Lexus GS400h Hybrid car completes 24-hour race

Lexus GS400h Hybrid car completes 24-hour race
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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PlanoA4PlanoA4 - 8/14/2006 12:38:58 PM
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Only 17th place for the almighty Hybrid SG430h? I thought it would do far better than that.


LexusKindaGuy12LexusKindaGuy12 - 8/14/2006 12:54:18 PM
+1 Boost
why does everyone spell GS430h wrong? is it really that hard? P.S. they have 430h's over there? no wonder why its slower.

No, it got fifth out of 33 cars in its class. Overall...in the whole race, it got 17th...that what i got from the article but im not pro on japanese races.


PlanoA4PlanoA4 - 8/14/2006 1:08:32 PM
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LexusKindaGuy12- Well even 5th by the German standards is a failure. Example: The R10 diesel is still undefeated even in it first season. I would not expect the first race to be a win, however 5th is surprisingly poor. Your competition expects more or their own efforts. With all of that said, it is about time Toyota/Lexus put hybrid technology on the track. That in itself is a promising accomplishment. So Congrats Toyota/Lexus…err sort of…


JoviJovi - 8/14/2006 1:17:16 PM
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5th is qualifying... 17th overall in race... thats poor


PlanoA4PlanoA4 - 8/14/2006 1:37:04 PM
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I guess Toyota/Lexus doesn't have that win no matter what spirit. Thats ok, You see it in F1 where they should be far more successful than they are. Really, other than prestige, I am not sure why they compete in F1. It is just a black hole for them.


JoviJovi - 8/14/2006 1:40:33 PM
+1 Boost
its just for the name and recognition, I think...Isnt it funny how the Toyota F1 team is based in Germany? ha ha


PlanoA4PlanoA4 - 8/14/2006 2:15:29 PM
+1 Boost
Based in Germany, because the Japanese based efforts were so dismal. They had to export it to Germany to try and improve. That says a lot of the Japanese engineering effort when it comes to that caliber of expertise. They simply are not geared that way. You can’t simply reverse engineer it and make it work. To win F1 Toyota needs to I,N,N,O,V,A,T,E, They have never really had to do that before when it comes to racing..


1970toyotamarc1970toyotamarc - 8/14/2006 3:25:09 PM
+3 Boost
Plano, gotta love how you post a story bashing Lexus, and then make sure you post the first comment to further the bash. A hybrid Luxury sedan is not a race car, and yet the car finished the race, 4th in class. Not bad for a first effort. And please decide if it is the 400h, 450h or 430h you're talking about. Last I checked in the US and Japan there is only a 450h.

I'm gonna keep this up, somone has to stop the bias on this site.


LexusKindaGuy12LexusKindaGuy12 - 8/14/2006 4:15:14 PM
+1 Boost
well put 1970toyotamarc well put!


JoviJovi - 8/14/2006 11:40:49 PM
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Actually, Honda is the only ones who have won in F1... (6 in a row, congrats)...

Otherwise, Toyota has never won...


SixxFiveSixxFive - 8/14/2006 11:52:43 PM
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Toyota is also moving auto production to Germany....to gain credibility.


PlanoA4PlanoA4 - 8/15/2006 10:47:55 AM
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IS3andME - Yep you are right, Honda has done well in F1. However Toyota is the subject. The Japanese can do it (Honda proved that), however Toyota is not cutting the mustard in F1.


PlanoA4PlanoA4 - 8/15/2006 10:51:45 AM
+1 Boost
sixxfive- That is interesting. It seems overseas many of the buyer of higher end and enthusiast vehicles wna t respect. Toyota realizes they need that to sell to that market. It is amazing with the high quality they produce they have a "respect" issue abroad.


JoviJovi - 8/16/2006 3:57:01 AM
+1 Boost
Commonsense...

if its not a race car, than don't race...simple. It does not outperform an S4, which has equal HP. it doesnt outperform the A5 4.2 nor the A8 W12. Simple. Facts are facts.

Huu...

5 Toyota 26

5= Sauber-BMW 26

Thats from the F1 website. I dont know what that means, but I'm guessing it means Toyota and BMW are equal. Toyota is not doing better.

Do you need a lesson in how math works? 26 is not greater or lesser than 26. its equal. hence, 26=26, not 26>26 or 26<26. hence, in F1, Toyota=BMW, not Toyota>BMW, not Toyota<BMW.

Understand?


JoviJovi - 8/16/2006 11:35:24 PM
+1 Boost
funny, in F1, BMW has 6 years of race experience. in 6 years, they spent 80% of Toyota's 5 year budget. And BMW has accumulated more victories and points.

btw, in the future, don't bring up things that you dont know. For instance, if you don't follow F1, don't talk about it.

Anyways, I am never ashame to admit that BMW=Toyota in F1. Perhaps you should follow my philosophy...call it as it is, without bias.


JoviJovi - 8/17/2006 2:41:18 AM
+1 Boost
actually, you are wrong. BMW has only existed with williams for 5 years (thats all), and Sauber 1 (Its fully BMW, just keeping the Sauber name in 06 for tradition).

Again, you don't know F1. Williams was with Renault, Honda, etc, but only with BMW since 2000.

I'll admit I'm wrong, but since theres nothing to admit, I dont do it. I wouldnt say consistantly, I would say sometimes...


JoviJovi - 8/17/2006 10:24:14 PM
+1 Boost
funny, need honda's help? anyways, its not that BMW is barely keeping up, its Toyota cannot break away with their nearly $500 million budget.


Anyways, I never said Racing heritage meant alot, but its a significant portion of what makes you legitimate. Anyways, we'll see when Toyota or BMW wins the F1 constructor's title.


JoviJovi - 8/19/2006 4:50:30 AM
+1 Boost
well, hate to break this to you, but I'm not a BMW owner. My brother is. But yes, I know what you mean, but you must agree that BMW's race heritage is nothing to mess with...

I will not be the first to admit that BMW-Sauber is very disappointing, but it is only their first season. We'll see how they do in their second year of full ownership...

Anyways, nice talking to you, but I can care less about 5th, 6th, or 11th place. Its between Ferrari and Renault this year (Ferrari will come back). Next year, it will be Mercedes-Benz
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