Expanding Green Hydrogen Production Technologies Showcased in Round 4 at Autopolis

In the rain-soaked and foggy Autopolis event space, the 2021 Super Taikyu Series Round 4 was a thrilling spectacle. Among the standout participants was ROOKIE Racing, fielding a hydrogen-powered Corolla and a GR Supra in the ST-Q class for manufacturer prototypes.

At the helm of the hydrogen-powered Corolla was Morizo, the team's driver and father figure. Despite encountering injector trouble during the race, which necessitated an engine replacement, Morizo completed an impressive 26 laps, the highest total among the four drivers. His final time was 2 minutes 13.049 seconds.

The hydrogen-powered Corolla, fuelled with green hydrogen produced in Kyushu and Namie, Fukushima, performed admirably, completing 85 laps trouble-free. Notably, the vehicle underwent significant improvements ahead of the Autopolis race, including a 15% boost in torque and a 40% reduction in refueling time.

In a press conference following the race, Morizo expressed his hope for future opportunities and shared his thoughts on carbon neutrality. He was optimistic about the future of hydrogen-powered engines, even lending his support during the engine replacement.

Meanwhile, the #28 GR Supra, also piloted by ROOKIE Racing, completed an impressive 105 laps in the race.

Toyota Motor Kyushu and Obayashi Corporation supported the production of the hydrogen for the race, with Obayashi's geothermal plant and Toyota Motor Kyushu's solar facilities playing crucial roles. Toyota also provided hydrogen-producing water at the event.

A highlight of the event was the FC-PIUS, a kit car running on the same mechanics as the Mirai FCEV, which was set up for children to test-drive.

The qualifying round was held at 1:35 p.m., with Kyushu local Takuto Iguchi serving as the lead driver and setting a time of 2 minutes 9.992 seconds.

In addition to his racing duties, Morizo took time to interact with exhibitors and fans, giving an autograph to an excited young fan.

Looking ahead, Toyota will team up with Kawasaki Heavy Industries to expand options for hydrogen transportation at the next race at Suzuka. The Autopolis race marked a significant step forward in the development and implementation of hydrogen-powered vehicles, and the future looks bright for this innovative technology.

Expanding Green Hydrogen Production Technologies Showcased in Round 4 at Autopolis