Thailand’s premier race series, the Thailand Super Series (TSS) kicked off the 2023 season at the Chang International Circuit a couple of weeks ago. Toyota Gazoo Racing (TGR) Team Thailand is competing in 5 classes with the most interesting entry being the Super Compact category.
TGR Thailand is running a #19 Toyota Yaris race car powered by carbon-neutral fuel. Also known as e-fuel or synthetic fuel, it is a man-made fuel produced by combining hydrogen extracted from water/bio-waste with captured CO2 to create high-energy content liquid fuel.
Carbon-neutral fuel is seen as the answer to maintaining internal combustion engines (ICE) running with cleaner carbon-free emissions as the world is looking for alternative fuels via electrification or other renewable sources. However, it is expensive to produce and the commercialisation of carbon-neutral fuel is not viable for now.
Also read: The future of VTEC in an electrified world lies in this carbon neutral Honda Civic Type R race car
Hence, some carmakers are experimenting with the use of carbon-neutral fuel via motorsports and Toyota is seen at the forefront at least at the regional motorsports level. Last year, Toyota fielded a carbon-neutral fuel race car at the 2022 Idemitsu 25 Hours Super Endurance Race held at the Chang International Circuit.
For the 2023 season of TSS, the carbon-neutral-fuelled Yaris is driven by Na Dol Vatanatham and in the first 2 races, the team finished 11th and 12th respectively.
TGR Team Thailand is competing in four other classes in the 2023 Thailand Super Series which are the Super Car GTC, Super Car GT4, Super Car GT3, and Super Car GTM. The other classes are powered by regular octane-powered Toyota Supra and Lexus RC-F race cars and the team is currently leading the Super Car GTM class.
Also read: Review: 2023 Toyota GR Supra 6MT – A swansong salute to manual fans, but is it better than the 8AT?
This year’s TSS will also be making its way to the Sepang International Circuit from the 25- to 27-August but according to the race calendar, only the GT3, GTM, and GTC classes will be competing here. If you want to check out how the carbon-neutral powered Yaris goes, you can stream the race via the Thailand Super Series social channels.