{"organism":"Page","children":[{"organism":"Container.Raw","children":[{"organism":"Metadata","color":"brand1-solid","model":{"title":"Racing on hydrogen? Meet one of the drivers | Shell Global","text":"\u003Cp\u003ELeo van der Eijk (28) is the driver of the hydrogen car of Forze. He became the first hydrogen driver to beat his competitors on regular fuels in 2019. He will also appear at the start in the latest Forze IX.\u003C/p\u003E\r\n\r\n\r\n","links":[{"name":"Racing on hydrogen? 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He became the first hydrogen driver to beat his competitors on regular fuels in 2019. He will also appear at the start in the latest Forze IX.\u003C/p\u003E\r\n\r\n\r\n\r\n\r\n","image":{"src":"https://www.shell.com/what-we-do/technology-and-innovation/innovation-in-motorsport/shell-and-forze/racing-on-hydrogen-meet-the-driver/_jcr_content/root/main/section/item.shellimg.jpeg/1688376042681/racing-on-hydrogen-meet-the-driver.jpeg","alt":"Racing hydrogen car approaching","width":2766,"height":690}},"id":"/content/shell/corporate/global/en_gb/what-we-do/technology-and-innovation/innovation-in-motorsport/shell-and-forze/racing-on-hydrogen-meet-the-driver/jcr_content/root/main/section/item"},{"organism":"Container.Gapless","color":"inherited","children":[{"organism":"PromoSimple.Text","color":"inherited","colspan":6,"id":"/content/shell/corporate/global/en_gb/what-we-do/technology-and-innovation/innovation-in-motorsport/shell-and-forze/racing-on-hydrogen-meet-the-driver/jcr_content/root/main/section/simple/text","model":{"text":"\u003Cp\u003E\u003Cb\u003EWhat's that like, racing on hydrogen?\u003C/b\u003E\u003Cbr\u003E\r\n\u003C/p\u003E\r\n\u003Cp\u003E\"Of course different from driving a petrol car. You have instant power, continuous power. With a petrol car, that's not the case, there's a delay. It only has offers peak power at certain revelations per minute. Driving on hydrogen is similar to driving an electric car. In addition, you have to race more tactically. I have a buffer at my disposal between the fuel cell and the electric motor. It stores energy in the corners, which you can use to build extra speed when you come out of a corner. How you deal with that buffer can make all the difference.\"\u003C/p\u003E\r\n\u003Cp\u003E\u003Cb\u003EWhat about the sound?\u003C/b\u003E\u003C/p\u003E\r\n\u003Cp\u003E\"The car makes other noises. You can hear the compressor working. And you can hear the fuel cell. Actually, you hear all the instruments to make the water and oxygen react in the fuel cell. But in my head, I turn off the sounds of the car. That's because the sounds don't exactly match with how you drive, which is the case in a regular car. It’ll make more noise when you hit the gas.\"\u003C/p\u003E\r\n"}},{"organism":"StandaloneAsset","color":"inherited","colspan":6,"id":"/content/shell/corporate/global/en_gb/what-we-do/technology-and-innovation/innovation-in-motorsport/shell-and-forze/racing-on-hydrogen-meet-the-driver/jcr_content/root/main/section/simple/standalone_asset","model":{"image":{"src":"https://www.shell.com/what-we-do/technology-and-innovation/innovation-in-motorsport/shell-and-forze/racing-on-hydrogen-meet-the-driver/_jcr_content/root/main/section/simple/standalone_asset.shellimg.jpeg/1652245370543/leo-van-der-eijk.jpeg","alt":"Leo van der Eijk","width":3840,"height":2160}}},{"organism":"PromoSimple.Text","color":"inherited","id":"/content/shell/corporate/global/en_gb/what-we-do/technology-and-innovation/innovation-in-motorsport/shell-and-forze/racing-on-hydrogen-meet-the-driver/jcr_content/root/main/section/simple/text_1205594559","model":{"text":"\u003Cp\u003E\u003Cb\u003EA dilemma: racing in a petrol car or in a hydrogen car?\u003C/b\u003E\u003C/p\u003E\r\n\u003Cp\u003E\"Of course, roaring petrol engines provide more spectacle for the outside world. But as a driver, I have no preference. Actually, with a hydrogen car you know better what to expect: when you touch the throttle, you know that you have full power immediately.\"\u003C/p\u003E\r\n\u003Cp\u003E\u003Cb\u003EDo you have any fears?\u003C/b\u003E\u003C/p\u003E\r\n\u003Cp\u003E\"I have driven rally cars. At 200 kilometers per hour brushing the trees. So no, as a racer, I don't live in fear. You have to use your common sense. I get into a hydrogen racing car with a peace of mind, because I have full confidence in the people who worked on the car. I don't care if there's a hydrogen tank in the car. Because I know how it works technically.\"\u003C/p\u003E\r\n\u003Cp\u003E\u003Cb\u003EHow come?\u003C/b\u003E\u003C/p\u003E\r\n\u003Cp\u003E\"I study Mechanical Engineering and Vehicle Engineering at Delft University of Technology. I'm actually still graduating, haha. I have previously been a team member of Forze; I once helped build a hydrogen racing car, the Forze VI. 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