Racing a hybrid prototype vehicle, faster and more efficiently than a modern Formula 1 car. That’s the challenge for student race team Inmotion. The team aims to compete in the 24 Hours of Le Mans in a few years’ time.
The 24 Hours of Le Mans is the most demanding race in the world, pushing both drivers and cars to the limit. It’s all about endurance: which car can cover the most laps in twenty-four hours? To stand a chance, it’s vital to spend the least possible time standing still. That means competing cars must be as reliable and energy-efficient as possible. There’s a reason why Le Mans is often called the Grand Prix of Endurance and Efficiency.
Cars at Le Mans compete in different classes, including Garage 56. This is a special class for innovative cars, with just one spot on the grid every year. In a few years’ time, the Inmotion student race team at Eindhoven University of Technology and Fontys Hogescholen plans to compete in the Garage 56 class with an entirely self-made hybrid race car: the IM01. With the IM01, Inmotion aims to be the first team to complete the full twenty-four-hour race in this category. And they’ll do it with a car that is both quicker and more efficient than any Formula 1 car currently on the grid.
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