THE TOYOTA TS030 HYBRID

by **JamieWhincup#1** Wed Jan 25, 2012 5:44 pm

THE TOYOTA TS030 HYBRID

Toyota Racing has today taken the covers off the highly anticipated TS030 HYBRID.

Based out of Toyota GmbH - the German facility used for their previous F1 campaign - Toyota Racing will enter two TS030 HYBRIDs in this year's Le Mans 24 Hours. The unveiling occured at Paul Ricard, where ex-F1 driver Alex Wurz and Nicolas Lapierre performed a shakedown.

The TS030 uses an all-new carbon chassis and features Toyota's THS-R (Toyota Hybrid System - Racing) powertrain that was developed with Denso, Aisin AW and Nisshinbo. "It was cool to drive the TS030 HYBRID car for the first time" Wurz said. "Just leaving the garage on the electric power is very futuristic, then when you let the clutch go and the internal combustion engine kicks in it is like an old friend has returned!"

The new team will make its debut in May at the second round of the FIA World Endurance Championship: the Six Hours of Spa-Francorchamps. We can't wait!

Here are the specs on the Toyota TS030 HYBRID:

- Charles Kha
Thanks to Speedhunters

by **JamieWhincup#1** Wed Jan 25, 2012 5:48 pm

Hopefully Toyota can fill Peugeot's shoes in challenging the might of the Team Joest Audi R18s Smile

by **NoRecoil** Wed Jan 25, 2012 7:55 pm

BECAUSE RACECAR!!!!!!

I reckon they'll do it clarko, depends on weather or not they hire driver that can race this time Smile

by **iWolf** Wed Jan 25, 2012 8:23 pm

Just lookit the size of the rubber on that thing.
Faaark!

Pity about the billboard they stuck behind the cabin Rolling Eyes

by **JamieWhincup#1** Wed Jan 25, 2012 8:29 pm

There's a few ex-Peugeot drivers on the look for a drive.
They seem to have got some half decent drivers so far in Alexander Wurz, Kazuki Nakajima and Nicholas Lapierre.

by **JamieWhincup#1** Wed Jan 25, 2012 8:32 pm

iWolf wrote:Just lookit the size of the rubber on that thing.
Faaark!

Pity about the billboard they stuck behind the cabin

The "Billboard" is part of the regs to try and stop it from taking off when it happens to go sideways Smile

by **The Jester Race** Wed Jan 25, 2012 9:40 pm

I think it looks absolutely beautiful. I don't think it will be all that competitive this year, if they're only fielding one car (probably 2 for Le Mans though) they're probably all about developing the car over this year and getting a handle on things before the new regs in 2014.

Still gutted about the pugs calling it a day, I highly doubt the ACO has achieved diesel/petrol parity so it'll be pretty dull at the front of the field watching Audi walk every race. Hopefully the new HPD 03a shows some of the pace the 01e did at Sebring last year... Hopefully.