Aston Martin is set to race a pioneering hybrid hydrogen car at the 41st ADAC Zurich 24 Hours of Nürburgring next month.
The record-breaking Hybrid Hydrogen Rapide S—based on Aston Martin’s new four-door, four-seat sports car—will become the first hydrogen-powered car to compete in an international event as well as the first zero CO2 emissions sports car to complete a race pace lap at the Nürburgring 24-hour race.
Working in partnership with hydrogen experts Alset Global, Aston Martin’s engineers have developed a prototype twin turbocharged 6.0-litre V12 engine that will power the Nürburgring car.
Capable of running on pure gasoline, pure gaseous hydrogen, or a blend of both, the Hybrid Hydrogen race car showcases Aston Martin’s commitment to engineering innovation. In pure hydrogen mode, Aston Martin and Alset Global aim to show that a zero CO2 emissions lap of the Nordschleife is possible while emitting virtually only water from the exhaust.
Showcasing the technology at the Nürburgring—acknowledged as one of the toughest and most demanding circuits in the world—Aston Martin will underline the reliability and safety of today’s hydrogen technology.
The Hybrid Hydrogen system comprises a hydrogen fuel rail, storage tanks and proprietary engine management system. This enables flexibility in the control of the combustion process according to each particular driving situation: either pure hydrogen, gasoline or a arbitrary blend of both can be selected to ensure optimum power, acceleration and CO2 reduction.
This control results in a powerful and dynamic propulsion system that provides sports car performance but with a carbon footprint more akin to that of a supermini.
Safety-wise, the system also includes four ultra-high strength carbon fiber tanks holding a total of 3.5kg of hydrogen stored at a pressure of 350bar—two tanks housed next to the driver and two in the boot of the car.
Meanwhile, the entire hydrogen system developed by Alset Global and its partners is approved by German motorsport’s governing body, the DMSB.
The Hybrid Hydrogen race car is based on the new Rapide S four-door sports car.
Aston Martin returns to compete in the ADAC Zurich Nürburgring 24 Hours on May 19-20 for the eighth successive year. More than 150 cars will start the 24-hour race, which runs on the 25 km circuit that combines the legendary Nordschleife with the modern Grand Prix track.