Aston Martin CEO Dr Ulrich Bez has made history by driving the first ever zero CO2 emissions lap in an international motor race in the manufacturer’s #100 Hybrid Hydrogen Rapide S race car at the 41st ADAC Zurich Nürburgring 24 Hours.

The 6.0-litre V12 twin-turbocharged prototype – based on Aston Martin’s new four-door, four-seat, naturally aspirated Rapide S – was developed with the support of renewable energy experts Alset Global to showcase Aston Martin’s commitment to engineering innovation in its centenary year.

Following his history-making qualifying stint in the car yesterday (Friday 17 May) Dr Bez commented: “We exceeded our already very ambitious target of completing a full lap of the Nürburgring and went on to cover 40 km in race conditions – nearly two laps – before the car automatically and smoothly switched to gasoline power.”

During the gruelling 24-hour endurance race, which starts at 17:00hrs CET on Sunday (19 May), the Hybrid Hydrogen Rapide S racer will run on a blend of gasoline and gaseous hydrogen, but the intention is that it will complete at least one lap in each stint on pure hydrogen.

Follow the team’s progress in the dedicated area of the website www.astonmartin.com/n24, on Facebook www.facebook.com/astonmartinracing and on Twitter using @amr_official

Story by Aston Martin