Hybrid technology: fast and further

Last month a petrol-electric hybrid-powered vehicle made world motorsport history when it took a convincing win in Japan's Tokachi 24-hour race.

Against a strong field of domestic and imported racers the hybrid, running as a GT-class car, snatched pole position.

Twenty-four hours and 616 laps later it crossed the finish line a comfortable 19 laps ahead of the Nissan Fairlady and Porsche GT3. For the technically minded the car was powered by a 360-kilowatt, 4.5-litre, Lexus VB, in-wheel electric motors in the front wheels and a 150-kilowatt single rear electric motor.

Regenerative braking was also fitted and to cope with the rapid acceleration and deceleration of racing a quick-charge capacitor was fitted in place of a rechargeable battery pack.

The WTCC will be a fully biofuelled event by 2009.

Static electricity: This race success has made hybrid history.

Last month a petrol-electric hybrid-powered vehicle made world motorsport history when it took a convincing win in Japan's Tokachi 24-hour race.

Against a strong field of domestic and imported racers the hybrid, running as a GT-class car, snatched pole position.

Twenty-four hours and 616 laps later it crossed the finish line a comfortable 19 laps ahead of the Nissan Fairlady and Porsche GT3. For the technically minded the car was powered by a 360-kilowatt, 4.5-litre, Lexus VB, in-wheel electric motors in the front wheels and a 150-kilowatt single rear electric motor.

Regenerative braking was also fitted and to cope with the rapid acceleration and deceleration of racing a quick-charge capacitor was fitted in place of a rechargeable battery pack.
The WTCC will be a fully biofuelled event by 2009.

Static electricity: This race success has made hybrid history.