24-Hour Endurance Test for Hydrogen-Fueled Motor

In a remarkable feat of engineering and perseverance, a hydrogen-powered Corolla completed a 24-hour endurance race at Fuji Speedway in May 2021. The team, led by Akio Toyoda, faced numerous challenges throughout the race, but managed to cross the finish line, much to the relief and gratitude of their leader.

The race began with Kamui Kobayashi, a veteran racer, at the wheel. After an hour on the track, Morizo (Akio Toyoda) traded places with Iguchi. The team's distance broke the 1,500km mark with just under two hours to go, and they passed the 1,000km mark seventeen hours into the race.

However, the team encountered various issues, including increased engine pressure, electrical system problems, and a disconnected pipe causing hydrogen leaks. Morizo had to return to the pits due to a hydrogen leak, and Ishiura made an emergency pit stop due to steering irregularities with one hour to go.

Despite these setbacks, the team's mechanics worked tirelessly round the clock to repair and refuel the car. Repairs and refueling took up approximately one-third of the race time. The team borrowed a part from a team member's GR Yaris to fix the car when the pits lacked a spare replacement part.

As the race entered its final stages, with four hours remaining, Ishiura took over once more from Matsui. Seventeen and a half hours into the race, Morizo departed for his second run. The car completed 358 laps around Fuji Speedway, a distance of 1,634km.

Akio Toyoda expressed his gratitude for completing the race despite facing problems and believes that the race was a valuable asset towards achieving carbon neutrality. To foster a sense of unity among the team members working different hours during the race, Akio introduced unique greetings for each shift.

Despite the exhaustion, the mechanics persevered, reaching their peak around the clock. The car's performance during refueling earned a compliment from Kamui Kobayashi, who commented, "The car drives really well."

As the sun rose on the new day, Hiroaki Ishiura took the wheel once more, driving the car through the early hours. The team's achievement in completing the 24-hour endurance race with a hydrogen-powered Corolla is a testament to their resilience and innovation.