This Toyota GR Corolla is the world's first liquid hydrogen race car; faster refueling, longer range

Just a year or so on after development began, Toyota has hit the track with a GR Corolla fueled by liquid hydrogen – marking the car's first public appearance, and the first time ever for a manufacturer's vehicle fueled as such to hit the racetrack.

Having made its track debut on 23-February at Fuji Speedway, this GR Corolla is different because previous cars (like the one that raced in Buriram this past December) used gaseous hydrogen.

This GR Corolla ran three sessions on the day, simulating real race conditions such as sharing the track with other cars and refueling within designated times. 

Driver Masahiro Sasaki explains the challenge. “We’re fighting to create a future for the internal combustion engine by tackling a technology deemed unfeasible for cars, in the uncharted territory of -253°C.”

“While various hurdles still remain, as with gaseous hydrogen we hope that our agile development on the racetrack will feed back into everyday cars," said Sasaki.

The 2023 Super Taikyu season begins this month, a 7-race calendar touring Japan that ends in November.

Racing under the Rookie Racing banner – a team that personally belongs to chairman Akio Toyoda – Toyota experiments with different forms of propulsion in the ST-Q class, which is specific to manufacturer-developed, non-homologated special racing vehicles.

Also read: EV is not the only future as Toyota showcased multiple pathway efforts towards carbon neutrality

In the same category, Rookie Racing also pits a Toyota GR86 that runs on synthetic, carbon-neutral fuel (CNF). That one is pretty quick, nabbing the overall fastest lap in Buriram last year.

What's the difference with liquid hydrogen?

Toyota first revealed that it had begun developing a liquid hydrogen-fueled car back in March last year, before exhibiting an onboard system and mobile station. 

Testing reached to a head in November, as the team racked up track sessions to flush out any issues with the fuel and get the race-ready car you see today.

Though Toyota has made great strides in gaseous hydrogen fuel, liquid fuels brings a whole new list of benefits: higher energy density per unit, and longer driving range.

Packing efficiency is boosted too. The tanks don't have to be pressurised cylinders, meaning these lighter fuel tanks can conveniently be mounted underfloor, gifting more space.

Also read: This humble 6MT hydrogen-burning Toyota Corolla Cross may be enthusiasts' saving grace, here's why

Liquid fuel also allows for more compact mobile hydrogen stations, as it eliminates the need for facilities that boost pressure up to 70 MPa. Also, this means one tanker truck of liquid hydrogen can carry enough fuel for six teams to compete for 24 hours.

Combining the space saving (to just about one-quarter of that needed for gaseous hydrogen) and no need for refueling to be done at pressure, multiple cars can be filled up in succession, just like conventional race car pit stops.

What's next for carbon neutrality?

Toyota now has to focus on solving challenges related to the fuel, such as maintaining the ultra-low temperature of -253°C during refueling and storage, and dealing with natural vaporisation as tanks heat up.

Hydrogen and synthetic fuels will continue to be a big part of Toyota's multi-pathway to carbon neutrality, alongside electric vehicles (EVs). Multiple solutions are better than one, as the company believes, and motorsports will continue to serve as the testbed for future technologies.

Also read: Exclusive: Toyota's new President, Koji Sato speaks to us on the future of racing, carbon neutrality, and more