The carmaker will compete with a three-vehicle setup for Rookie Racing featuring the ORC Rookie GR86 CNF (Carbon Neutral Fuel) Concept—a GR86 running on carbon-neutral fuel; the ORC Rookie GR Corolla H2 concept, a hydrogen-powered Corolla; and the CP Rookie Prius CNF-HEV GR concept, a Prius hybrid electric vehicle running on carbon-neutral fuel.

Toyota is accelerating highlighting its “multi-pathway approach” to carbon neutrality and as such, is entering racecars powered by either hydrogen or carbon-neutral fuel. The GR Corolla and GR86 already competed in the 2022 Thailand 25-hour Endurance Race, where Toyota took on the challenge of refining the vehicles in a different environment than Japan.

This time, to expand the multi-pathway approach even further, Toyota is adding an HEV, which is one of the most effective options for achieving carbon neutrality in Asia and Thailand in particular, to its team setup. The vehicle will also run on carbon-neutral fuel.

The new Prius competing in this year’s race has been developed based on a production vehicle, marking the first time that Toyota has competed with a production Prius HEV. The lead photo shows the Prius 24h Le Mans Centennial GR Edition which was revealed at the Japan. Endless Discovery initiative last June 6. Toyota has refined its Racing Hybrid technology through its participation in the World Endurance Championship (WEC).

In addition, three of Toyota Gazoo Racing Team Thailand’s vehicles—the Corolla, 86, and Yaris—will also run on carbon-neutral fuel.

For the race, the driver line-up includes Morizo (Akio Toyoda) as well as Yasuhiro Ogura, Kachorn Chiaravanont, Masahiro Sasaki, Tatsuya Kataoka, Hiroaki Ishiura, Kazuya Oshima, Naoya Gamo, Kenta Yamashita, Hibiki Taira, Keizo Kato, and Daisuke Toyoda.

Chiaravanont will compete as one of the drivers of the Prius. Currently he’s a member of the Executive Committee of Charoen Pokphand Group (CP), a Toyota partner working to achieve a carbon-neutral society in Thailand, and President of True Leasing Co., Ltd.