In its bid to promote carbon- neutrality, Toyota Motor Corporation has successfully participated in the Idemitsu Super Endurance Southeast Asia Trophy 2023, otherwise known as the Thailand 10-hour Endurance Race, last December 22 and 23, 2023 at Chang International Circuit in Thailand.
Toyota Motor Corporation pitted three specially-prepared Toyotas for the racing event in line with the company’s advocacy towards promoting carbon-neutral mobility. Toyota entered a ORC ROOKIE GR86 CNF Concept, a GR86 that has been tuned to run on carbon-neutral fuel; the ORC ROOKIE GR Corolla H2 Concept, a GR Corolla that runs on hydrogen fuel; and the CP ROOKIE PRIUS CNF-HEV GR Concept, a latest-gen Prius Hybrid Electric Vehicle (HEV) that runs on carbon-neutral fuel.
Along with the pool of talented drivers, Toyota Motor Corporation Chairman Akio “Morizo” Toyoda participated in the endurance series and piloted the Prius HEV and the GR Corolla H2 Concept.
Toyota has been actively promoting its carbon-neutral technology through motorsports by participating in endurance races like the Japanese Super Taikyu series. The company has previously joined the 2022 Thailand 25-hour Endurance Race with the hydrogen-powered GR Corolla and the carbon-neutral-fueled GR86. Mimicking the company’s multi-pathway approach towards carbon neutrality, Toyota expanded its carbon-neutral motorsports campaign by introducing a new race car this year, in the form of the new Prius CNF-HEV GR Concept. Marking the first time Toyota will compete with a HEV in a race.
The ORC ROOKIE GR86 CNF Concept completed a total of 289 laps around Chang International Circuit and finished 4th in class and 4th overall. The GR86 CNF Concept was piloted by Kazuya Oshima, Kenta Yamashita, Keizo Kato, and Daisuke Toyoda.
The CP ROOKIE PRIUS CNF-HEV GR Concept completed a total of 272 laps and finished 6th in its class and 11th overall. Drivers pool for the Prius CNF-HEV GR Concept includes Kachorn Chiaravanont, Akio “Morizo” Toyoda, Tatsuya Kataoka, Naoya Gamo, and Hibiki Taira.
Lastly, the ORC ROOKIE GR Corolla H2 Concept recorded a total of 161 laps finishing 8th in its class. Sharing driving stints behind the wheel of the GR Corolla H2 were Morizo, Yasuhiro Ogura, Masahiro Sasaki, and Hiroaki Ishiura.
As per Akio Toyoda during the post-race interviews, the company wants to show how reliable hydrogen and HEVs are as carbon neutral options, not only in motorsports, but more so in daily-driving duties.
Toyota will continue its multi-pathway approach to achieving carbon neutrality together with its partners.
