Hydrogen-powered Toyota Corolla skips Super Taikyu Series after car catches fire

Toyota Gazoo Racing revealed that the #32 ORC Rookie GR Corolla H2 Concept did not participate in the first round of the Eneos Super Taikyu Series 2023 Powered by Hankook after it caught fire during a private test run at Fuji International Speedway on March 8.

Per the motorsports division of the Japanese automotive brand, the fire was caused by a hydrogen leak from a gaseous hydrogen pipe in the engine compartment.

“Consequently, we could not recover the vehicle in time and were forced to abandon the race,” Toyota Gazoo Racing, wrote in a press release.

The loosening of a piping joint from vehicle vibration, Toyota Gazoo Racing said, is seen to have caused the hydrogen leak.

As the piping joint is located near the engine, the leaked hydrogen ignited when heated.

Luckily, the hydrogen leak sensor fail-safe functioned properly and the hydrogen supply was shut off. That said, the cabin was protected and the occupants made it out of the vehicle safely.

Toyota Gazoo Racing revealed that it will review the piping design that caused the hydrogen leak to continue developing safer vehicles.

Despite the said incident, Toyota’s racing department confirmed that it will still continue to race using the hydrogen-powered Corolla.

“Together with our colleagues and partners, we will proceed to enter races with the hydrogen-powered Corolla and the challenge of achieving carbon neutrality. It is still one of our goals this year to become the world's first to race with liquid hydrogen fuel,” Toyota Gazoo Racing said.

To note, the hydrogen-powered Toyota Corolla switched from using gaseous hydrogen to liquid hydrogen. However, Toyota Gazoo Racing clarified that the said change in fuel was not the cause of the fire.

Photos from Toyota

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