A devoted Hydrogen Village was arrange within the coronary heart of the fan zone throughout final weekend’s TotalEnergies 6 Hours of Spa-Francorchamps, spherical three of the FIA World Endurance Championship, providing followers hands-on actions and insights into hydrogen in motor sport, with the FIA among the many events contributing its experience
The village was open throughout all three days of on-track motion, positioned within the coronary heart of the fan zone, and subsequently out there to the big crowd, with a complete of 98,874 followers in attendance over the course of the race weekend.
The initiative, pushed by the ACO and its MissionH24 undertaking, featured academic and interactive actions that allowed followers to have interaction immediately with hydrogen, together with hands-on experiences akin to water electrolysis.
Hydrogen-powered racing automobiles such because the Alpine Alpenglow Hy6 and the Toyota Gazoo Racing Yaris H2 Idea had been additionally on show, with the previous of the 2 taking to the monitor for demonstration runs.
FIA SHARING ITS KNOW-HOW
Amongst a number of business consultants sharing their data within the Hydrogen Village was Nicolas Aubourg, FIA Head of Analysis & Improvement, who held a presentation for college consultants with reference to hydrogen.
“It was a terrific alternative to alternate with college professors from throughout Europe and share how the FIA is approaching the topic of hydrogen in motor sport,” stated Aubourg.
“Whereas lots of them are hydrogen consultants, the particular purposes of this know-how within the very excessive motor sport setting are fairly distinctive. Due to this fact, I am glad that we managed to indicate how motor sport can function a quick and environment friendly testing floor and the way this data can complement educational analysis,” he summarised.
In recent times, the FIA has been assessing dangers, together with conducting crash exams with hydrogen tanks, with the purpose of holding potential hazards no larger than these already current in motor sport.
Final yr, the FIA introduced that it will focus its efforts on contributing to the event of options primarily based on hydrogen saved in liquid kind, on condition that they’re greatest suited (decrease quantity and weight in comparison with compressed gasoline tanks) to the calls for of motor sport and permit car layouts to stay nearer to standard fuel-powered designs.
Nevertheless, because the regulatory physique, the FIA is just not solely growing security requirements but additionally shaping guidelines to steer innovation towards decarbonisation, in addition to overseeing efficiency balancing between totally different applied sciences.
The FIA together with the ACO are collectively governing the FIA WEC and the 2 events work in shut collaboration on the longer term set of laws for the forthcoming class of hydrogen-powered autos in endurance racing.
