Toyota's Liquid Hydrogen Racing Vehicle: Chairman Toyoda's First Stint at Super Taikyu Round 2 NAPAC Fuji SUPER TEC 24 Hours Race.

Toyota Motor Corporation Chairman Akio Toyoda, who ran the first stint as Morizo

From May 26th to 28th, “Super Taikyu Round 2 Round 2 NAPAC Fuji SUPER TEC 24 Hours Race” is being held at Fuji Speedway. The final race started at 15:00 on May 27, and the world’s first liquid hydrogen racing vehicle started running.

This liquid hydrogen racing vehicle will be the No. 32 ORC ROOKIE GR Corolla H2 concept (Masahiro Sasaki/MORIZO/Hiroaki Ishiura/Yasuhiro Ogura/Jari-Matti Latvala) developed by Toyota. The first driver in charge of the opening was Toyota Motor Corporation Chairman Akio Toyoda, also known as Morizo.

I was able to talk briefly with Chairman Toyoda, who ran over 30 laps and finished the first stint safely. Before the race, Chairman Toyoda said, “Completing the final race means that this team’s intentional actions and passion will bring us one step closer to the future,” showing a strong will to open up the future. was

At the beginning of the opening, Chairman Toyoda said, “I wonder if the first pacemaker was made.” In an endurance race, the beginning of the race is important, and by calmly entering the race, you can set the pace to complete the 24 hours. The liquid water Corolla is about 250kg heavier than the gaseous hydrogen Corolla, but the balance is good. It seems that they are ready to complete the 24-hour race.

Regarding the time match with WRC team representative Jari-Matti Latvala, he said, “Strong, strong.” It seems that the Latvala representative came to Japan after training, and his lap time at the circuit has improved. This will become clear after the race is over.

Regarding his impression of the Fuji 24 Hours in 2023, he said, “This time, there are really a lot of visitors from overseas. Japan has been attracting attention for a long time. There was also the G7. Japan has been talking about the reality all the time.” , feels the height of attention. In fact, VIPs such as Pierre Fillon, president of the ACO (Automobile Club de l’Ouest, Automobile Club of the West of France), are visiting Japan, and they have announced that they will be participating in the Le Mans 24 Hours with a hydrogen-burning vehicle. I feel the movement of the times in many ways.

Regarding such a flow, he said, “This time, more than ever, in order to connect with the sympathy of many people (related to cars), I want to run as much as possible. I think it’s about creating an atmosphere where people can work with peace of mind.I don’t think it will work if I say I won’t fail.If I was working for Toyota, so many manufacturers would gather in the ST-Q class. I don’t think there were any. I think this is also a point that I would like you to evaluate.”

I have watched Morizo run for many years, and he is always running for someone else. Such driving led to President Fillon’s test drive of a hydrogen car, and in some ways led to the creation of the rules for Le Mans. He wanted us to understand even a little bit of that and see the liquid water Corolla’s battle to change the times.