set ourselves 5 years ago when we launched MissionH24. The fuel cell was initially selected for its possible, which is nonetheless relevant. Nowadays, the hydrogen internal combustion engine is also presented as a possibility for makers. The 24 Hours of Le Mans regulations have constantly advocated freedom and range. As such, we are officially announcing that each technologies, fuel cell and hydrogen internal combustion engine, will be accepted and authorised for makers wishing to enter the 24 Hours of Le Mans in the Hydrogen category. I would like to highlight the tremendous function carried out by MissionH24, alongside the ACO and FIA. We are all conscious of the challenges facing the future of motorsport, and of the need to have to decarbonise mobility, and we are addressing them collectively.

Richard Mille, FIA Endurance Commission President: Hydrogen as a energy supply is but to be totally explored in motor sport. Even so, provided the reality that it delivers a range of possibilities in terms of storage kinds and powertrains, it tends to make for a really fascinating prospect. Implementing sustainable energy sources across motorsport competitors is 1 of the important targets of the FIA and aspect of our extended-term roadmap. The important is to address the ideal options for various motorsport disciplines. Provided the nature of endurance racing, hydrogen is 1 of the most appropriate possibilities, consequently the FIA totally supports the ACO’s MissionH24 project. We are operating with them, sharing our know-how and experience, to introduce a new energy supply to endurance racing.