Toyota Ready for 2013 TS030 Debut at Spa This Weekend

Toyota'sToyotaJapan, 1937 > present155 models
4570 photos
10 videos
2013 TS030Toyota TS030 HYBRIDJapan, 2012 > present5 photos
2 videos
was not ready as originally planned for the first World Endurance Championship race at Silverstone. The two 2012 Toyota's finished a lap down to the two 2013 Audi R18 e-tron QuattrosAudi R18 e-tron quattroGermany, 2012 > present8 photos
2 videos
. Toyota is hoping to change that with the introduction of the 2013 car at the Six Hours of Spa this weekend.

Toyota says that its biggest goal for the new car was to improve reliability and serviceability for the latest car, but performance also received an upgrade. Last year, neither Toyota finished the 24 Hours of Le Mans, and they had reliability issues at the WEC race in Bahrain. 

The 2013 car also features improved aerodynamics and a modified monocoque to cope with the 15kg of added weight required for the cars for this season. 

Power comes from the same 3.4-liter V8 producing about 530hp and ultra capacitor hybrid with about 300hp.

The 2013 Toyota will be taking on the 2013 R18 e-tron Quattro that Audi debuted in the 12 Hours of Sebring. Audi will also have a third car running with a special long tail body to test for the 24 Hours of Le Mans.

Toyota says that it has already begun working on its 2014 car that will take car of the new rules that will allow for a more powerful hybrid system. 

The Six Hours of Spa begins at 2:30pm (8:30am EDT) on Saturday, May 4. The race will be broadcast live on Eurosport for European fans and streamed live on audi-liveracing.com for fans in the rest of the world.