Toyota plans to race its proposed hydrogen-powered hypercar alongside the prevailing GR010 HYBRID within the World Endurance Championship in 2028.
The Japanese manufacturer will construct on a move announced in June that offers a two-year extension to its current-generation Le Mans Hypercars and LMDh models, while also introducing a prototype built for delayed hydrogen regulations scheduled to be introduced in 2028.
Toyota expects the automotive, which might be developed from ideas showcased within the 2023 GR HY Concept, to make not more than two starts on the WEC 24 Hours of Le Mans in its maiden season.
John Litjens, Hypercar Development Project Leader at Toyota Gazoo Racing Europe, said: “We planned to begin with a hydrogen-powered automotive and test it in a number of races first, slightly than a full season.
“Automobile Club of the West [which jointly runs the WEC with the FIA] mentioned three races in the primary 12 months, so there might be a transition period.
“It all depends on what the regulations allow us to do.”
ACO boss Pierre Fillon has confirmed plans to phase in hydrogen technology within the Hypercar class from 2028, which is able to see the primary cars powered by the choice fuel appear at Le Mans in June.
“The plan is for them to be in Spa [which traditionally takes place at the end of April or early May] and Le Mans for the first time,” he explained.
FIA liquid H2
Photo: FIA
When asked if the cars can be allowed to race again in 1928 after Le Mans, Fillon replied that participation within the Japanese round at Fuji can be possible, which might clearly reflect Toyota's aspirations.
Litjens stressed that there remains to be uncertainty in regards to the timeline for Toyota's hydrogen project as a result of the shortage of specific regulations.
However, he stressed that Toyota's hydrogen-powered prototype could enter the competition in 2028 “if we get the regulations in time.”
FIA technical director Xavier Mestelan Pinon explained that the governing body’s first step is to “define what we call the general regulations for liquid hydrogen” after announcing in February that it might prioritise and promote this manner of storage in motorsport applications.
“We will then launch a special technical working group with the participation of the FIA, ACO and IMSA [whose GTP class runs to the same rules as Hypercar in the WEC] “to create regulations for producers,” he said.
Mestelan Pinon and his ACO counterpart, Thierry Bouvet, have outlined a vision for the brand new Hypercar regulations for 2030 to return into effect in 2028.
This will allow hydrogen-powered cars to compete on equal terms with vehicles powered by conventional fuels, which is a key principle of the ACO and the FIA’s philosophy on alternative technologies.
Alpine H2 automotive
Photo: Marc Fleury
They consider they need to present manufacturers a probability to win the WEC and Le Mans, given the high costs of developing a prototype hydrogen-powered automotive, whether it’s a combustion engine or fuel cell powered automotive.
Toyota has no plans to construct a standard automotive that meets the 2030 regulations, Litjens explained.
“It is not possible to develop two new cars at the same time,” he said.
The ACO and FIA have highlighted the difficulties involved in introducing hydrogen into the top-flight WEC.
“We start with a blank sheet of paper,” said Mestelan Pinon. “We have many challenges ahead of us.”
