Toyota Racing has unveiled its challenger for the 2012 endurance racing season. Dubbed the TS030 Hybrid, this LMP1 vehicle makes history by being the first of its kind to employ a hybrid drivetrain.
Two TS030 cars have been developed and each one will be entered into various races over the next few months, including the Six Hours of Spa-Francorchamps, which serves as the car’s début, as well as the 24 Hours of Le Mans in June.
The Toyota Hybrid System – Racing (THS-R) makes use of a 3,4-litre, naturally aspirated V8 powerplant that is coupled with a hybrid system. This system will either be developed by Aisin AW, should the team go with a front-mounted set-up, or in the case of a rear-mounted set-up, by Denso. Nisshinbo developed the 500 kJ capacitor storage. The reason for testing two set-ups is that regulations stipulate that the electric boost can only drive one set of wheels.
This new Toyota Racing LPM1 car features an all-new carbon fibre chassis that was developed by Toyota Motorsport GmbH in Cologne, Germany.
The Toyota driver line-up is headed up by Alex Wurz, who previously won Le Mans in a Peugeot (a team that has now dropped out of endurance racing). Frenchman Nicolas Lapierre, who previously made a name for himself in F3 and A1 GP, joins Wurtz. Hiroaki Ishiura may join the driver line-up in the races that require both cars to be entered.
For more details on the new Toyota car, click the ATTACHMENTS tab in the top right-hand corner of the image block and download the picture.