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.

type	One Of
built at	Graz, Austria
body stylist	Marek Reichman
engine	AM11 V12
position	Front-Mid, Longituindal
valvetrain	DOHC 4 Valves per CYl
displacement	5935 cc / 362.18 in³
power	416.1 kw / 558 bhp @ 6750 rpm
specific output	94.02 bhp per litre
torque	620 nm / 457.3 ft lbs @ 5000 rpm
body / frame	Aluminium, Magnesium Alloy & Composite Body over Aluminum VH Archtechture
driven wheels	RWD w/TC
wheel type	Alloy
front brakes	Discs w/6-Piston Calipers, DSC, ABS, EBD
rear brakes	Discs w/4-Piston Calipers, DSC, ABS, EBD
steering	Rack & Pinoin w/Servotronic Speed-Sensitive Power Assist
f suspension	Double Wishbones, Coil Springs, Anti-Roll Bar, Monotube Active Dampers
r suspension	Double Wishbones, Coil Springs, Anti-Roll Bar, Monotube Active Dampers
length	5019 mm / 197.6 in
width	2140 mm / 84.3 in
height	1360 mm / 53.5 in
transmission	Touchtronic 2 6-Speed Automatic
final drive	3.46: