MissionH24 and McLaren Applied announced today, a partnership.
The H24EVO will use solutions developed by McLaren Applied. MissionH24’s all-new zero-emission prototype, a collaborative program between the Automobile Club l’Ouest (ACO) and H24Project, will be equipped with McLaren Applied’s Vehicle Control Unit, Tyre Pressure Monitoring System as well as software. The first official tests of the H24EVO, scheduled for the 2025 24 Hours of Le Mans, will demonstrate the potential of this joint effort. McLaren Applied’s ATLAS GT logo will appear on the livery of the hydrogen electric prototype.
As pioneers of innovation in motorsport, MissionH24 and McLaren Applied are perfectly synergy. McLaren Applied will provide a range of solutions enabling MissionH24 engineers to optimize the performance of the H24EVO. MissionH24 will also benefit from world-renowned technical support.
The partnership between MissionH24 and McLaren Applied comes at the dawn of an exciting new era of sustainable innovation in motorsport. The framework has been defined: the introduction of hydrogen at the 24 Hours of Le Mans from 2028, for a competition with zero CO2 emissions. With the development of the H24EVO, the first hydrogen-powered car controlled by McLaren Applied solutions, MissionH24 and McLaren Applied are committed to pushing the limits of performance with carbon-free technologies.
VCU-500
The VCU-500 is McLaren Applied’s latest-generation vehicle controller, designed specifically for electric racing applications and widely used in Formula E. The unit will function as the main vehicle controller on the H24EVO, providing powertrain and chassis control functionality, interfacing with all other electronic units on the car. The VCU-500 will make a wealth of data available, recording up to 2,000 parameters simultaneously. This capability will provide a comprehensive performance analysis, enabling teams to pursue their ideal strategy for optimizing vehicle performance.
The VCU-500 is supported by a complete software toolchain, including McLaren Control Toolbox (MCT), enabling MissionH24 engineers to develop customized control strategies using MATLAB Simulink and System Monitor to calibrate and configure the VCU-500. MissionH24 will also benefit from vTAG simulation tools, used to test code before deploying it on the H24EVO, and to run simulations on live and post-processed data.
ATLAS GT
McLaren Applied’s data analysis software, ATLAS is a powerful software package designed to obtain, distribute, display and analyze race car data. ATLAS GT is widely used in top-level motorsport, for live monitoring of vehicle performance, as well as for post-event data analysis and processing. MissionH24 engineers will use ATLAS GT to continuously monitor the performance of the H24EVO, in order to optimize powertrain and chassis performance.
Tyre Pressure Monitoring System (TPMS)
The H24EVO will use McLaren Applied’s Tyre Pressure Monitoring System (TPMS), which also equips the MotoGP. With first class accuracy, the system provides enriched information, additional data parameters such as air humidity, rim temperature and tire casing temperature. The system gives the MissionH24 team complete condition monitoring of the H24EVO tyre performance on the track.
Richard Saxby, Motorsport Director at McLaren Applied:
“We are proud to support this exciting project demonstrating the potential of hydrogen for endurance racing and at the 24 Hours of Le Mans.”
Sam Guest, head of telemetry, control and analysis at McLaren Applied:
“Our VCU-500 analysis package, tire pressure system and ATLAS GT will provide MissionH24 with the latest control systems and analysis tools to optimize the performance of the H24EVO. We look forward to seeing the car on track and supporting our MissionH24 colleagues in achieving their exciting goals and demonstrating the future of hydrogen mobility in the most demanding of endurance races.”
Pierre Fillon, President of the Automobile Club de l’Ouest and co-president of MissionH24:
“Our program dedicated to the deployment of hydrogen in Endurance racing requires partners determined to prove the performance and environmental value of this energy in motor racing. McLaren Applied joins this team of companies committed to our side since 2018, when MissionH24 was officially launched, and it’s a source of great satisfaction. With H24EVO, we are entering a crucial new phase for hydrogen in racing.”
Jean-Michel Bouresche, CEO of H24Project and co-president of MissionH24:
“We are very pleased to welcome McLaren Applied to the group of MissionH24 technical partners. We have a great technological challenge ahead of us, and McLaren Applied’s expertise will be invaluable in helping us achieve our technical and sporting objectives.”
About MissionH24
MissionH24, a collaboration between the Automobile Club de l’Ouest and H24Project, is involved in the creation of an H2 prototype class at the 24 Hours of Le Mans and in FIA WEC. Launched in 2018 with the LMPH2G, a laboratory car, the program then developed the H24, the first H2 racing prototype to have evolved to this level of competition and finished all its races in 2022. With the H24EVO, a new era begins: pure performance!
About McLaren Applied
More than three decades in F1 and other world championships have given McLaren Applied seasoned expertise in electrification, connectivity, control and sensing in motorsport. This expertise is also applied to the automotive and transport sectors. Today, thi independent company headquartered in Woking, UK, and the expertise of its people, combined with its technology and agility, are paving the way for a more sustainable, intelligent and connected future. Find out more at https://www.mclarenapplied.com.