Audi discuss hydrogen-powered LMP1 possibilities

  • Published on 03 Aug 2016 10:28
  • comments 0
  • By: Dominik Wilde

Audi have said they would be able to build a hydrogen-powered Le Mans prototype but has no plans to do so at the moment.

Speaking to Autocar magazine, Audi's head of road car technical development Stefan Knirsch said that using a hydrogen cell in a LMP1 car "could be possible".

The German marque unveiled the hydrogen-powered h-tron quattro SUV in Detroit earlier this year to demonstrate the technology.

Audi's racing division, however, is not working on anything utilising the technology at the moment according to Audi Sport boss Dr. Wolfgang Ullrich.

"At the moment Audi Sport is not working on a project, but that doesn't mean that we won't look into it in the future," he said.

The next set of LMP1 regulations, set to be introduced some time after 2021, is currently being discussed and whilst not ruling out the possibility of having hydrogen cars alongside the existing petrol and diesel hybrids, Dr. Ullrich said that it would be difficult.

"It has to be discussed, but introducing hydrogen alongside diesel and petrol [gasoline] will not be easy," said the Austrian.

Audi has also warned that the development of hydrogen technology must mirror their road car plans before they commit to using it in a racing environment.

A hydrogen-powered entry was set to compete in the 2013 24 Hours of Le Mans but was withdrawn. The Swiss GreenGT team was awarded the Garage 56 entry for experimental cars and despite not competing, they have continued to develop the technology and they demonstrated the latest version of their car at this year's 24 Hours of Le Mans race.

Replies (0)

Login to reply

BE Grand Prix of Belgium

Local time 

BEGrand Prix of Belgium

Local time 

World Championship standings 2024

Show full world champion standings

Test calendar

See full test schedule

Related news

Give your opinion!

Will Bottas challenge Hamilton for the world championship in 2020?

Formula 1 Calendar - 2024

Date
Grand Prix
Circuit
-
Bahrain
29 - Mar 2
Bahrain
7 - Mar 9
Saudi Arabia
22 - Mar 24
Australia
5 - Apr 7
Japan
19 - Apr 21
China
3 - May 5
United States of America
17 - May 19
Italy
24 - May 26
Monaco
7 - Jun 9
Canada
21 - Jun 23
Spain
28 - Jun 30
Austria
5 - Jul 7
United Kingdom
19 - Jul 21
Hungary
26 - Jul 28
Belgium
23 - Aug 25
Netherlands
30 - Sep 1
Italy
13 - Sep 15
Azerbaijan
20 - Sep 22
Singapore
18 - Oct 20
United States of America
25 - Oct 27
Mexico
1 - Nov 3
Brazil
22 - Nov 24
United States of America
29 - Dec 1
Qatar
6 - Dec 8
United Arab Emirates
See full schedule

Formula 1 Calendar - 2024

Date
Grand Prix & Circuit
29 - Mar 2
7 - Mar 9
Saudi Arabia Jeddah Street Circuit
22 - Mar 24
Australia Albert Park
5 - Apr 7
19 - Apr 21
3 - May 5
United States of America Miami International Autodrome
17 - May 19
24 - May 26
Monaco Monte Carlo
7 - Jun 9
21 - Jun 23
28 - Jun 30
Austria Red Bull Ring
5 - Jul 7
United Kingdom Silverstone
19 - Jul 21
Hungary Hungaroring
26 - Jul 28
23 - Aug 25
Netherlands Circuit Zandvoort
30 - Sep 1
Italy Monza
13 - Sep 15
Azerbaijan Baku City Circuit
20 - Sep 22
18 - Oct 20
United States of America Circuit of the Americas
25 - Oct 27
1 - Nov 3
Brazil Interlagos
22 - Nov 24
United States of America Las Vegas Street Circuit
29 - Dec 1
6 - Dec 8
United Arab Emirates Yas Marina Circuit
See full schedule
show sidebar