Festival of Speed news: Rowan Atkinson hails Toyota’s ‘courage in pursuing the hydrogen idea’

Rowan Atkinson talking hydrogen with Toyota engineers at Goodwood Festival of Speed 2024

Rowan Atkinson applauded Toyota’s European-built hydrogen-powered Toyota GAZOO Racing Europe Yaris H2 concept after test driving it at the 2024 Goodwood Festival of Speed.

Toyota invited Blackadder star Atkinson to jump behind the wheel, with FIA World Rally Championship legend Sébastien Ogier as his co-driver, at the showpiece motorsport event.

And having also test driven the concept car at the 2023 Festival of Speed, Atkinson hailed Toyota’s progress, saying: “It was slightly better than last year’s, I thought – I just so appreciate Toyota’s courage in pursuing the hydrogen idea.

“I just think it’s very admirable and improves all the time and that’s all you can hope for with a development – that you get closer to your ideal.

“I thoroughly enjoyed it and look forward to seeing hydrogen developed in ways that everyone wants to see it done.”

Sébastien Ogier, Gazoo Racing’s rally driver, said: “I was surprised to see how excited he is about the new technology and how Toyota is pushing it – we all support that.”

Atkinson enjoyed being in control of the car, and added (with tongue in cheek): “Seb was a terrible co-driver – he clearly has no idea…I’m not sure he has ever been in a rally car in his life.

“He just had no idea what to do – but anyway, he was very tolerant, that’s the truth of the matter, and even though we were driving pretty slowly, because let’s face it, I was driving, it can be a very nerve-racking thing.

“I thought he was very tolerant…he didn’t scream, I didn’t see him grab anything – so I took that as some kind of endorsement of my driving skill – or lack of it.

“No, he was a delight to be with, and that’s all I could hope for. I kept it on the black stuff – and that was my only ambition.”

The video footage on Toyota UK’s YouTube channel went down well with some viewers, who also expressed their excitement about the future of hydrogen in the automobile industry.

@MICHA3L216 said: “I wholeheartedly believe that hydrogen powered ICE sports cars are essential for the future of car enthusiasts. I’m glad to see Toyota continuing to develop these cars.”

And @yaboiyosef7640 said: “If Toyota succeeds with both hydrogen ICE and solid-state batteries, they will legitimately be the Michael Jordan of car manufacturers. Loud (yet clean) sports/rally cars + efficient EVs for more sedate driving, that lineup will be legendary.”