Toyota accelerates on hydrogen in competition

If the ACO and Mission H24 are at the forefront of the development of hydrogen for competition, Toyota is working on its side to assert itself on the technology that many see as a branch of the future in motorsport.

The 24-hour event in the Super Taikyu Series, scheduled for May 21 to 23 in Fuji, Japan, will be an opportunity for the title holder to 24 Hours of Le Mans to carry out a full-scale test on a hydrogen unit installed in a Corolla Sport, fielded by the Orc Rookie Racing structure. The engine will be a 1 cc turbocharged three-cylinder.

“Hydrogen engines produce power through the combustion of hydrogen using power and fuel injection systems that have been modified from those used with gasoline engines, specifies the Japanese brand.

With the exception of burning minute amounts of engine oil, which is also the case with gasoline engines, hydrogen engines emit no CO2 when in use. For the hydrogen-powered racing vehicle, hydrogen produced in the Fukushima Hydrogen Energy Research Zone in Namie Town will be used. »