Two-and-a-half years after the concept was first announced, Toyota has combined superconductive technology with a hydrogen engine. The company’s liquid-hydrogen‑fueled GR Corolla participated in the finale of the 2025 Super Taikyu Series at Fuji Speedway in Oyama, Shizuoka Prefecture, on November 15.
Although it appears similar externally, the vehicle has been completely redeveloped from the cars that previously competed in races, according to Toyota. It incorporates superconductivity, which allows for zero electrical resistance at the ultra-low temperature of -253℃ within the liquid hydrogen.
With electrical resistance reduced, the same output has been achieved using less current, enabling components to be made smaller. By installing the pump motor inside the fuel tank, the team was able to increase the tank’s capacity from an initial 150 liters to 300 liters.
Kyoto University graduate school professor Taketsune Nakamura noted, “Superconducting motors are being researched and developed worldwide, but there is still not a single practical application.” He said that using such a motor in a constantly vibrating car and racing it under intense loads is “totally insane.”
In related news, Honda Racing Corporation debuts racing-inspired consumer engine oil Formula R