Whiles cars and bikes remain the most elite and high-profile classes at the infamous Dakar Rally, one of the most interesting and unique divisions in the grueling two-week event is the T4 class, which sees massive, multi-ton support rigs take on the unforgiving terrain that separates each stage’s bivouac. And for the 2022 running of the Dakar, engineering firm GAUSSIN has partnered with legendary design house Pininfarina to deliver a cutting-edge hydrogen-powered T4 class competitor known as the “H2 RACING TRUCK.”
The zero-emission racing truck features an exterior design that was penned by Pininfarina, underneath which sits GAUSSIN’s EV architecture. Constructed atop a modular “skateboard” platform, the H2 RACING TRUCK packs a pair of 402hp electric motors that allow for a top speed of almost 90mph. The frame of the high-performance truck was also custom-engineered to support the vehicle’s hydrogen-power system, with the cells integrated into the structure’s design. An oversized 176-lb hydrogen cell and 82kWh of batteries collectively afford the truck a range of approximately 155 miles — in real race conditions — and only requires a 20-minute recharge time (when utilizing a specific hydrogen cooling station).
Representing the most powerful hydrogen truck on the planet, this road-legal T4 racer is slated to make its competition debut at the forthcoming 2022 Dakar Rally, which begins on January 1st and runs through the 14th.
