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The legendary Nürburgring will host the
racing debut of Lexus’s full hybrid CT tomorrow (14 May) when the luxury
hatchback lines up on the starting grid for a gruelling endurance race.
Primed by Gazoo Racing, the motorsport
specialists responsible for the racing Lexus LFA, the CT is competing in
the Adenauer ADAC Rundstrecken-Trophy, contested over six hours on one
of racing’s most daunting circuits. Almost 200 cars are expected to line
up for the start.
Competing in the SP4 Class, the GAZOO
Racing CT, like its road-going sister CT 200h model, features Lexus
Hybrid Drive, but with a higher capacity 2.4-litre petrol engine instead
of the usual 1.8 unit. The batteries and hybrid system are identical to
the road car. At start-up and under braking, the race car uses just its
electric motor, producing zero tailpipe emissions and using no fuel.
The combustion engine seamlessly takes over at higher speeds with the
electric motor providing extra power when accelerating and at racing
speeds.
Throughout its operation, the Lexus
full hybrid system intelligently selects the most appropriate power
source and also captures energy through regenerative braking to charge
the battery, which in turn powers the electric motor.
Thanks to Lexus Hybrid Drive, the GAZOO
Racing CT will require less fuel and will emit lower levels of CO2
and harmful NOx than any equivalent petrol or diesel race
car.
Lexus remains the only car manufacturer
to compete in major endurance races with full hybrid cars, starting with
the Lexus RX 400h which contested the Nürburgring24 Hours in 2005.
The GAZOO Racing CT driver line-up
features three experienced pilots: Kumi Sato, a female racer who
competed in a Lexus IS 250 in 2008; Masahiko Kageyama, who previously
supported Toyota’s vehicle development programme; and MinoruTakaki, who
is responsible for production vehicle development. |
