Toyota Unveils New Hydrogen Combustion Hypercar Concept
Toyota is moving forward with hydrogen combustion technology, unveiling a new prototype designed for future competition in the 24 Hours of Le Mans.
Key Points
- Toyota has unveiled the GR LH2 prototype, a liquid-hydrogen-powered test car built on the GR010 Le Mans Hypercar chassis, marking a major step in its hydrogen motorsport development.
- The FIA has approved safety regulations for liquid hydrogen in racing, including tank standards, leak detection, and refueling procedures, enabling formal hydrogen prototype entries in the future.
- Toyota aims to race with hydrogen at Le Mans by 2028, but the timeline depends on continued technical progress and the release of full competition regulations.
The GR LH2 Racing Concept just debuted at Le Mans, and it serves as the highest profile expression of Toyota’s ongoing exploration of liquid hydrogen as a fuel for combustion.
Built by Toyota Gazoo Racing at their European base in Cologne, Germany, the prototype shares its chassis with the existing GR010 HYBRID Le Mans Hypercar, but swaps its power source for an internal combustion engine designed to run on liquid hydrogen. The engine is paired with some form of hybridization, which Toyota did not detail. The powertrain was developed at the company’s Higashi-Fuji Technical Centre in Japan.
While it shares a tub with the GR010, the GR LH2 Concept wears an iteration of Toyota's most recent hammerhead design seen on the Camry, Prius, and RAV4, and swaps the current car's matte black livery for a hydrogen-inspired blue and white design.
Speaking at the unveiling, Toyota Gazoo Racing Europe chairman Kazuki Nakajima emphasized that the current goal is focused on learning. “Our intent at this moment is to test the car, test not only the combustion engine but to learn a lot about the infrastructure and fuelling system,” he said. The team has not set a firm date for on-track testing but hinted that the timeline isn’t far off.
Toyota’s interest in hydrogen combustion racing isn’t new. Since 2021, the company has been running a hydrogen-powered GR Corolla in Japan’s Super Taikyu endurance series, transitioning from gaseous to liquid hydrogen with a second-generation version introduced in 2023.
Toyota first announced its desire to race a hydrogen-powered vehicle at Le Mans back in 2023 when it unveiled the GR H2 Racing Concept. Although the ACO has pushed back hydrogen's planned introduction to Le Mans from 2024 to 2028, the FIA has now finalized safety regulations for liquid hydrogen use in motorsport. The newly approved rule book covers vehicle integration, storage systems, and refuelling procedures, including pressure-tested components and mandatory leak detection.
Toyota says its participation in 2028 will ultimately depend on the availability of full technical regulations.
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An experienced automotive storyteller and accomplished photographer known for engaging and insightful content. Michael also brings a wealth of technical knowledge—he was part of the Ford GT program at Multimatic, oversaw a fleet of Audi TCR race cars, ziptied Lamborghini Super Trofeo cars back together, been over the wall during the Rolex 24, and worked in the intense world of IndyCar.
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