Hydrogen Class Delayed Until 2027

Photo: ACO

The introduction of the hydrogen class at the 24 Hours of Le Mans has been delayed until 2027 according to ACO President Pierre Fillon, who has cited the latest postponement for safety-related reasons.

It marks the third delay since 2021, when the platform’s launch was pushed back to 2025 due to the effects of the Coronavirus pandemic, prior to being postponed to 2026 earlier this year.

Fillon has now revealed that the formula will need an additional year before hitting the track at Circuit de la Sarthe and in the FIA World Endurance Championship.

“2026 is not realistic,” he told reporters at last weekend’s 8 Hours of Bahrain.

“[It would be] 2027 because we have to spend some time about the safety and it takes longer than we expected. I think ’27 is more realistic.”

The latest delay comes less than a month since the reveal of the ACO’s latest electric-hydrogen concept car as part of its Mission H24 project, which is still scheduled to see track action beginning in 2025.

Fillon confirmed the yet-to-be-named car will not compete at Le Mans as a future Garage 56 entrant, with it instead destined for Michelin Le Mans Cup and possible European Le Mans Series races as an unclassified entrant.

“The performance target of the H24 is the same performance as GT3, not more,” he said. “We are not a manufacturer.

“It’s not our target. This car is just a laboratory to know better what we have to do in terms of safety, in terms of refueling. We learn a lot with this car.”

The ACO has worked on hydrogen development since 2018, with its most recent car, the H24, having taken part in several Le Mans Cup races last year.

Toyota has been the highest-profile manufacturer to have signaled interest in the category, having revealed the GR H2 Racing Concept at Le Mans this year.

Sportscar365 understands that multiple additional manufacturers, including Hyundai, Peugeot and BMW, are among the dozen OEMs that are currently involved in the ACO’s technical working group meetings for the emerging platform.

John Dagys

John Dagys is the founder and Editor-in-Chief of Sportscar365. Dagys spent eight years as a motorsports correspondent for FOXSports.com and SPEED Channel and has contributed to numerous other motorsports publications worldwide. Contact John