ACO President Pierre Fillon says that a Garage 56 entry for a hydrogen-powered car is still possible at the 24 Hours of Le Mans before 2030, when the ‘H2 Hypercar’ formula debuts as part of the converged Hypercar technical regulations.
Announced at last weekend’s annual press conference in Le Mans, plans are in place for hydrogen cars to race for overall honors in the top class beginning with the new ruleset, which will see Equivalence of Technology measures re-introduced between ‘conventional’ Hypercars and ‘H2 Hypercars.’
It has essentially resulted in a further two-year postponement for a hydrogen class, which was most recently planned for 2028.
Fillon explained the change to liquid hydrogen fuel, which Toyota demonstrated in its TR LH2 Racing Prototype and completed laps of Circuit de la Sarthe on two occasions with Kazuki Nakajima last weekend (pictured above).
“The plan was still 2028,” said Fillon. “As you know, there was a big change. We started with the fuel cell gaseous H2. Now it’s ICE and liquid H2, so it takes more time than we expected.
“The roadmap I presented today is 2030. [Before] that we can have some Garage 56 [entries], but we will see. That, you have to speak with the manufacturers.”
The H2 regulations within the Hypercar class in 2030 would see cars run to a 1200 kg minimum weight, compared to 1040 kg for a conventional Hypercar, while also fitted with larger, specific tires due to the added weight.
“The biggest difference will be the weight because there are some constraints in the technology, some unknowns also,” explained ACO competition director Thierry Bouvet.
“The idea is to have two-wheel drive ICE or fuel cell, because both are allowed, and storage based on liquid hydrogen.”
FIA chief technical and safety officer Xavier Mestelan-Pinon said it’s the target, through EoT, to make the two fuel options as “close as possible” in performance.
“If the [H2] car will be bigger, of course they could have more power, but it needs to be refined,” he said.
When asked if they are confident to have a H2 car on the grid by 2030, Mestelan-Pinon said: “We are confident we will have hydrogen regulations.
“This is a question for the manufacturers. But if we are working on it, it means there is something behind [it], because we don’t want to waste our time.”
ACO deputy competition director Bruno Famin added: “There’s still a lot to learn on both sides, the manufacturers and regulators, about hydrogen Hypercar.
“The more we will know, the more [accurate] it will be in defining the EoT.”
Pit Complex Upgrade to Include Hydrogen Infrastructure, Two Additional Garages
Fillon said the ACO’s plan to make significant upgrades to the pit complex will also incorporate the infrastructure needed to safely refuel the H2 cars.
While renders were unveiled last week, Fillon said he expects the makeover to take several years, with work undertaken in the winter months, and not likely fully completed until 2030 or 2031.
“It’s a big job and challenging in terms of preparation and planning,” he said. “What we don’t want is to compromise the sporting season.
“You have MotoGP, the 24 hours of motorcycle, of course Le Mans and Le Mans Classic. So the idea is to realize the works during the winter.
“Of course it will not only be one winter.”
Fillon said initial work will not likely begin for another nine to 12 months’ time.
“When you realize some big works like that, the most important is the planning and the preparation,” he said. “When you have started the work, you can’t change anything.
“The most important [part] of our job is to prepare exactly what what we want to do.”
“It takes time and we need at least nine to 12 months to see exactly what the plan is.”
Additionally, Fillon told French-speaking media outlets, including Endurance-Info, that the upgraded pit complex will add two more garages, resulting in a 64-car field for the 24 Hours of Le Mans once completed.
Jamie Klein contributed to this report
