Latest news with #PierreFillon
Yahoo
31-01-2025
- Automotive
- Yahoo
Ford confirms prototype program
Ford will enter the booming global factory prototype ranks with a new LMDh-based chassis starting in 2027. As RACER revealed earlier in January, the Blue Oval is set to chase overall wins at endurance sports car racing's biggest events, and it will start with the FIA World Endurance Championship and its marquee race, the 24 Hours of Le Mans, with a factory program. 'We are entering a new era for performance and racing at Ford,' said Bill Ford. 'You can see it from what we're doing on-road and off-road. When we race, we race to win. And there is no track or race that means more to our history than Le Mans. It is where we took on Ferrari and won in the 1960s. It is where we returned 50 years later and shocked the world and beat Ferrari again. I am thrilled that we're going back to Le Mans and competing at the highest level of endurance racing. We are ready to once again challenge the world, and 'go like hell!'' No details on the team, number of cars, chassis supplier, or engine choice were provided, but RACER understands Ford took a serious look at partnering with Dallara to manufacture its Hypercar/GTP model — Dallara makes BMW's M Hybrid V8 and Cadillac's V-Series.R — before ultimately deciding to continue its alignment with Multimatic, which produces the championship-and Rolex 24-winning Porsche 963. Beyond its famous wins at Le Mans more than 50 years ago, Ford has made very few ventures into full-factory prototype racing. Its IMSA GTP programs in the 1980s, first with a front-engine car and then a rear-engine machine, along with a brief effort for Ford Europe in the WEC on a similar timeframe, a short Multimatic-led Daytona Prototype effort at the dawn of the DP formula, and a deeper engagement with Meyer Shank Racing and Chip Ganassi Racing during the second-generation DP era comprise most of the brand's forays outside of GT-based endurance competition. In returning to Le Mans, where Ford won on debut in the GTE class with the GT model in 2016, the American auto manufacturer will chase overall victories at the world's largest international motor race. The formal announcement, made in North Carolina, also included attendees from IMSA, where the new Ford LMDhs are expected to join the GTP class a year or two after the 2027 launch in WEC's Hypercar category. 'It is wonderful news to welcome Ford back to the top level of the 24 Hours of Le Mans for the first time in almost 60 years,' said Automobile Club de l'Ouest president Pierre Fillon, who runs the event. 'It is a brand that has always had a close affinity with this very special race, and history shows that Ford does not compete to finish second. The renewal of its famous rivalry with Ferrari is truly an exciting prospect.' Story originally appeared on Racer
Yahoo
29-01-2025
- Automotive
- Yahoo
MissionH24 H24EVO prototype to switch from gaseous to liquid hydrogen storage
The MissionH24 H24EVO prototype is set to undergo a switch from gaseous to liquid hydrogen storage ahead of its final design freeze later this year. The MissionH24 project, led by the Automobile Club de l'Ouest (ACO), is being pushed forward as a proof of concept for motorsport as the ACO and FIA edge closer to their target of introducing a ruleset that will enable manufacturers to compete with hydrogen-powered prototypes at Le Mans and in the FIA WEC by the end of the decade. Currently, the ruleset is being put together in conjunction with prospective manufacturers, though no target date for the technical regulations to be finalized has yet been disclosed publicly. The H24EVO – the third generation hydrogen prototype produced by MissionH24 – was presented to the public and media in show car form at Le Mans last year in June. Back then it incorporated a pair of tanks for gaseous hydrogen to power its 300kW Symbio fuel cell and in turn its 650 KW (872 hp) electric motor which drives the rear wheels. Now, it will switch technology to match the FIA's shift in direction to liquid hydrogen as a future solution for motorsport applications. This change to the H24EVO will enable between 11 and 14kg of hydrogen to be stored at -253 degrees Celcius in thermally insulated tanks, and increase its driving range by 10 plus minutes to 'at least' 40 minutes. The car's target weight remains at 1300 kg, but the planned top speed has increased to 211.3 mph to help reach the stated performance target of GT3 pace. 'After introducing gaseous hydrogen to the racetrack, MissionH24, with the H24EVO, is now embarking on a crucial new phase with a dual challenge: to engage liquid hydrogen in competition and to rival the competition from conventional combustion engines,' ACO President Pierre Fillon said at this week's 'Hyvolution Paris' exhibition. 'This mission is essential to achieve zero CO2 emission in motor racing.' Along with the shift in storage technology, the timeline for the H24EVO has also been updated. The design of the car is set to be frozen from May 2025, ahead of a second appearance at the Hydrogen Village at Le Mans in June. Later in the year, the car will undergo bench testing in October, before the ADESS-based prototype is fully assembled in February 2026 and track-tested in April. Story originally appeared on Racer
Yahoo
29-01-2025
- Automotive
- Yahoo
Hydrogen Le Mans prototype takes another step forward
The MissionH24 H24EVO prototype is set to undergo a switch from gaseous to liquid hydrogen storage ahead of its final design freeze later this year. The MissionH24 project, led by the Automobile Club de l'Ouest (ACO), is being pushed forward as a proof of concept for motorsport as the ACO and FIA edge closer to their target of introducing a ruleset that will enable manufacturers to compete with hydrogen-powered prototypes at Le Mans and in the World Endurance Championship by the end of the decade. The ruleset is being put together in conjunction with prospective manufacturers, though no target date for the technical regulations to be finalized has yet been disclosed. The H24EVO — the third-generation hydrogen prototype produced by MissionH24 — was presented to the public and media in show car form at Le Mans last year in June. Back then it incorporated a pair of tanks for gaseous hydrogen to power its 300kW Symbio fuel cell and in turn its 650 kW (872 hp) electric motor which drives the rear wheels. Now, it will switch technology to match the FIA's shift in direction to liquid hydrogen as a future solution for motorsport applications. This change to the H24EVO will enable between 11 and 14kg of hydrogen to be stored at -253 degrees C (-487 F) in thermally insulated tanks and increase its driving range by 10-plus minutes to 'at least' 40. The car's target weight remains at 1300 kg, but the planned top speed has increased to 211.3 mph to help reach the stated performance target of GT3 pace. 'After introducing gaseous hydrogen to the racetrack, MissionH24, with the H24EVO, is now embarking on a crucial new phase with a dual challenge: to engage liquid hydrogen in competition and to rival the competition from conventional combustion engines,' ACO President Pierre Fillon said at this week's 'Hyvolution Paris' exhibition. 'This mission is essential to achieve zero CO2 emission in motor racing.' Along with the shift in storage technology, the timeline for the H24EVO has also been updated. The design of the car is set to be frozen from May 2025, ahead of a second appearance at the Hydrogen Village at Le Mans in June. Later in the year, the car will undergo bench testing in October, before the ADESS-based prototype is fully assembled in February 2026 and track-tested in April. Story originally appeared on Racer
