Toyota is doubling down on its belief that hydrogen-combustion powertrains are a potential route to zero-emissions mobility. The company has unveiled the Toyota GR H2 Racing Concept at Le Mans, ahead of the 100th anniversary of the race. Toyota will race a hydrogen-engined prototype at the 2026 Le Mans 24 Hours, and it has pledged to continue development of hydrogen-combustion powertrains for road cars.
Hydrogen powertrains are becoming increasingly popular in the automotive industry, and Toyota is at the forefront of this trend. The company has long pioneered hydrogen as a zero-CO2 fuel source, commercialising the Toyota Mirai fuel-cell road car as well as developing several heavy-duty uses for the powertrain. However, in recent years, it has stepped up its development of hydrogen-powered engine technology, especially for use in motorsport.
Toyota has been competing in the Super Taikyu Series in Japan since 2021 using a hydrogen-engined Toyota Corolla. It has also used the car in super endurance racing in Thailand, and earlier this year finished the Fuji 24 Hours with the car. The company said it had been “honing its technologies in the harsh environment of motorsports and, with like-minded partners in and outside the automotive industry, accelerating its efforts for producing, transporting, and using hydrogen toward the realisation of a carbon-neutral society.”
The Toyota GR H2 Racing Concept is powered by a hydrogen engine linked to a hybrid system and is 5100mm long and 2050mm wide. Very few technical details have been revealed about the car, but it is expected to be developed into a full-blown race car in a collaboration between Toyota’s research facility in Higashi Fuji and Toyota Gazoo Racing Europe in Cologne, which runs the team’s current race cars.
Le Mans 24 Hours organisers have created a hydrogen class for 2026, open to hydrogen-combustion and hydrogen-fuel-cell racers. They have also pledged to use the category’s ‘balance of performance’ rules to put the cars on a par with the fastest racing cars, opening up the potential for a hydrogen-powered car to win outright. From 2030, organisers have said they anticipate all cars racing at Le Mans will be hydrogen powered. While the regulations allow hydrogen fuel cells and combustion engines to be used, the latter is favoured by many – including Toyota – as it retains the noise and visceral emotion of today’s racing machines.
Le Mans organisers have talked about running a hydrogen-powered class at the race since 2018, and have previously twice pushed back the deadline to launch a category for the cars. However, it has now tentatively committed to 2026 and to giving cars that compete an equal footing with today’s hypercars. Initially, it was anticipated that the category would be run to a one-make chassis spec, but it is believed that there is now sufficient interest among manufacturers that it will be open for individual developments.
On the potential of hydrogen-powered engines being developed for road applications, Toyota said: “We are about 50% through the development path that is required to get to road car production. We don’t know if we’ll get there, but we are not giving up yet. Considering the multitude of customer requirements and the environment across all markets where Toyota sells cars, we prefer to keep a multi-tech approach open.” Toyota has previously demonstrated hydrogen-engined versions of the GR Yaris, GR Corolla and Corolla Cross.
In conclusion, Toyota is leading the way in developing hydrogen-combustion powertrains for both motorsport and road cars. The company has unveiled the Toyota GR H2 Racing Concept at Le Mans, ahead of the 100th anniversary of the race. Toyota will race a hydrogen-engined prototype at the 2026 Le Mans 24 Hours, and it has pledged to continue development of hydrogen-combustion powertrains for road cars. Le Mans 24 Hours organisers have created a hydrogen class for 2026, open to hydrogen-combustion and hydrogen-fuel-cell racers, and from 2030, they anticipate all cars racing at Le Mans will be hydrogen powered.