Hydrogen at Le Mans: a world first with the Toyota TR LH2 Racing Prototype

A few minutes after 12:50 pm on June 11th, the legendary Sarthe circuit will see a brand new prototype in action: the Toyota TR LH2 Racing Prototype, which uses liquid hydrogen as an energy carrier. At the wheel, the Japanese driver Kazuki Nakajima, winner of 24 Hours of Le Manswill participate in this unprecedented demonstration.

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This public test drive is part of the hydrogen sessions organized during the week of the 24 Hours, a major technological showcase for global motorsport.

Since 2018, the Automobile Club de l'Ouest (ACO) has been developing, alongside MissionH24, solutions aimed at integrating hydrogen into motorsport and, ultimately, into mobility.

Several prototypes have already marked the stages of this program: the MissionH24 LMPH2G, the H24 entered in Road to Le Mans in 2022, the Alpenglow from the manufacturer Alpine, the JS2 RH2 developed by Ligier Automotive in collaboration with Bosch.

Two on-track demonstrations are scheduled for 2026:

Thursday, June 11 – 12:50 PM

From Maison Blanche, the Toyota TR LH2 Racing Prototype and the Alpenglow ofAlpine They will evolve together. One runs on liquid hydrogen, the other on gaseous hydrogen, illustrating two complementary technological approaches. The hydrogen combustion engines will also allow the public to discover a unique sound signature.

Saturday June 13 – 12:45 p.m.

A third car will join the lineup: the Ligier JS2 RH2, alongside the Toyota and the...AlpineAn expanded demonstration that showcases several visions of the future of...Endurance.

In the hydrogen village, a 700-bar hydrogen gas refueling station, operated by TotalEnergies, will be installed. Refueling sessions will also be visible to the public on Wednesday and Friday evenings, offering a concrete glimpse into the logistical challenges of this technology.

Key points to remember

Wednesday, June 10 – 10:30 a.m.: Inauguration of the Hydrogen Village by the delegation of Pierre Fillon, president of the Automobile Club de l'Ouest
Wednesday, June 10 – 11:30 a.m.: IDEC ACO conference at Welcome, dedicated to the contributions of motorsport to mobility
Thursday, June 11 – 12:50 pm: On-track demonstration of hydrogen prototypes, including the Toyota TR LH2 and the Alpenglow.Alpine
Thursday, June 11 – 14:00 PM: Hydrogen roundtables as part of the FIA ​​Sustainable Innovation Series
Saturday, June 13 – 12:45 PM: new demonstration on the track with AlpineLigier and Toyota

Just hours before the start of the 94th edition of the 24 Hours of Le Mans, these demonstrations illustrate the commitment of endurance racing stakeholders to exploring sustainable energy solutions. Hydrogen, whether liquid or gaseous, is emerging as a major focus of ongoing experimentation.