“We were disappointed last year, so this time, we’re going to keep going to the end. ...We want to match the number of laps that cars in other classes complete. We’ve got to be able to do it even in a 24-hour race.”

That was how Ryosuke Yamamoto, liquid hydrogen system developer, expressed his enthusiasm about the Fuji 24 Hours Race on May 30 right before qualifying. The Fuji 24 Hours is Round 3 of the Super Taikyu Series.

The final result was 468 laps (approximately 2,135 kilometers). Although the race was interrupted by thunderstorms and fog, resulting in a shorter running time, the team surpassed its 332 lap record from last year (approximately 1,515 kilometers) by forty percent.

Those 24 hours demonstrated the major progress the liquid hydrogen Corolla has made, but the year leading up to this point was filled with struggle.

While the previously unstable liquid hydrogen system began to take shape, more typical racing car issues, such as alternator malfunctions and engine troubles, began to pop up.

The team also tried to improve hydrogen refueling to reduce its impact on the number of laps achieved. By lowering the temperature and taking time to fill the tank, they were able to store more liquid hydrogen with a method they called “slow refueling.”

They pulled together as a team to face each issue as it arose and kept running to the very end. See for yourself on this week’s program.

After the race, in a pit filled with smiles and tears, Morizo said, “It was a long journey. But I feel like this year we finally truly joined the race...I think we’ve made real progress.”

There is no end to making ever-better cars. What will the team bring to next year’s Fuji 24 Hours Race?