Preparing for Motor Racing's Future - Morizo Discusses Le Mans on the Brink of its Occurrence
In the lead-up to the centenary edition of the 24 Hours of Le Mans, Toyota Racing Team faced an unexpected hurdle. During a recent interview, team leader Akio Toyoda, better known as Morizo, expressed concerns over the Balance of Performance (BoP) adjustments that were announced just 10 days before the race.
Morizo underscored the importance of athletes facing off in genuine sporting competition for the continued appeal of motorsport. He expressed a desire to compete out in the open, in front of car-loving fans, and felt that politics had influenced the race, despite his wish for the event to be about competition as athletics.
The BoP adjustments saddled Toyota with a 37 kg handicap for the race, a weight that, over 380 laps, would add up to 6 minutes and 20 seconds. On the Le Mans course, this extra weight would make Toyota's lap times more than a second slower. If translated into distance based on last year's qualifying time, the handicap could result in a difference of two laps by the end of 24 hours.
Despite these challenges, Morizo remains optimistic. He has been racing to help create a hydrogen society, believing hydrogen offers another way forward. He believes he was able to change the common perception of hydrogen from a dangerous fuel to a future solution through his racing. His website has adopted the slogan "Forever We Race," emphasizing a determination to keep racing alive in the age of carbon neutrality.
Morizo's interview also highlighted his commitment to the team. He wants the team to give their best and put up an honest fight, despite the questionable politics. He believes that the thrill of genuine sporting competition, and the emotions that come with it, are crucial for the continued appeal of motorsport.
The Balance of Performance (BoP) adjustments in motorsport originated in the mid-2000s as a method to equalize competition among diverse cars. Its goal is to level the playing field by capping peak performance through managing parameters such as car mass, power output, power-to-weight ratio, and energy use. This system fosters competitive parity, greater manufacturer diversity, and thrilling, closely fought races while adapting continuously to evolving technologies and classes.
While BoP has been embraced in endurance racing and GT series, other top-level motorsports like Formula 1 explicitly reject it, emphasizing identical regulations for all and improvements through development rather than artificial balancing.
As the 24 Hours of Le Mans approaches, the Toyota Racing Team, led by Morizo, prepares to face the challenge with determination and resilience, embodying the spirit of "Forever We Race."
Toyota Racing Team's Morizo expressed his disapproval of the Balance of Performance (BoP) adjustments, stating that he prefers genuine sporting competition over politics in the world of motorsports, similar to sports-analysis in traditional athletics. Despite the 37 kg handicap imposed by the BoP adjustments, Morizo remains optimistic, hoping to showcase the potential of hydrogen technology in the upcoming 24 Hours of Le Mans, which could create a more level playing field in sports-racing.
