Toyota has revealed the GR LH2 Racing Concept, a hydrogen-powered hybrid racecar at the 2025 edition of the 24 Hours of Le Mans. This concept car is an upgraded version of last year’s GR H2 and combines a new design, better aerodynamics, and advanced hydrogen combustion technology with hybrid systems. It also uses the same base chassis as the GR010 Hybrid, which competes in the FIA World Endurance Championship (WEC).
This new concept is more than just a racecar. It is a real-world testing platform for hydrogen as an alternative fuel. Toyota is using the GR LH2 to study not just how hydrogen can power cars, but also how it can be stored, refueled, and used in high-pressure motorsport conditions.
This hydrogen-powered car also represents the company’s belief that there is more than one way to reduce carbon emissions.
According to motorsport, Kazuki Nakajima, vice chairman of Toyota’s WEC team and a three-time winner of the 24 Hours of Le Mans, said, “We are not just testing the engine. We are testing the infrastructure, the refueling systems, and the entire ecosystem needed to make hydrogen work not only for motorsports but for the real world too.”
The company has not shared detailed technical information about the car, such as how powerful it is or how fast it can go. However, Toyota confirmed that the car measures 5,100 mm in length and 2,050 mm in width, which is about the same as its WEC counterpart.
The GR LH2 Racing Concept uses an internal combustion engine that runs on liquid hydrogen, supported by hybrid technology. The hydrogen systems were built at Toyota’s Higashi-Fuji Technical Centre in Japan. The car itself was built at the company’s Gazoo Racing facility in Cologne, Germany.
Although Toyota hasn’t given an exact date for when this car will be tested on a racetrack, Nakajima said, “It is not far off. To get to the right level, we believe we need to improve the technology further and there is more we have to do.”
This new car also marks Toyota’s 40th year at the 24 Hours of Le Mans. To celebrate this milestone, the company presented three special racecars at the event. The GR LH2 represents the future. The #8 GR010 Hypercar, which Toyota currently races, represents the present. The #7 Hypercar has a red and white livery. It pays tribute to the past. It honors the TS020, which reached the podium at Le Mans in 1998.
In 2023, a hydrogen-powered Corolla did a demonstration lap at the Le Mans circuit. The same Corolla has been racing in Japan’s Fuji 24 Hours since 2021. In 2022, a rally version of the hydrogen Corolla even appeared in the World Rally Championship in Belgium. All these efforts show that Toyota is serious about hydrogen-powered racing.
Outside of motorsport, Toyota is also working on hydrogen-powered road cars. The company recently launched its third-generation hydrogen fuel cell. Experts say it is cheaper, more durable, and more powerful than older models.
Toyota also working with BMW to develop hydrogen technology and recently even revealed a hydrogen-powered sauna. These surprising projects represents Toyota’s deep interest in hydrogen as a clean energy source.
Despite all this progress, hydrogen racing still faces challenges. The FIA planned to allow hydrogen racecars to compete at Le Mans as early as 2024. But the organization has delayed that plan until at least 2028. At the FIA Motor Sport World Council meeting in Macau, members approved new rules for storing liquid hydrogen. This could help bring hydrogen cars to more motorsport events in the future.
Toyota’s choice to focus on hydrogen sets it apart from many other carmakers that are switching fully to electric vehicles. Instead of putting all their efforts into one solution, Toyota is working on several clean energy options. It includes battery-electric vehicles, plug-in hybrids, and hydrogen-powered cars.
