Prepared Liquid Hydrogen Vehicle Readies for 24-Hour Competition - Insights Shared Following Withdrawal from Suzuka Initial Contest
In the world of high-stakes motorsport, Toyota is pushing the boundaries of innovation with its liquid hydrogen-powered GR Corolla, set to debut in May's 24-hour race at Fuji Speedway. Chairman Toyoda himself drives the car and remains committed to the project, despite a setback during testing.
The team is highly motivated and determined to create a carbon-neutral option for the mobility society of the future. Development is underway, with a focus on addressing the critical challenges of fuel system safety and endurance reliability.
Toyota has made significant progress over three years of racing, improving the car's endurance and performance while enhancing fuel system safety and robustness. Key improvements include refining the liquid hydrogen fuel supply technology for higher reliability and safety, and completing 468 laps (approx. 2,135 km) in the 2025 Fuji 24 Hours race, a 30% improvement over the previous best.
These racing efforts serve as testing grounds to accelerate the commercialization of liquid hydrogen vehicles. Toyota's approach uses multi-pathway vehicle development, combining race-derived insights with practical experience to create safer and more efficient fuel systems.
The incident during testing, where the car experienced a fire, is seen as a normal part of the racing process by Chairman Toyoda. The safety equipment functioned properly, shutting down the hydrogen supply in less than 0.1 second, preventing any serious harm. The fire was extinguished before it could spread, and no one was injured.
Despite the setback, Toyota aims to keep moving forward with continuous improvement in developing hydrogen technology. The company heads have vowed to accelerate efforts to turn hydrogen into a carbon-neutral option. Iwatani's Hydrogen Division General Manager Manabu Tsuyoshi stated that hydrogen, while dangerous, has not led to any accidents in the course of doing business due to necessary caution.
Kawasaki Heavy Industries joined Toyota's Super Taikyu endeavor in 2021 as a partner transporting Australian hydrogen. President Sato described the current development team mood as one of purpose and passion. Development is ongoing to explore the uncharted territory of racing with liquid hydrogen.
President Hashimoto compared the potential of liquid hydrogen to liquefied natural gas (LNG), highlighting its role in the transition to a carbon-neutral future. General Manager Tsuyoshi emphasized the importance of approaching the next race with the mindset that leaks may occur and taking measures to prevent them.
In summary, Toyota is addressing the critical challenges of fuel system safety and endurance reliability through iterative improvements on their liquid hydrogen racing car, leveraging competitive racing as a rigorous development environment to hasten commercial readiness following setbacks like the fire incident during testing.
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