WEC : Toyota TS030 Hybrid 2012

Plex · Last edited by Plex on Mon Mar 05, 2012 9:30 am; edited 2 times in total

Toyota has confirmed that it will return to the sportscar arena next season as engine supplier to Rebellion Racing's LMP1 effort, as revealed by AUTOSPORT magazine in September.

The move will be the first direct motorsport involvement for the German-based Toyota Motorsport outfit since it withdrew from Formula 1 at the end of 2009.

The prototype version of the Toyota-powered Lola coupe was first shaken down at Snetterton in October and has since been tested in Portugal and Spain.

Toyota Motorsport president Yoshiaki Kinoshita said: "Toyota Motorsport has recent experience of engine supply partnerships from our Formula 1 days, so we are drawing on that to deliver a reliable and competitive engine.

"We are looking forward to working with Rebellion Racing on this exciting project and it was very pleasing to see this engine running in a car for the first time, particularly because the performance, as well as the reliability, was very encouraging."

Rebellion team principal Alexandre Pesci added: "This agreement is the cornerstone of Rebellion's challenge for the forthcoming season. Toyota is an impressive and remarkable industrial giant, we are proud to have been selected by Toyota Motorsport as their partner in this project.

"It means a lot for our team to have secured their support in our efforts to target the victory."

Rebellion has already announced that it will retain drivers Jean-Christophe Boullion, Neel Jani, Andrea Belicchi and Nicolas Prost for 2011.

Autosport

Plex · Posted: Fri Oct 14, 2011 6:14 am Post subject:

Toyota announces 2012 Le Mans return with hybrid LMP1 car

Toyota has confirmed that it will make a fully-fledged return to the Le Mans 24 Hours next year with a petrol hybrid LMP1 car, as predicted by AUTOSPORT in June.

The programme will mark Toyota's first full-scale Le Mans bid since its GT-One car of 1998 and '99. Toyota had already rejoined the LMP1 ranks as engine supplier to Rebellion Racing this year.

The new car will enter several other World Endurance Championship rounds alongside Le Mans. Its chassis will be constructed by Toyota Motorsport GmbH - formerly the firm's Formula 1 operation - with the engine coming from the Toyota Motor Corporation in Japan.

Tadashi Yamashina, Toyota Motor Corporation Senior Managing Officer and TMG chairman, said the hybrid technology element was key to Toyota's return to sportscar racing's top flight.

"Toyota Motor Corporation has entered Le Mans before but by using our hybrid technology this time will be a completely new challenge," he said.

"We want to write a new page in the history of the Le Mans 24 Hours, as well as in the FIA World Endurance Championship, through our use of hybrid technology.

"In addition, we aim to learn from the experience of competing in such a challenging motorsport environment to enhance our production car technology.

"Le Mans is a legendary race and I would like to thank the ACO and the FIA for their constructive and positive cooperation over the last few months."

A Toyota statement said the new car "is planned to take part in a roll-out around the turn of the year prior to an extensive test schedule in early 2012."

Toyota's previous Le Mans programme saw it take pole position and finish second in the 1999 race, before it switched its attention to its forthcoming F1 operation.

Autosport

Plex · Posted: Wed Jan 25, 2012 9:38 am Post subject:

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Plex · Posted: Mon Mar 05, 2012 9:30 am Post subject: