Toyota Competes in High-Speed 10-Hour Race in Thailand with the Prius Model.

Toyota will compete with 3 models designed exclusively for the ROOKIE Racing Team, including the ORC ROOKIE GR86 CNF concept car, a GR86 running on carbon-neutral fuel; the ORC ROOKIE GR Corolla H2 concept car, a Corolla running on hydrogen; and the CP ROOKIE PRIUS CNF-HEV GR concept car, an additional new hybrid version of the Prius running on carbon-neutral fuel.

The new Prius competing in this year’s race is based on a mass-produced model, marking Toyota’s first participation in the race with a commercial Prius HEV.

In addition, the three cars of the TOYOTA GAZOO Racing Thailand team, the Corolla, 86, and Yaris, will also use carbon-neutral fuel. Toyota will continue to expand the options for sports cars to achieve carbon neutrality along with partners in Asia.

Racing team

List of drivers

Morizo, Yasuhiro Ogura, Kachorn Chiaravanont, Masahiro Sasaki, Tatsuya Kataoka, Hiroaki Ishiura, Kazuya Oshima, Naoya Gamo, Kenta Yamashita, Hibiki Taira, Keizo Kato, Daisuke Toyoda

Driver information may be supplemented or changed

ORC ROOKIE GR86 CNF concept car

ORC ROOKIE GR Corolla H2 concept car

First participation in a race with a hybrid (HEV) car

Toyota is accelerating its multi-dimensional approach strategy to achieve a carbon-neutral society by introducing the hydrogen-powered Corolla and carbon-neutral fuel-based GR86 into the Super Taikyu race. Both cars also competed in the 25H endurance race in Thailand in 2022, where Toyota conducted vehicle improvement challenges in a different environment from Japan. This time, to further expand the multi-dimensional approach, Toyota is adding a HEV-based vehicle to the racing team, one of the most effective options to achieve carbon neutrality in Asia and especially in Thailand. This car will also run on carbon-neutral fuel.

TOYOTA GAZOO Racing has improved Racing Hybrid technology through participation in the World Endurance Championship (WEC). This time, Toyota will introduce racing-appropriate technology for the Prius to improve the hybrid technology that combines driving excitement and fuel efficiency.

In addition, Toyota will challenge and expand possibilities for the future with its partner, Mr. Kachorn Chiaravanont, who will participate as a racer using the Prius. Mr. Chiaravanont is a director of Charoen Pokphand Group (CP), a partner in efforts to achieve a carbon-neutral society in Thailand, as well as the President of True Leasing Co., Ltd.

Expanding partner production, transportation, and use of hydrogen in Thailand

Toyota continues to challenge and expand options to achieve a carbon-neutral society with the hydrogen-powered Corolla. The number of partner organizations involved in racing has increased to 51, both in Japan and overseas.

In the 10-hour high-speed race in Thailand, biofuel produced from CP’s poultry farms and food waste from Toyota Daihatsu Engineering & Manufacturing (TDEM), a Toyota facility, will be used as part of the fuel for the hydrogen-powered Corolla.

In addition, fuel cell-powered drones used for demonstration testing in collaboration with CP will be unveiled for the first time at the event to introduce the production, transportation, and use of hydrogen that Toyota and its partners are promoting in Thailand. With this activity, Toyota will expand its efforts to build a hydrogen use model for Asian countries, starting with Thailand.

Fuel cell-powered drones used for demonstration testing in collaboration with CP

Toyota will continue its multi-dimensional approach to achieve carbon neutrality along with its partners.

TH (Tuoitrethudo)