That the Automobile Club de l’Ouest is to introduce hydrogen to its Le Mans grid in 2026 is not a surprise. A technical director of the FIA, Bernard Niclot, has been working on the regulations since 2017, the ACO has involved itself heavily in the development of a hydrogen fuel cell prototype and the regulations are ready to be written. The surprise is that the new cars will be going for outright victory at Le Mans from 2026.
The plan is to finalise the regulations by December 2023, to allow manufacturers time to start looking into the technology, and understand what it has to offer.
Ten manufacturers are sitting around the table to thrash out the rules. While no one was willing to reveal the identity of the ten, they do pan the globe from Asia to the US via Europe. Some have already announced their intention to compete at Le Mans with hydrogen-powered cars, notably Toyota, while others have shown an interest in developing the technology. These are include Alpine, Kia and perhaps Ford.
And there is definitely development to be done. Toyota is already ahead, having a proven, race-ready car in its Corolla that is currently competing in the Super Taikyu series in Japan, and which in May became the first racecar to compete with liquid hydrogen.
Having a car that is developed for racing at prototype level, though, is another matter entirely, but this is the challenge the ACO has set for itself, and its partner manufacturers.
To become involved, the manufacturers need a carrot on the end of the stick, and the ACO has delivered one by saying hydrogen cars will be eligible for the overall win at Le Mans. That will require not only a major upgrade in facilities at the circuit, but also a downgrading of the current Hypercars, notably in the pit stops.
Current Hypercars can complete a fuel and tyre stop in around 90s, but refuelling a hydrogen car is going to be almost double that length
