New hybrid top class for Le Mans; fuel cell racers in 2024

The FIA World Endurance Championship will deepen their focus on top-notch hybrid technology. ACO and FIA plan to introduce a new class for 2020 – 2024. Moreover, a special class at 24 hours in Le Mans in 2024 will introduce fuel cell racers.

The Automobile Club De L’Ouest (ACO) and Fédération Internationale de l’Automobile (FIA) will introduce a whole new class for the FIA World Endurance Championship for 2020-2024.

The prototypes will retain a hybrid system while manufacturers may opt for a combustion engine at a predetermined and fixed cost. The name of the new class has yet to be chosen and will be put to the public to vote.

Moreover, the endurance race Le Mans will introduce hydrogen fuel cell technology in 2024. A working group is already in place and includes various partners such as seven automotive multinationals. They are involved in setting down the conditions required for the creation of this class.

Our guess is that Toyota is surely among those carmakers due to both their advances in hydrogen technology as well as their active involvement in Le Mans. Last weekend, their hybrid racer scored victory for the first time, when the Toyota TS050 Hybrid won the 24 hours race. Drivers Fernando Alonso, Sebastien Buemi and Kazuki Nakajima took turns behind the steering wheel of the hybrid race car.

greencarcongress.com (new classes), bbc.com (Le Mans 2018)