[{"@context":"https:\/\/schema.org\/","@type":"BlogPosting","@id":"https:\/\/smart-motoring.com\/latest-news\/hydrogen-bomb-new-aston-martin-rapide-s-hydrogen-racecar\/#BlogPosting","mainEntityOfPage":"https:\/\/smart-motoring.com\/latest-news\/hydrogen-bomb-new-aston-martin-rapide-s-hydrogen-racecar\/","headline":"Hydrogen bomb! New Aston Martin Rapide S hydrogen racecar","name":"Hydrogen bomb! New Aston Martin Rapide S hydrogen racecar","description":"Well, this sounds like it could all end in expensive fragments of carbon fibre, aluminium and leather. But fear not, while this new Aston Rapide S racer will indeed be running on explosive hydrogen at next month\u2019s 41st ADAC Zurich 24 Hours of Nurburgring, and carrying 3.5kg of the pop-juice in four tanks – at a pressure of 350 bar! \u2013 Those tanks are ultra-high strength carbon fibre and the whole shebang has been passed for safety by the distinctly […]","datePublished":"2013-04-12","dateModified":"2013-04-12","author":{"@type":"Person","@id":"https:\/\/smart-motoring.com\/author\/isabelle-lawrence\/#Person","name":"Isabelle Lawrence","url":"https:\/\/smart-motoring.com\/author\/isabelle-lawrence\/","identifier":30,"description":"Max Wheeler is a leading motoring journalist and classic car specialist at Smart Motoring, renowned for his sharp insight and infectious passion for all things automotive. With years of experience covering motoring news, supercars, and the enduring legacy of classic cars, Max brings stories to life with style and authority. Whether it\u2019s the roar of a Lamborghini, the elegance of an Aston Martin DB5, or the cultural impact of vintage motoring icons, he delivers expert commentary that inspires enthusiasts and collectors alike. Dedicated to celebrating the heritage and future of driving, Max Wheeler is your trusted voice for classic car news and beyond.","image":{"@type":"ImageObject","@id":"https:\/\/secure.gravatar.com\/avatar\/8d331506e3c530b5ec4930c30a01ed8cc29b0537227573ae5da98f559e681401?s=96&d=mm&r=g","url":"https:\/\/secure.gravatar.com\/avatar\/8d331506e3c530b5ec4930c30a01ed8cc29b0537227573ae5da98f559e681401?s=96&d=mm&r=g","height":96,"width":96}},"publisher":{"@type":"Organization","name":"Smart Motoring","logo":{"@type":"ImageObject","@id":"https:\/\/smart-motoring.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/10\/smart-motoring_news_logo_g-e1765846726493.webp","url":"https:\/\/smart-motoring.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/10\/smart-motoring_news_logo_g-e1765846726493.webp","width":600,"height":60}},"image":{"@type":"ImageObject","@id":"https:\/\/smart-motoring.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2013\/04\/wm674777_71158ast_2.jpg","url":"https:\/\/smart-motoring.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2013\/04\/wm674777_71158ast_2.jpg","height":"359","width":"577"},"url":"https:\/\/smart-motoring.com\/latest-news\/hydrogen-bomb-new-aston-martin-rapide-s-hydrogen-racecar\/","about":["LATEST CAR NEWS","Sports \/ Performance & Prestige cars","Sports, Performance & Prestige Cars"],"wordCount":512,"keywords":["aston martin","Aston Martin Rapide","Nurburgring","Nurburgring Nordschleife"],"articleBody":"Well, this sounds like it could all end in expensive fragments of carbon fibre, aluminium and leather. But fear not, while this new Aston Rapide S racer will indeed be running on explosive hydrogen at next month\u2019s 41st ADAC Zurich 24 Hours of Nurburgring, and carrying 3.5kg of the pop-juice in four tanks – at a pressure of 350 bar! \u2013 Those tanks are ultra-high strength carbon fibre and the whole shebang has been passed for safety by the distinctly rigorous German motorsport\u2019s governing body, the DMSB. If the driver asks, those two hydrogen-fuel-tank-like tanks next to him aren\u2019t full of hydrogen.In a racing world first, the Hybrid Hydrogen Rapide S will be the first hydrogen-powered car to compete in an international racing event and the first zero CO2 emissions sportscar to complete a race pace lap at the Nurburgring 24-hour race. And what a first race to go for \u2013 24 hours of day and night high speed lappery on the evil Nurburgring. It\u2019s called the Green Hell as it\u2019s surrounded by forestry and only the maddest, fastest and downright meanest drivers in the world make it round in any kind of style.The fearless wheelman strapped into this experimental new Aston missile will draw some comfort from the fact that he\u2019s in an all-new, rather gorgeous Aston racer; this Hybrid Hydrogen Rapide S, that\u2019s based on Aston Martin\u2019s new four-door, four-seat sportscar that hits dealers this month. Customer cars will be powered by a more familiar 6-litre, V12 motor running on nothing more than good old high octane unleaded, to the tune of 190mph, and 62mph in 4.9 seconds.Our racer gets something a little more high tech under his right foot for his Nurburgring racing laps, namely a prototype twin turbocharged 6-litre V12 engine that can run on either pure petrol, pure gaseous hydrogen, or a blend of both. In pure hydrogen running mode, Aston Martin aim to show that a zero emissions lap of the legendary \u2018ring is possible, with only water frothing out of the tailpipe.Now, Aston haven\u2019t released full details of how much power this engine will make using only hydrogen, but it\u2019s likely that for full power this uber-hybrid will use a petrol boost \u2013 remember, it has two turbochargers too \u2013 and once at speed and \u2018cruising\u2019 could potentially switch to pure hydrogen for zero CO2 at that point. The engine management system can mix the petrol and hydrogen as it sees fit and with the turbos making up some useful torque, the end result should be a full-blooded V12 Aston racer that in total emits similar CO2 to that of a road going supermini. The nifty fuelling diagram below helps make sense of this awesome petrol \/ hydrogen hybrid witchcraftery.The ADAC Zurich Nurburgring 24 Hours runs over May 19-20, with over 150 cars taking part in the gruelling 24-hour race around the 18 mile Nordschleife. Just give this particular Aston racer a wide berth into the first corner, eh lads! Hmm, looks straightforward\u00a0enough\u00a0to me!\u00a0 By Dan Anslow  "},{"@context":"https:\/\/schema.org\/","@type":"BreadcrumbList","itemListElement":[{"@type":"ListItem","position":1,"name":"Latest News","item":"https:\/\/smart-motoring.com\/latest-news\/#breadcrumbitem"},{"@type":"ListItem","position":2,"name":"Hydrogen bomb! New Aston Martin Rapide S hydrogen racecar","item":"https:\/\/smart-motoring.com\/latest-news\/hydrogen-bomb-new-aston-martin-rapide-s-hydrogen-racecar\/#breadcrumbitem"}]}]