The 2014 World Endurance Championship is set to be one of the most exciting in recent years with no fewer than three manufacturers challenging for the crown. The eight round series, with the 24 Hours of Le Mans as its crown jewel, kicks of on April 20 and already all the major players have revealed their race machinery.
Dominating force Audi showed off the R18 E-Tron hybrid while newcomers to the fold Porsche, returning after a long hiatus, showed off its all-new 919 Hybrid in full race livery a few weeks ago.
And now it’s Toyota’s turn. The TS040 Hybrid Le Mans Prototype carries the firm’s hope of toppling Audi and fending off Porsche for the title.
All-new for 2014, the TS040 boasts the addition of an electric motor on the front axle, making the car an all-wheel-drive hybrid – much like the other two main contenders in the premier LMP1-H class. Watch the video below for a brief explanation of how all the systems gel together.
The Audi uses a 4,0-litre V6 turbodiesel while Porsche has gone for a very unconventional turbocharged 2,0-litre V4 configuration. Toyota is sticking with its naturally aspirated V8, which pumps out roughly 380 kW, which, when coupled with the electric drive, provides a full 740 kW to the drivers.
The two TS040s will be driven by an experienced line-up that includes Alex Wurz, Stéphane Sarrazin and Kazuki Nakajima sharing the number 7 car, and Anthony Davidson, Nicolas Lapierre and Sébastien Buemi piloting the number 8 car.
https://youtube.com/watch?v=-Epjj9bsj9E