Toyota Motor Corporation has announced that it participated in the Idemitsu Super Endurance Southeast Asia Trophy 2023 (Thailand 10-hour Endurance Race) held on December 22-23 at Thailand’s Chang International Circuit.
The Japanese car maker competed with a three-vehicle setup for Rookie Racing featuring the ORC Rookie GR86 CNF concept, a GR86 running on carbon-neutral fuel, the ORC Rookie GR Corolla H2 concept, hydrogen-powered Corolla, and CP Rookie Prius CNF-HEV GR concept, a Prius HEV running on carbon-neutral fuel. All three vehicles completed the race.
Toyota used locally produced hydrogen from the Charoen Pokphand Group (CP), a partner working to achieve a carbon-neutral society in Thailand, for the Thailand 10-hour Endurance Race.
Toyota also attempted to expand motorsport-bred carbon-neutral options. The GR86 and Prius use carbon-neutral fuel. The hydrogen engine Corolla partially uses hydrogen made with chicken manure-generated biogas from poultry farms of the CP.
After the race, chairman Akio Toyoda, also known as Driver Morizo, made the following comments. “The message of participating in this race was to show hydrogen and hybrids as carbon-neutral options. Despite some trouble, we were able to complete the race. In addition to the hydrogen engine, which raced for the second year, I had the impression that the Prius and hybrid cars were well received by the Thai people this year.”
“We are working together with CP to reduce CO2 emissions in Thailand by leveraging our respective areas of expertise. It is difficult for a single company to create a carbon-neutral movement and the future of mobility alone.”
“People who produce, transport, and use energy as well as the people who make cars; I believe that if many people cooperate and take action, the number of like-minded partners will increase, and the landscape of the future will definitely change. Thai people positively support people who take action. I would like to live in a world where we all create the future together and support those who are working hard toward this aim.”