Toyota enters new Prius in Thailand's 10-hour endurance race

Toyota Motor Corp. has announced its participation in the upcoming Idemitsu Super Endurance Southeast Asia Trophy 2023, known as the Thailand 10-hour Endurance Race. The event, scheduled for December 22 and 23 at the Chang International Circuit, will see Toyota competing with a newly added Prius, developed based on a production vehicle, making this the first time Toyota has competed with a production Prius HEV in an endurance racing event.

The Toyota team, operating under Rookie Racing, will feature three vehicles: the ORC Rookie GR86 CNF concept, the ORC Rookie GR Corolla H2 concept, and the CP Rookie Prius CNF-HEV GR concept. The lineup includes the hydrogen-powered Corolla and the GR86 running on carbon-neutral fuel, which might be Toyota's approach to pursuing a carbon-neutral society through innovative means. 

Behind the wheel, the team of drivers includes Morizo, Yasuhiro Ogura, Kachorn Chiaravanont, Masahiro Sasaki, Tatsuya Kataoka, Hiroaki Ishiura, Kazuya Oshima, Naoya Gamo, Kenta Yamashita, Hibiki Taira, Keizo Kato, and Daisuke Toyoda. The participation of Mr. Kachorn Chiaravanont, a member of the Executive Committee of Charoen Pokphand Group (CP) and President of True Leasing Co., Ltd., as a Prius driver, covers another aspect of Toyota's environmentally friendly approach since CP Group is involved in initiatives to achieve this goal in Thailand.

To add a further eco-friendly element to the race, Toyota's exploration of alternative and renewable energy sources in its automotive efforts include its usage of biogas generated from poultry farms' chicken manure and food waste from Toyota Daihatsu Engineering & Manufacturing Co. as part of the fuel for the hydrogen-powered Corolla. 

The entry of the new Prius into the endurance race, alongside the GR86 and GR Corolla, follows the brand's showcase of a racing-inspired Prius at Le Mans' centennial anniversary earlier this year. The question now on everyone's mind: How will the hybrid Prius and its teammates perform in this challenging endurance race? Stay tuned for more updates.