Toyota Motor Corporation announced that it participated in the IDEMITSU SUPER ENDURANCE SOUTHEAST ASIA TROPHY 2023 (Thailand 10-hour Endurance Race) held on December 22 and 23 at Thailand’s Chang International Circuit. It 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. Fan appreciation events were also held prior to the race for the people in Thailand who support Toyota on a daily basis, marking a major step toward achieving carbon neutrality and “Fun to Drive” cars through motorsports.
1. GR FESTIVAL 2023
Prior to the Thailand 10-hour Endurance Race, Toyota Motor Thailand Co., Ltd. held the GR FESTIVAL 2023 on December 19 in Bangkok, Thailand, where many motorsports fans are located, attracting approximately 2,500 fans. At the GR FESTIVAL 2023, drivers from ROOKIE Racing, Toyota Gazoo Racing Team Thailand, and D1 took part in team performances, time attacks, and a drift show. They also introduced IMV0 and expressed their gratitude to the people of Thailand.
We will continue aiming to bring smiles to the faces of our Thai customers by making ever-better cars and building a fan base through motorsports.
GR FESTIVAL 2023
2. Three vehicles complete the race: CN fuel, hydrogen engine, and HEV
The three vehicles that participated in the Thailand 10-hour Endurance Race, the GR86 running on carbon-neutral fuel, the hydrogen-powered Corolla, and the Prius, completed the race and finished as follows.
| No. | Team | Vehicle / Drivers | Class | Laps | Total Position | Class Position |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 228 | ORC ROOKIE Racing | ORC ROOKIE GR86 CNF concept Kazuya Oshima, Kenta Yamashita, Keizo Kato, Daisuke Toyoda | D2 | 289 | 4 | 4 |
| 264 | CP ROOKIE Racing | CP ROOKIE PRIUS CNF-HEV GR concept Kachorn Chiaravanont, Morizo, Tatsuya Kataoka, Naoya Gamo, Hibiki Taira | D2 | 272 | 11 | 6 |
| 232 | ORC ROOKIE Racing | ORC ROOKIE GR Corolla H2 concept Morizo, Yasuhiro Ogura, Masahiro Sasaki, Hiroaki Ishiura | D2 | 161 | 55 | 8 |
In this race, we 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. Mr. Kachorn, who participated as a Prius driver this time, loves driving, and the chairman, Mr. Soopakij, is also an avid driver. It was very meaningful that CP and Toyota were able to participate in the 10-hour Prius race together, and I think it allowed more people to learn about our activities.
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.
