- Based on the GR010 Hybrid, the concept runs a hydrogen engine paired with a hybrid system.
- It uses liquid hydrogen - a step up from Toyota’s earlier gaseous-fuelled racers.
- Toyota plans to continue real-world testing to develop hydrogen tech and infrastructure.
Toyota’s hydrogen ambitions have shifted up a gear with the global debut of its GR LH2 Racing Concept: an aggressive, liquid hydrogen-fuelled prototype unveiled at the Le Mans 24 Hours this week.
On show at the H2 Village during the endurance race’s 93rd running, the concept signals a serious leap in Toyota’s hydrogen tech push, both on and off the track.
From hot laps to hydrogen
If the silhouette looks familiar, that’s because the GR LH2 Concept borrows its bones from the GR010 Hybrid Hypercar - Toyota’s current weapon in the FIA World Endurance Championship.
But this isn’t just a reskin. Underneath, it packs a hydrogen combustion engine paired with a hybrid system, running on liquid hydrogen instead of the gaseous type used in Toyota’s earlier efforts like the Super Taikyu Corolla. Measuring 5100mm long and 2050mm wide, it’s a serious bit of kit built to test both the pace and potential of hydrogen in motorsport.
A fiery history, now cooler than ever
Toyota’s hydrogen journey isn’t new. Back in 2021, Rookie Racing’s hydrogen-powered Corolla took to the Super Taikyu series using gaseous hydrogen, with a switch to liquid hydrogen arriving in 2023. The GR Yaris H2 even made a crowd-pleasing demo run at the Ypres Rally. And last year, a hydrogen Corolla completed a lap of the Circuit de la Sarthe, previewing what was to come.
Now, with the GR LH2 Racing Concept, Toyota is flexing years of motorsport R&D to support a broader hydrogen ecosystem. Track testing is set to continue, with the concept acting as a high-speed lab to refine technology and infrastructure alike.
Past meets future with some livery flair
The unveiling also coincides with the 40th anniversary of Toyota’s first appearance at Le Mans. That milestone is marked by the GR010 Hybrids wearing liveries that blend nostalgia and ambition.
The #7 car, driven by Mike Conway, Kamui Kobayashi and Nyck de Vries, pays tribute to the 1998 TS020 with red-and-white hues. Meanwhile, the #8 - piloted by Sébastien Buemi, Brendon Hartley and Ryo Hirakawa - goes for a stealth black look, reflecting the brand’s gritty “Hate to lose” mindset.
Toyota says the GR LH2 Racing Concept embodies its goal to “make ever-better cars” through motorsport. Whether it leads to a dedicated hydrogen class at Le Mans or fuels broader change, one thing’s clear: hydrogen’s no longer just a sideshow. It’s gunning for pole position.
