Now, this is a serious step forward for hydrogen in endurance racing. According to Motorsport.com Italia, the H24EVO is set to feature a hydrogen combustion engine supplied by Toyota Racing, expanding upon previous aerodynamic and cooling partnerships between the entities.
The official unveiling of this agreement landed during the FIA WEC weekend in Japan, pointing toward a significant public debut on September 26, 2026, at the Fuji Speedway. MissionH24, born back in 2018 as a collaborative effort between the Automobile Club de l’Ouest and H24Project, is pushing past the gaseous hydrogen fuel cells of its earlier LMPH2G and H24 machines into a new era utilizing liquid hydrogen storage and a combustion engine.
Under the hood, or rather inside the chassis, sits a purpose-built 3.5-liter V6 racing engine crafted by Toyota Racing. Coupled with the prototype's hybrid system, this beast is projected to pump out a maximum power of 650 kW. That output gives the H24EVO a massive performance jump, pushing its capabilities beyond the LMGT3 class goal and right into the territory of an ELMS prototype.
"This new collaboration between MissionH24 and Toyota Racing reflects our respective commitments, shared by all partners of MissionH24, to bring to successful completion the energy transition," commented ACO President Pierre Fillon. Kazuki Nakajima, vice chairman of Toyota Racing, added: "We are enthusiastic about this new step forward in the collaboration with MissionH24, whom I would like to thank for the trust and expectations placed in our hydrogen combustion engine."
The engineering challenge is already underway behind the scenes. Bassel Aslan, technical director of MissionH24, detailed that both squads are currently knee-deep in designing the mechanical interfaces linking the motor to the chassis and gearbox, alongside sorting out the electrical architecture, controls, and software requirements. With high efficiency built into the motor to optimize liquid hydrogen usage and vehicle range, it promises to be a vital asset for endurance racing.
Jean-Michel Bouresche, CEO of H24Project and co-president of MissionH24 alongside Fillon, noted that having the world's leading automotive manufacturer step up with its own hydrogen combustion engine sends a powerful signal to the industry. The H24EVO will soon face its initial tests, bringing this ambitious clean-emission vision ever closer to reality on the track.
