Toyota puts carbon neutrality and racing heritage centre stage at the Le Mans centenary
- Toyota will demonstrate motorsport-developed hydrogen combustion technology at the centenary edition of the Le Mans 24 Hours in June
- Fans will be able to learn more about Toyota’s multi-path strategy for carbon neutrality from a range of exhibits at the race
- All five Le Mans-winning Toyota race cars will be shown together for the first time
Toyota’s multi-path strategy towards carbon neutrality will be shared with up to 300,000 motorsport fans during the Le Mans 24 Hours on 10-11 June through a wide range of public demonstrations and exhibitions during the 100th anniversary running 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. This car will make a demonstration lap of the 10.3-mile Circuit de la Sarthe on 10 June to promote the potential of hydrogen for a carbon-neutral future.
Toyota, through the Rookie Racing team, participates with this concept vehicle in the Super Taikyu endurance championship in Japan, as part of its activities to make ever-better cars bred from motorsport. The car runs on a combustion engine fuelled by gaseous hydrogen, which creates sounds and sensations just like traditional race cars, but with almost no tailpipe emissions.
From 7-11 June, public exhibitions at Le Mans will illustrate the various avenues for the future realisation of a carbon neutral society. There will also be a look back on a century of the 24-hour race, and on how 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 1 June to 2 July, Toyota Gazoo Racing’s five Le Mans-winning hybrid electric-powered race cars, spanning the years 2018 to 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 have been preserved in their original condition, just as they looked at the end of their gruelling 24 hours of racing. These winning machines have never previously appeared together.
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 Le Mans circuit on 10 June, 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 onboard cameras on the team’s two GR010 Hybrid cars will be broadcast throughout the race via the website. New visuals depicting the cars and commemorative photos of the team’s five Le Mans-winning cars have also been 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. This next round of the e-motorsport series will take place on 4 June at the Circuit de la Sarthe. Entry details will be published on the Toyota Gazoo Racing website.
ENDS
