Toyota Motor Corporation (Toyota) will participate in the ENEOS Super Taikyu Series 2024 Empowered by BRIDGESTONE Round 2 NAPAC Fuji SUPER TEC 24 Hours Race, taking place from May 24 to 26. The automaker will compete with the #32 ORC ROOKIE GR Corolla H2 Concept, a groundbreaking hydrogen-powered vehicle running on liquid hydrogen.
Toyota aims to further its commitment to carbon neutrality by refining both its vehicles and its team through the rigorous demands of motorsports. The hydrogen-powered GR Corolla is set to showcase significant advancements, particularly in the areas of pump durability and cruising range.
Advancements in Liquid Hydrogen Technology
The GR Corolla’s liquid hydrogen engine generates power by directly injecting hydrogen into the engine for combustion. Improvements include an enhanced liquid hydrogen pump, which boosts the pressure before sending hydrogen to the engine. Last year’s race saw the pump being replaced twice due to durability issues. This year, a dual-drive crank mechanism has been implemented, allowing the pump to function more efficiently and last for the entire 24-hour race without replacement.
- 2023 Fuji 24 Hours Race: 3 pumps used (replaced twice)
- 2024 Fuji 24 Hours Race (Target): 1 pump (no replacement needed)
Increased Cruising Range with Custom-Shaped Tank
The GR Corolla now features a custom-shaped oval liquid hydrogen tank, replacing the previous cylindrical design. This change increases the tank capacity by 1.5 times, enhancing the vehicle’s cruising range significantly.
- 2022 Fuji 24 Hours Race: 180 L gaseous hydrogen tank, 7.3 kg hydrogen volume, approx. 12 laps, 54 km range
- 2023 Fuji Final Round: 150 L liquid hydrogen tank, 10 kg hydrogen volume, approx. 20 laps, 90 km range
- 2024 Fuji 24 Hours Race (Target): 220 L liquid hydrogen tank, 15 kg hydrogen volume, approx. 30 laps, 135 km range
Innovative CO2 Capture Technology
Toyota has also advanced its CO2 capture technology, which utilizes engine air intake and heat to capture CO2 from the atmosphere. This year’s race will see an automated system that switches the CO2 absorption and separation processes, improving efficiency compared to the manual process used last year.
List of Drivers for #32 GR Corolla
- Driver A: Morizo
- Driver B: Masahiro Sasaki
- Driver C: Hiroaki Ishiura
- Driver D: Yasuhiro Ogura
- Driver E: Masahiko Kondo
- Driver F: Jari-Matti Latvala
