Toyota Prius Makes History
Two amateurs have entered the motorsports record books this month as the crew of the world’s hybrid rally car. Londoners, Nik Berg and Tim Bampton zoomed across Europe to the Middle East in a Toyota Prius, the world’s first mass production petrol/electric hybrid car, on a 3-week, 8,000-km marathon rally which started in the north of Sweden on June 3 and finished last Friday.
Just as the motorcar pioneers of the early 20th century proved the capabilities of their new fangled machines by competing in inter-city races across Europe – some even going as far as China and Africa – the rally Prius demonstrated its durability over 8,000 kms through 10 countries in just 20 days. In that time, they tackled over 40 Special Stages – in which the quickest time is the objective – totaling more than 720 kms on tarmac, gravel and desert.
The event, known as ‘The Midnight Sun to Red Sea’ Rally, was sanctioned by the FIA, meaning that the Prius is the first hybrid car ever to enter an officially-recognised motorsports event.
Competition was never part of the plan for this eco-friendly car until Berg had the idea to enter one in the Midnight Sun to Red Sea Rally. “I was looking for something different, a car that would give a unique perspective on the event. The Prius was the obvious choice and Toyota were keen to assist,” said Berg.
The challenge of turning a fuel-efficient family car – specifically a 3- year old version which had previously served as a demonstrator for fleet customers and government officials – was handed over to race and rally preparation experts, Roger Dowson Engineering, in the UK. As it would be the first-ever competition Prius, everything had to be designed from scratch including the safety roll cage and the stronger front suspension. Finished just days before leaving for Sweden, the rally Prius successfully completed a brief shake-down run at the Silverstone Rally School.Even with two motors, it wasn’t the fastest car in the rally, but the aim was reliability and reaching the finish in Jordan.
The route ran from Ostersund in Sweden across the Baltic, through remote, seldom seen parts of the Czech Republic, Slovakia, Hungary, Bulgaria and Romania and then along the Aegean Coast of Turkey. It then passed through the ‘Lawrence of Arabia deserts’ of Syria and Jordan before ending at. Aqaba, a port in Jordan located at the top of the stretch of water branching off the Red Sea.
It was certainly an eventful rally although the Prius made it to the finish line in good shape. On the first day, the car slid off the road (‘lack of concentration’, admitted Berg, who was the driver). There was also a puncture on that day which was quickly fixed.
On Day 14, in Poland, the car was involved in an accident and Toyota UK’s personnel airlifted parts from UK to get the Prius back on the road. “An ‘international rescue team’ pulled out all the stops to keep us in the rally after a crash on Stage 14. I could make excuses, but the only thing I’ll say in defence is that I had a choice between hitting spectators or a ditch. I know I did the right thing, but the car suffered a bent wishbone and a busted drive shaft,” said Berg, who sent a daily report to the Toyota UK website.
In Turkey, they had fuel problems because the petrol from a station was believed to have been leaded although it was said to be unleaded. As a result, the engine lost performance by about 50%. “We may have set a new record for the lowest-ever speed on a rally stage – 15 km/h!” Berg said.
While much of the event had been on tarmac surfaces, it was in Jordan that the surfaces got rough and presented a good test for the Prius. On their way from Amman, the capital of Jordan, to Aqaba, they detoured to Petra, an ancient ‘lost city’ which was the backdrop for the Indiana Jones film ‘Temple of Doom’.
On the second last day, they were running in 16th position and things were not easy for many cars. In fact, they even had to tow another competitor which had a broken driveshaft. The Prius crew was amazed that they even managed to clock third fastest time in one stage they nicknamed “The Canyon”.
Right to the finish, there was drama for the rally Prius: just seven kms from the finish line, they had a puncture but didn’t dare to stop to change the wheel because there was a Volvo hot on their tail and they could not waste time. So they drove on the flat tyre and destroyed it as well as damaged the rim. Presumably, Toyota UK, which owns the car, forgave them for that..
“This is a world first for this type of vehicle and the rally itself was the toughest test yet of this new technology, so just to finish has been a victory in itself,” said Berg.
After 5,000 miles (8,000 kms), the rally Prius crossed the finish line in 15th position and entered the history books as the first hybrid car to complete an FIA-sanctioned rally. It’s the first of a new breed of car, one that uses less petrol and produces much lower emissions, especially around town. Hybrid powertrains – this denotes a combination of two power sources – are expected to become more and more common as Toyota and others work to provide a sustainable alternative to the petrol/diesel fuelled internal combustion engine. Toyota is today the leader in hybrid technology and recently produced its 100,000th hybrid vehicle.
A 72 bhp (DIN), 1.5-litre petrol engine and a 33 kW electric motor power the Prius. The battery for the electric motor is continuously charged by both the petrol engine and by regenerative braking so the car requires no external charging. Capable of a top speed of 160 km/h and 0-100 km/h in 13.4 seconds, the rally Prius competed in the Group N (showroom standard).
