Toyota TS030 Hybrid Racing Car
Take a look
Toyota is well and truly back on track, and ready for Le Mans! After over 10 years away from the legendary La Sarthe Circuit, many weeks of waiting and lots of behind-the-scenes activities, the world got its first glimpse of our latest contender, the TS030 HYBRID, at Paul Ricard for our official test in January.
Not only is Toyota back, but back with the most advanced hybrid racing technology to tackle the famous Mulsanne Straight.
The hybrid LMP1 car will compete in the FIA World Endurance Championship, beginning at the Six Hours of Spa-Francorchamps in May, followed by a planned two-car entry in the gruelling Le Mans 24 Hours in June. Further races may follow, but are not yet confirmed.
As well as launching a new website – www.toyotahybridracing.com – where you can find all the technical specs, photos and information about the team, there was the little matter of the car launch itself.
In front of a large group of invited media, the first official test of the TS030 HYBRID began shortly after the sun rose over Paul Ricard to reveal perfectly clear blue skies on test day.
Kazuki Nakajima drove the car in ideal conditions for the first time with a short installation stint, before two-time Le Mans winner Alex Wurz took over. The photographers and cameramen were kept busy most of the day as the new car roared past them on each lap.
As well as having the sound of a pure-bred racing engine, the TS030 HYBRID naturally features an unusual element for endurance racing: a high-performance hybrid system.
Designed to deliver extra performance on track whilst delivering fuel economy benefits, the hybrid system has a unique feature which still has a wow factor even for veterans of the team’s roll-out earlier in the month.
The TS030 HYBRID pulls away from the pits in electric mode, suddenly accelerating forward with instant power and a truly extraordinary sound as it powers down the pit lane. At the allotted time, the driver drops the clutch and the internal combustion engine kicks in with a thump.
It’s an incredible sensation and one which is sure to capture the imagination of endurance racing fans in the coming months. Check out the video of the onboard lap to get a feel for the hybrid motorsport experience as done by Alex Wurz.
In total, the TS030 HYBRID completed over 2,000km and demonstrated a satisfying level of performance and reliability. Toyota Racing’s next test is planned for mid-February.
Yoshiaki Kinoshita, Team President: “We can be pleased with the outcome of this test. It has gone smoothly and delivered a lot of very useful data which will help us to prepare for our first season back in endurance racing. Of course, there are many challenges when introducing an innovative technology such as a hybrid powertrain in motorsport but I have been very impressed with how the team has approached this test and the results are very encouraging.”
Pascal Vasselon, Technical Director: “Although we are a little behind schedule in terms of total mileage we have made very good use of our track time. It’s important at this stage to give a first indication to our tyre partner Michelin about the development direction needed for the Toyota TS030 HYBRID and this has been done together with other performance developments. At the same time the pace is increasing as our drivers explore closer to the boundaries of the performance envelope of our package. We see clearly an acceleration of our development rate based on their indications. This gives a lot of push and dynamic to our track operation; it’s an exciting time to be a Toyota Racing engineer.”
Alex Wurz: “Obviously it’s nice to be back in the car. We are continuously evaluating and improving, so I am happy with these three days. We are working hard and making good progress since the roll-out. During this test I have worked on the set-up, drivability and traction control; we are just beginning to work on tyre evaluations. Of course I am enjoying this chance to drive the Toyota TS030 HYBRID. More and more we test, more and more we find things to improve: that’s positive. We realise we have to work hard because you have to work on the details; I am a perfectionist.”
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EnvironmentOur emission-reducing technology features in all our cars – not only our hybrids. It’s just one of the ways we play our part. - Read more
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From reducing the weight of engines, to improving performance, cutting fuel consumption and driving down emissions, this ensures the best of our green thinking benefits in all our vehicles.
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Find out how Toyota can help you choose a more sustainable way to drive.
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