Beyond Fuji, Expansion of Collaborations Escalates in Super Taikyu Series
Super Taikyu Waigaya Club Pushes for Carbon Neutrality in Motorsports
The Super Taikyu Waigaya Club, an informal group formed by participants in the Super Taikyu Series, is leading the charge towards carbon neutrality in the Japanese motorsport industry. Composed primarily of teams, drivers, and related stakeholders, the club is dedicated to promoting environmental sustainability and reducing carbon footprints.
The club's initiatives include advocating for the use of sustainable fuels such as biofuels or synthetic fuels, raising public awareness about carbon neutrality through the visibility of the Super Taikyu Series, and holding collaborative discussions to brainstorm new ideas and solutions. The members also support the integration of hybrid systems and electrification as part of the transition to low-carbon racing.
Furthermore, the club encourages teams to commit to environmental targets, such as carbon offsetting, reducing waste, and improving energy efficiency in their operations. The "Waigaya" part of the club’s name refers to informal, open discussions, fostering a collaborative environment for knowledge sharing and innovation.
Five companies competing in the ST-Q class have formed the Super Taikyu Waigaya Club, including Toyota, Kawasaki, Suzuki, Honda, and Yamaha. Since the Fuji 24-hour race, these teams have all sported stickers with the word 共挑 (kyocho), expressing their "co-challenge" in pursuing carbon neutrality.
The club's efforts extend beyond the Super Taikyu Series. Toyota, along with Kawasaki, Suzuki, Honda, and Yamaha, is part of the Hydrogen Small mobility & Engine technology (HySE) research group. HySE will take part in the Dakar Future Mission 1000, a new category that will kick off in January 2024, where it aims to identify research themes and encourage various companies to get involved.
Two other cars are expected to participate alongside HySE in the hydrogen category of the Dakar Future Mission 1000. The ST-Q class in Super Taikyu serves as a testing ground for new technologies like hydrogen, synthetic fuels, and biofuels, as manufacturers race vehicles currently under development.
The Super Taikyu Organization CEO, Harumi Kuwayama, expressed her hopes for the ST-Q class and the future of cars and motorsports. The final round of the 2023 Super Taikyu Series took place on November 12 at Fuji International Speedway in Oyama, Shizuoka Prefecture, where these companies jointly organized the first-ever "Co-Challenge Pit Tour" to spread the word about ST-Q.
Chairman Komatsu's policy is to keep the door open and welcoming to everyone for potential partners in their research focus on hydrogen as a future energy source. President Takahashi of the GR Company thanked all those involved in the series, including the Super Taikyu Organization, entrants, mechanics, engineers, drivers, and other manufacturers, for their contributions to the pursuit of carbon neutrality.
The Super Taikyu Waigaya Club, through its initiatives and collaborations, is accelerating the shift to carbon neutrality by combining competitive racing passion with environmental responsibility, setting a strong example for the motorsport industry.
The Super Taikyu Waigaya Club, driven by its passion for motorsport, advocates for climate-change mitigation in the realm of environmental-science, promoting the use of clean fuels like biofuels and hydrogen. To encourage technological advancements, the club is cooperating with the Hydrogen Small mobility & Engine technology (HySE) research group for the Dakar Future Mission 1000.
Within the motorsport industry, the club not only encourages environmental targets like carbon offsetting and energy efficiency but also supports the integration of hybrid systems and electrification, fostering a low-carbon racing culture.
