Köln, Germany,
25
May
2023
|
04:30
Europe/Amsterdam

Toyota Puts Carbon Neutrality and Racing Heritage Centre Stage at Le Mans Centenary

Summary
  • Toyota will demonstrate motorsport-developed hydrogen combustion technology at the centenary edition of Le Mans 24 Hours in June
  • Le Mans fans will be able to learn more about Toyota’s multi-path approach towards carbon neutrality through various exhibits
  • All five Le Mans 24 Hours-winning Toyota race cars will be exhibited together for the first time

Toyota’s multi-path approach towards carbon neutrality will reach up to 300,000 motorsport fans during the Le Mans 24 Hours on June 10-11 through a wide range of public demonstrations and exhibitions on the 100th anniversary of the legendary race in France.

Toyota is developing multiple technologies to support customers on their individual journeys towards zero emissions. One example is the hydrogen combustion technology already deployed in the ORC ROOKIE GR Corolla H2 Concept vehicle which will complete a demonstration lap of the 16.626km Circuit de la Sarthe at 12.20pm (CEST) on June 10 to promote the potential of hydrogen for a carbon neutral future.

Toyota, through the Rookie Racing team, participates in the Super Taikyu endurance championship in Japan with the ORC ROOKIE GR Corolla H2 Concept vehicle as part of its activities to make ever-better motorsport-bred cars. The vehicle runs on gaseous hydrogen, fuelling a combustion engine which creates sounds and sensations just like traditional race cars, but with almost no tailpipe emissions.

From June 7-11, exhibitions will be held for motorsport fans at the track to introduce the various avenues for the future realisation of a carbon neutral society, and to look back on a century of the Le Mans 24 Hours, where Toyota has refined its vehicle technologies through competition.

Together with the Japan National Tourism Organization and Mazda Motor Corporation, Toyota will hold a themed exhibition to promote tourism to Japan and introduce its technological development efforts towards realising a carbon neutral society in Japan.

From June 1 to July 2, TOYOTA GAZOO Racing’s five Le Mans-winning hybrid-powered race cars from 2018-2022 will be displayed in the Le Mans 24 Hours Museum as part of the centenary celebrations organised by the Automobile Club de l’Ouest (ACO). The three TS050 HYBRID and two GR010 HYBRID race cars are preserved in their original condition as of the end of their respective race and have never previously appeared together.

In addition, the 2018 and 2022 winning cars will be driven by two former Le Mans winners, Alex Wurz and Kazuki Nakajima respectively, alongside other historic cars in a Centenary Parade around the Circuit de la Sarthe on June 10, before the start of the race.

To further enhance fans’ enjoyment of the Le Mans 24 Hours, TOYOTA GAZOO Racing has launched a dedicated section within its official website, www.toyotagazooracing.com. A live video feed from the onboard cameras on the team’s two GR010 HYBRID cars will be broadcast throughout the race via the website, where new visuals depicting the cars and commemorative photos of the team’s five Le Mans-winning cars were also unveiled.

Fans from around the world taking part in the third round of the on-going TGR GT Cup on Gran Turismo 7 will receive a GR010 HYBRID Gran Turismo virtual car in 2023 livery. The third round of the e-motorsport series will be held on June 4 at the Circuit de la Sarthe. Entry details will be published on the TOYOTA GAZOO Racing website.