A Lexus GS430h petrol-electric hybrid car completed the Tokachi 24-hour endurance race in Japan recently. The event is Japan’s only 24-hour endurance race and took place at the 3,4-km Tokachi International Speedway in Hokkaido, northern Japan.
This was the 13th running of this endurance race and the organisers added a special-category vehicle in the ST1 class for maximum engine displacement cars. The Lexus hybrid, entered by the well-known SARD racing team, placed fifth on the starting grid in a field of 33 cars.
The team were hampered by thick mist and had a slight scare when the coolant temperature went up, but it turned out not to be a problem and, in the end, the Lexus GS430h covered 865 laps (2 945-km) at an average speed of 122 km/h.
This put the car in 17th position overall and fourth in the ST1 class. The team received the Tochu Award for their fighting spirit and determination.
Yoshiaki Kinoshita, general manager of the motorsport division at Toyota Motor Corporation, said that he was delighted the Lexus hybrid had completed the 24-hour race in a virtually trouble-free run and said that this achievement marked another step forward for hybrid technology.
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