Toyota to enter 10-hour endurance race in Thailand this December

Toyota will be entering the Idemitsu Super Endurance Southeast Asia Trophy race in Thailand from December 22 to December 23 with three cars split between two teams. The race will be held at the 3.1-kilometer-long Chang International Circuit, and it will be a non-stop 10-hour competition.

Orc Rookie Toyota GR86 CNF concept

As mentioned, the brand is entering three modified versions of its popular nameplates. This includes the Prius HEV, GR Corolla, and GR86. 

Under the Orc Rookie Racing team, there’s the GR86 CNF Concept and the GR Corolla H2 Concept. The GR Corolla will be running entirely on hydrogen, while the GR86 will be using carbon-neutral fuel. 

The Prius CNF-HEV GR Concept meanwhile will be entered in the competition under the CP Rookie Racing team. Of note, this is the first time the production version of the current-gen Prius HEV will enter a motorsport event. On top of that, the hybrid’s internal combustion component will also be using carbon-neutral fuel. 

Piloting the cars of the Orc Rookie Racing and CP Rookie Racing team are several well-known Japanese drivers. Among them is Masahiro Sasaki, the “man who makes Morizo a better driver.” 

Orc Rookie GR Corolla H2 concept

Likewise racing for Toyota is a mixture of Super GT racers with several championship wins under their belts. This includes Masahiro Sasaki, Tatsuya Kataoka, Hiroaki Ishiura, Kazuya Oshima, Naoya Gamo, Kenta Yamashita, and Hibiki Taira. 

Also included in the team roster is none other than the former president and current Chairman of the Board of Directors of Toyota Akio “Morizo” Toyoda. The other racers are Daisuko Toyoda, Senior Vice President of Woven by Toyota, Toyota employee and racer Keizo Kato, and Ogura Clutch Co., Ltd. President Yasuhiro Ogura. Likewise entering the race under Toyota is Charoen Pokphand Group Executive Committee member and True Leasing Co., Ltd President Kachorn Chiaravanont. 

Of note, the CP teams are headlining the name of the Charoen Pokphand Group - Toyota’s Thailand-based partners in advancing carbon neutrality and future mobility. In partnership with CP, Toyota will be fielding a drone during the endurance race which will serve to demonstrate advancements in transporting, producing, and using hydrogen.

Toyota and CP's drone

The Prius itself will also showcase what hydrogen as a fuel can achieve especially in a stressful, high-performance situation like endurance racing. 

For more updates on this upcoming motorsports event, keep it here on Philkotse.