Corolla Attempts Groundbreaking 24-Hour Liquid Hydrogen Endurance Trial
Toyota's Liquid Hydrogen-Powered GR Corolla Completes 24-Hour Endurance Race
Toyota's pioneering endeavour to create a liquid hydrogen-powered GR Corolla for endurance racing has culminated in a historic achievement. On May 28, 2023, the Corolla completed the gruelling 24-hour race at Fuji International Speedway, Oyama, Shizuoka, marking the first time a car running on liquid hydrogen has competed in racing.
The journey to this milestone was a multi-year, iterative process filled with trial and error. Toyota has been entering the liquid hydrogen-powered GR Corolla in the 24-hour race for several years, using each race to gather data and improve the hydrogen combustion engine's durability and performance under the strenuous conditions of endurance racing.
One of the key challenges faced was the handling and integration of liquid hydrogen as a fuel. Liquid hydrogen presents unique challenges such as storage, fuel supply stability, and combustion characteristics. Toyota collaborated with partners like ENEOS to enhance fuel technology and ensure reliability during long races.
Each race provided crucial feedback to refine engine tuning, thermal management, and fuel consumption. For instance, the 2025 Super Taikyu Fuji 24 Hours Race was used to continue improving low-carbon fuels and hydrogen combustion technologies, demonstrating no fuel-related lapses during the event.
The Corolla's team included Hiroaki Ishiura, Masahiro Sasaki, Yasuhiro Ogura, and Jari-Matti Latvala. For the final leg of the race, there was only one driver - Akio Toyoda, also known as Morizo. The Corolla completed the race largely trouble-free, managing to complete 358 laps, totaling 1,634 km.
However, the Corolla faced an unexpected setback when it caught fire during a test run at Fuji International Speedway in March, forcing it to drop out of the five-hour endurance race scheduled at Suzuka Circuit. The developers worked urgently to rectify the issue and get back on track for the 24-hour race.
Keeping the hydrogen pump going was one of the challenges faced during the unprecedented endeavour. The Corolla had a scheduled pitstop to replace the hydrogen pump during the race. The pump remained the biggest hurdle during the Corolla's historic endeavour.
The Corolla successfully shed 50 kg for the 24-hour race, drawing media attention. The number of laps completed by the Corolla equaled the number it completed at the same racetrack two years earlier, while running on gaseous hydrogen.
Toyota's liquid hydrogen-powered Corolla represents a pioneering effort to reconcile high-performance endurance racing with sustainable, carbon-neutral fuels. The Corolla's successful completion of the 24-hour race is a significant achievement for the team and a significant milestone in the Corolla's endeavour to run on liquid hydrogen.
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