Keep your eye on the FIA World Endurance Championships, with Toyota Racing to introduce its new TS030 Hybrid at the event.
The successor to both the TS010 and TS020 vehicles that participated inLe Mansraces during the 1990s, it marks the first time a vehicle has competed in the World Endurance Championships with a hybrid system. Toyota Racing also plans to enter the Six Hours of Spa-Francorchamps on May 5; and the Le Mans 24 Hours on June 16-17.
Included in the TS030 is the THS-R powertrain which is meant to deliver maximum performance. It includes a V8 normally aspirated petrol engine and a hybrid system with capacitor storage. As with Toyota’s road cars, energy is generated during braking, and the TS030 can operate in electric only mode – meaning it achieves zero emissions and zero fuel consumption. Also included is a carbon fibre LMP1 chassis.
The vehicle was tested at a French track, which included running in darkness.
According to Yoshiaki Kinoshita, the team’s president, Toyota Racing is realistic about its ambitions. Though it would love to win Le Mans, its target this year is to show the performance levels of the car and the powertrain.
