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Hydrogen class introduction at Le Mans set for delay, 2027 "more realistic"
Pierre Fillon, the president of Le Mans organizer and WEC promoter the Automobile Club de l’Ouest, believes that the new target of 2026 for hydrogen-fueled cars to compete at Le Mans is not realistic and suggests that 2027 is a more feasible goal. The original plan was to allow hydrogen fuel cell prototypes at Le Mans from 2024, but it was pushed back to 2025. The ACO and FIA updated their plans this year, allowing internal combustion engine prototypes powered by hydrogen to race against fuel cell machinery starting in 2026. Toyota announced their intent to compete with a combustion-engined hydrogen prototype, effectively abandoning the idea of a one-make chassis. Toyota Gazoo Racing Europe technical director Pascal Vasselon believes a manufacturer could compete for overall victory with a hydrogen car by 2026 using either combustion or fuel cell technology. The ACO has been discussing hydrogen as a potential fuel for Le Mans since 2018 and has partnered with the Franco-Swiss GreenGT organization for fuel cell technology. A third-generation MissionH24 prototype was recently unveiled and will begin racing in 2025. It is not intended to fill the experimental car spot at Le Mans.
Forrás: motorsport
