LEXUS CT MAKES RACING DEBUT

Full hybrid set to take on the Nürburgring

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.

Two rather different machines took to the race track this past weekend in the Volkswagen Racing Cup and ADAC Rundstrecken-Trophy. The German race played host to a Lexus CT Hybrid in the SP4 class while the UK saw the Volkswagen Caddy van line up with Golf, Scirocco, Bora and Beetle racers.

The Lexus racer is one of the few full hybrid racers which can take to the track in Europe, though the far east does have regional championships dedicated to hybrid vehicles. The vehicle, #217 on the VLN entry list, has been prepared by Gazoo Racing, a part of Toyota and uses the new premium hatchback from posh brand Lexus as its base.

Taking the CT200h as a donor vehicle, Gazoo have worked in the engine bay to eake out performance. The 1.8 petrol unit which powers the road going car has been replaced with a 2.4 petrol motor. Elsewhere though, mechanical changes have been kept to a minium, the Lexus Hybrid Drive system is used without change.

That means that the car can start the race without the use of its Internal Combustion Engine. Also, the car will use auto start/stop technology to kill the ICE under breaking and use less fuel. The 2.4 Motor and electric drivetrain components work together under acceleration and whilst maintaining racing speeds.

The CT racer took to the track at the legendary Nürburgring Nordscheife for a six hour event. Lexus shared the track with, not only its own SP4 class competitors but Mercedes-Benz SLS AMG GT3, Audi R8 LMS and the quite divine, P4/5 Competizione. The team also competed in SP8 with their Lexus LFA racer but the CT was in SP4, racing against the Bergischer Motor-Club e.V. BMW 325i.

The Lexus finished the race two laps down on its class rival in second for the class. In the VLN races there are separate classes for Turboed cars too, when you put the SP4T class in, or, "VLN Specials über 2000 ccm bis 2600ccm mit Turbolader" The car finished third in a class of four, with a turboed Focus RS taking the win while the Ford Mondeo in '4T crashed out on the second lap.

Whichever way you look at it though, it is not the position the car place that maters. The careful and smart way in which race teams are bringing the advantages of Hybrid racing to the circuit is what should be celebrated here. Don't think that it finished second in a class of two, recognise the good that Lexus are doing as the only manufacturer to enter a major endurance race series using full hybrid vehicles.

Lexus, Gazoo, Racing-Report.com salutes you.