Hydro Aston makes 'ring history

Published Apr 30, 2013

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Aston Martin has just made history by making the world's first hydrogen-fuelled, zero-emissions lap of the German Nordschleife circuit.

The sports car maker's chief executive, Dr Ulrich Bez, lapped the 24km circuit (during a four-hour race event) as something of a test-run ahead of the formal record-breaking attempt that's planned at the ADAC Zurich 24 Hours of Nürburgring (N24) on 19-20 May.

Here the Hybrid Hydrogen Rapide S will line-up alongside a world-class field of more than 200 GT cars.

Development of the advanced hybrid system - created by technical partners Alset Global and pioneered by Aston Martin in the race - has exceeded expectations, says Dr Bez.

“To have run full laps on hydrogen gas alone during the four-hour event is an exceptional 'first', and I now hope that we can stabilise the system and further improve the Rapide S so we can complete the 24-hour race on May 19 with many zero emission laps.”

When it competes at N24, the Hybrid Hydrogen Rapide S 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.

The car will compete in an experimental class (E1-XP) having passed rigorous technical and safety assessments by the German motorsport authority the DMSB to be granted approval to race.

It will be able to complete full laps with zero CO2 emissions and will be refuelled after each stint with 3.5kg of hydrogen as well as petrol.

Working in partnership with Alset Global, Aston Martin's engineers have developed a prototype 6-litre V12 twin-turbocharged engine that powers the Nürburgring car.

The drivetrain is capable of running purely on petrol, gaseous hydrogen, or a blend of the two. In pure hydrogen mode the car emits virtually only water from the exhaust.

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