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Chris Bruce2012-06-06 16:44:35

A Second Glance at the Toyota TS030 with Specs, More Pictures and In-Car Video

 
 
Slideshow
A Second Glance at the Toyota TS030 with Specs, More Pictures and In-Car Video

Toyota had been trickling out information about its new LMP1 sports car th TS030 until yesterday when it released all the information someone could want about the new gasoline hybrid sports car. Because so much information has been released about the car so quickly, we thought that Autoviva should condense everything into one post with all we know about the new car. 

Toyota launched the web site for its sports car team yesterday and immediately started bombarding us with information. The site included new photos, all of which are included in the gallery with this post. 

Most telling, we now know the specs for the TS030. The car uses a carbon fiber chassis. The engine is a 90 degree, 3.4 liter V8 with separate front and rear hybrid motors. The engine is linked to a six-speed sequential transmission. The front electric motor is made by Aisin and the rear by Denso.  

Under the current rules the electric motors are allowed to recover a maximum of 500kJ between braking zones, but Toyota did not reveal how much the TS030's capacitors can actually hold. 

It is possible for the TS030 is run in full electric mode with the motor not operating for short periods of time. 

The car will compete in two confirmed events right now: The 6 Hours of Spa-Francorchamps on May 3-5 and the 24 Hours of Le Mans on June 16-17. Toyota said that, "Participation in further rounds is yet to be confirmed." The ACO, the governing body of Le Mans, announced on its Twitter page yesterday that the team asked for two entry forms for the race. 

Alex Wurz, Nicolas Lapierre and Kazuki Nakajima have been confirmed as the drivers for one of the cars, and the driver line-up for the other car is not yet certain. Although, Andrea Caldarelli just signed as a junior driver for the team; so he could pilot the other car at some point. Caldarelli has previously raced in Formula Nippon and Formula 3 but has no experience in endurance racing. He is just 21, though, and is still building his racing career. Hiroaki Ishiura is another candidate to join the second car, according to Toyota. He currently drives for Toyota in the Japanese Super GT series. 

Toyota has also a released an in-cockpit video of the TS030 from yesterday at Paul Rickard with Wurz at the wheel. 

How will other teams going to react to this car? Audi was rumored to be working on a diesel hybrid for this season but have so far kept mum. Peugeot had a diesel hybrid ready but pulled out of racing at Le Mans last week. However, that does not mean a privateer team could not campaign what would have been the factory car. After all, a privateer Peugeot won the 12 Hours of Sebring last year. 

What do you guys think? Are you excited to see a new team racing at Le Mans knowing that Porsche is just a few seasons away from being back as well? Does this take the sting away of Peugeot pulling out? Toyota's history at Le Mans has been mixed. The TS010 that competed from 1991-1993 managed a second place finish in 1992. The TS020 managed a second in 1999 at Le Mans and had the fastest laptime that year. Will Toyota become the second Japanese company ever to have an overall win at Le Mans?

Encyclopedia
ToyotaToyota
TS030 HYBRIDTS030 HYBRID
Engine
V 8 (90º vee)
Displacement
207 cu in
Top Speed
205 mph
Transmission
6, sequential manual
Maximum power
--
Type
Fixed-head coupé
Fuel
Petrol / Electric
Fuel consumption (combined)
--
price
--
annual ownership cost
--

1 comment

authomobilia
The pilots have really 3 different sizes. The pit stops for pilot change will be a nightmare for the team to make sure they put the correct set-up for the correct driver every time ;-)
26.01.2012 @ 06:19
Anonymous

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