Here’s a story that it seems most have missed that goes back to Le Mans week.
Amongst all of the chatter about new regulations, the future of Hydrogen tech has been very quiet. Not least because the development of the tech requires large and long-term investment, a risk that many OEMs are not currently in a position to take.
Toyota, though, has a plan it seems that might be part of a solution to encourage more into the fold!
During a briefing in Le Mans week, around the return to Le Mans for the brand’s TR LH2 technology demonstrator, Hiroki Nakajima (EVP of Toyota) said the following:
“Our target with a hydrogen engine is focused as much as possible on fuel consumption. This is the challenge at Le Mans.
“In the near future we would like to provide our hydrogen engine to our competitors. We can fight using the same engine on the same tracks. This is my dream.”
Might that aspiration develop into a plan that could interest smaller OEMs, or even well-funded privateers into competition? Or is Toyota looking to alliance with some of its current market rivals to kick-start a new generation of powertrains in endurance racing?
Either is possible, and you can be assured that there will be plenty of questions asked to Toyota on this subject as the ruleset comes together.
