Sustainable motorsports: isn't that a contradiction in terms? Not for Forze Hydrogen Racing! Founded back in 2007 when the hydrogen economy of the future was still a distant prospect, this student team in the environment of the Delft University of Technology started out by developing a small go-kart. Today's Forze team is now working on the ninth generation of hydrogen-powered vehicles: the Forze IX is a full-size Le Mans prototype race car with impressive performance statistics – acceleration from 0 to 100 km/h in under 3 seconds, a top speed of 300 km/h, and fuel cell power of 240 kW (600 kW with boost). With their new vehicle, the Forze team aims to compete against petrol cars in the GT class of the Supercar Challenge – showing what is possible with race cars powered by hydrogen, the environment-friendly alternative.
Forze is short for Formula Zero, a series of zero-emission motorsports championships held between 2008 and 2011 which the Dutch team won three times in a row in their early years. “We then decided to to make the step to full-size hydrogen race cars so we could continue developing hydrogen technology. The first car in this series, the Forze VI, still holds the lap record for hydrogen-powered cars at the Nürburgring,” says Thomas Noordzij, who shares responsibility for PR and Marketing at Forze with a colleague. “But that was long before I joined the team in August 2022. We start out with a new selection of students every year in August.” About 30 full-timers and 30 part-timers now work for Forze, which eventually became an independent foundation, separate from the university. “They aren't paid while they are working for Forze, but of course they gain invaluable experience and practical insights during their time here,” Noordzij adds. “To ensure continuity, all Forze alumni stay connected in our network and are available to provide knowledge and support for the current team if necessary.”