As the motorsports season gears up, enthusiasts worldwide anticipate the adrenaline-pumping Fuji 24 Hours endurance race in Japan (June 3-5) and the legendary 24 Hours of Le Mans in France (June 11-12). These races are not just about speed; they are a grueling test of endurance, pushing both machines and drivers to their absolute limits.
To understand the essence of these demanding competitions, we delve into the world of 24-hour races. In this first part, we will explore the unique challenges of endurance racing and the compelling reasons why manufacturers like Toyota embrace this ultimate proving ground, alongside a special focus on Germany’s infamous Nürburgring circuit.
The Unrelenting Distance of a 24-Hour Race
Endurance racing holds a prestigious place in motorsports, epitomized by the 24 Hours of Le Mans, often hailed as one of the world’s three greatest races. Alongside the glamorous Formula 1 Monaco Grand Prix, a street circuit spanning over 260km, and the high-speed Indy 500, an oval race covering approximately 800km, Le Mans stands apart in its sheer distance. While those races test speed and precision over a shorter duration, cars in the 24 Hours of Le Mans routinely conquer distances exceeding 5,000km.
Toyota, a dominant force in recent years, has secured four consecutive victories at Le Mans since 2018. In the previous year, the triumphant #7 car, driven by Kamui Kobayashi and his team, completed an astounding 371 laps of the 13.626km circuit, accumulating a total distance of 5,246km. To put that into perspective, it’s equivalent to driving eight round trips between Tokyo and Toyota City, or traversing the straight-line distance between Tokyo and Singapore, all at full throttle for a full 24 hours.
Globally recognized as the pinnacle of endurance racing, the three major 24-hour races are the 24 Hours of Le Mans in France, the 24 Hours of Daytona in the United States, and the 24 Hours of Spa in Belgium. However, while not officially in this top tier, the 24 Hours of Nürburgring holds a unique and revered status. It was the demanding nature of the Nürburgring that initially drew Toyota’s attention to the world of endurance racing, igniting a journey of innovation and performance.
Endurance Races: A Breeding Ground for Automotive Innovation
With its centenary fast approaching, the 24 Hours of Le Mans boasts a rich history dating back to 1923, predating the establishment of Toyota Motor Corporation by 14 years. While purpose-built race cars were already gaining traction in Europe at the time, Le Mans was conceived with a different philosophy: an endurance test for production-based models, closer to the vehicles driven on public roads.
The original 13km Le Mans course incorporated both dedicated racetrack sections and stretches of ordinary public roads. A century ago, when headlight technology was still in its infancy, the race’s nighttime element provided a crucial testing ground for lighting components and systems.
As this history illustrates, endurance racing has consistently served as a vital arena for advancing automotive technologies, holding immense significance within the racing world. This developmental spirit aligns perfectly with Toyota President Akio Toyoda’s conviction that “roads make cars” and his unwavering pursuit of crafting “ever-better cars” through the crucible of motorsports.
Toyota has strategically utilized Le Mans as a platform for technological advancement, notably refining its hybrid systems and enhancing engine combustion efficiency. The key to victory in this grueling race lies in maximizing speed and distance while meticulously managing fuel consumption. Similarly, the hydrogen-powered Corolla race team has made continuous strides since its endurance racing debut, diligently working to reduce refueling times and extend the car’s range on a single hydrogen tank.
Conquering the Ring (Part 1): Navigating the 170 Corners of the Nürburgring
The Nürburgring, without question, has played an instrumental role in shaping Toyota’s identity and engineering prowess. Participating in the 24 Hours of Nürburgring is deeply embedded in Toyota’s car-making heritage and continues to influence its approach to vehicle development today.
Nestled approximately two hours west of Frankfurt Airport in Germany, the picturesque town of Nürburg is home to a historic castle and the legendary “ring,” known globally as the Nürburgring.
The Nürburgring’s defining characteristic is its sheer length. It comprises two main sections: the Grand Prix track (5.148km per lap), which has hosted Formula 1 and World Endurance Championship (WEC) races, and the notorious Nordschleife, or northern loop, winding through mountainous terrain (20.832km per lap). For the 24-hour race, these sections are combined into a formidable 25km course, where even purpose-built race cars require nearly ten minutes to complete a single lap.
The Nürburgring is relentlessly undulating, presenting a dramatic elevation difference of around 300 meters. To visualize this, it’s comparable to the height of Japan’s tallest skyscrapers, such as Abeno Harukas (300m) and the Yokohama Landmark Tower (296m). Boasting a staggering 170 corners – compared to Fuji Speedway’s 16 – simply memorizing the Nürburgring circuit is a significant challenge for drivers.
The Nordschleife section is particularly demanding, characterized by narrow, winding mountain passes with minimal run-off areas, leaving virtually no margin for error. The course becomes even more treacherous at night, making the precise direction of a car’s headlights critically important, as emphasized by veteran racing driver Juichi Wakisaka, a Nürburgring expert. He notes that checking the rearview mirror for pursuing cars only intensifies the perceived darkness ahead, adding to the psychological strain of night racing at the Ring.
Conquering the Ring (Part 2): “Green Hell” and the Soul of Racing Culture
“It’s fair to say that a rainy Nürburgring is the slipperiest circuit in the world,” Wakisaka asserts, highlighting the unpredictable mountain weather. Drivers can often encounter torrential rain on one part of the circuit while their pit crews bask in sunshine. Historically, races have even been temporarily halted due to sudden hailstorms.
Wakisaka shares his insights on the unique allure of racing at the Nürburgring, famously nicknamed “The Green Hell.”
“Even as you tell yourself that you’re never doing this again, the racing driver inside you wants to go after it. Driving the Nürburgring feels different from any other race.”
Despite instilling fear in even seasoned professional drivers, the Nürburgring holds a special place in the hearts of motorsport fans, representing the very essence of racing culture. Spectators gather trackside, enjoying barbecues and even inscribing messages onto the asphalt before the race commences. At night, fan campsites become beacons of light, providing drivers with welcome illumination along the dark and challenging track.
Akio Toyoda, recognizing this unique atmosphere, expressed his ambition to “make Fuji like Nürburgring” when discussing the recently established Fuji Motorsports Forest. “That culture of enjoying motorsports is gradually spreading in Japan as well,” explains Wakisaka. “At the Fuji 24 Hours, you can see children playing soccer on the trackside grass or setting up desks to do homework, creating a family-friendly motorsports environment.”
Conquering the Ring (Part 3): The Convictions of Hiromu Naruse
The name Hiromu Naruse (1942-2010), Toyota’s esteemed master driver, may resonate with those familiar with the brand’s history. A pivotal figure in Toyota’s car development, Naruse served as a crucial mentor to President Akio Toyoda, also known as Morizo in the racing world.
Wakisaka describes Naruse as “a craftsperson who deeply cared about the genba (the frontlines of car making). Whenever an issue arose, he would personally craft the parts needed to resolve it. He possessed a genuine passion for cars and a profound understanding of their inherent dangers. Naruse dedicated his life to creating cars that possessed soul and delivered the true joy of driving. That’s the caliber of test driver he was.”
Hiromu Naruse (right) and President Akio Toyoda, aka Morizo (left)
Wakisaka’s first Nürburgring 24 Hours participation was with GAZOO Racing in 2010. Having just secured his third Super GT championship title the previous year, he entered the race with confidence, only to experience a crash.
Upon returning to the pits after the incident, Wakisaka recounts Naruse’s unexpected apology: “It’s our fault for making a car that even a driver of your caliber can’t handle.” Later, even Morizo expressed gratitude that the mechanics gained valuable experience repairing the damaged car.
“Until that point, I had perceived cars primarily as tools to showcase my speed,” Wakisaka reflects. “Morizo and Naruse championed the philosophy that both people and cars are strengthened through real-world driving challenges. After my Nürburgring crash, I began to view cars not merely as tools, but as companions fighting alongside me.”
This is part one of our exploration into the world of endurance racing and Toyota’s journey. Join us for part two as we delve deeper into the story of Morizo’s formative experiences at the Nürburgring and the ongoing pursuit of car development through motorsports.
