Racing Le Mans with a Hydrogen-powered Vehicle: Akio's Vision for Green Motorsports in France
At the 100th anniversary of the 24 Hours of Le Mans, Akio Toyoda, the President of Toyota, unveiled the GR Hydrogen concept race car for the World Endurance Championship (WEC). The experimental hydrogen-powered vehicle, known as the GR LH2 Racing Concept, is Toyota Gazoo Racing's latest innovation in their pursuit of a carbon-neutral motorsport future.
Two weeks prior to the unveiling, Akio Toyoda drove a Corolla fueled by liquid hydrogen at the Super TEC 24 hours race at Fuji Speedway, demonstrating Toyota's commitment to hydrogen technology.
The GR Hydrogen concept car features a hydrogen internal combustion engine, a departure from the fuel cell technology commonly used in hydrogen vehicles. This engine is adapted from a turbocharged 1.6-liter, 3-cylinder engine found in the GR Yaris, modified for hydrogen fuel injection and combustion.
The hydrogen fuel system in the GR Hydrogen concept car is similar to that used in Toyota's Mirai hydrogen fuel cell vehicle, but it has been adapted to support combustion engine use. Toyota has demonstrated high performance with related hydrogen experimental race vehicles, such as the hydrogen Corolla Sport competing in Japan's Super Taikyu racing series.
Akio Toyoda expressed his vision to achieve carbon neutrality without sacrificing the sounds and the dynamism of motorsport. He encouraged the exploration of various options for carbon neutrality, including battery electric vehicles and beyond. He also expressed enthusiasm for competitors to consider hydrogen as an exciting option in motorsports.
During the event, Toyota battled against rival manufacturers from Europe and the U.S., with a fierce duel with Ferrari ending in second place for Toyota, narrowly missing out on the hoped-for sixth straight victory. Despite the setback, Akio Toyoda thanked the ACO and Le Mans for providing the opportunity to share Toyota's efforts towards carbon neutrality.
Looking forward, Akio Toyoda looked forward to the new GR H2 race car in view of the new Le Mans H2 class in the future. He mentioned that Toyota is investing in hydrogen technology with the belief that they can win with it. The GR Hydrogen concept race car for WEC is designed with zero emissions, aligning with Toyota's goal to reduce highway racing carbon footprints while maintaining competitive racing capabilities.
In conclusion, the GR Hydrogen concept race car represents Toyota's effort to pioneer hydrogen combustion technology in high-profile endurance racing, pushing toward a sustainable and carbon-neutral motorsport future without sacrificing performance.
- The 100th anniversary of the 24 Hours of Le Mans witnessed the unveiling of Akio Toyoda's vision for a sustainable future, a hydrogen-powered concept race car named GR Hydrogen, in the realm of finance and automotive industry.
- Prior to the unveiling, Akio Toyoda demonstrated Toyota's commitment to hydrogen technology by driving a hydrogen-fueled Corolla at the Super TEC 24 hours race, a significant move in the transportation sector.
- The GR Hydrogen concept car, while diverging from the common fuel cell technology, incorporates hydrogen internal combustion engine derived from Toyota's current technology seen in their home-and-garden product, the GR Yaris.
- As Toyota delves deeper into sustainable living and technology, Akio Toyoda advocates for a carbon-neutral future without compromising on the sounds and dynamism of motorsport, potentially expanding the landscape of sports beyond traditional boundaries.
