Despite losing the Le Mans 24 Hours battle to Audi last year, Toyota Racing has won the FIA World Endurance Championship war and plans to retain the manufacturers’ and drivers’ titles in 2015.
For this to happen, Toyota has updated the TS040 Hybrid racecar with new aerodynamics, revised front end including crash structure and new suspension kinematics to optimize tyre usage, as well as additional weight saving.
The TS040 Hybrid will continue to use the Toyota Hybrid System – Racing powertrain, which delivers a total maximum power of over 1,000 PS (986hp), with a 3.7-liter V8 normally aspirated petrol engine being responsible for the racing soundtrack. As in 2014, the TS040 Hybrid will compete in the 6MJ hybrid category with enhancements, such as modifications to the super capacitor construction to increase performance.
Just like Audi did with its R18 E-Tron Quattro, Toyota has prepared two different aerodynamic packages for this season, both of which are being tested in France at the Paul Ricard circuit this week.
The Le Mans package is destined for the high-speed La Sarthe track, while the sprint package, which produces higher levels of downforce due to revisions on the rear wing, engine cover and front bodywork, will be used on the rest of the circuits.
The updated car has already racked up over 25,000 km (15,534 miles) of testing prior to today’s official launch, as development began directly after last year’s Le Mans 24 Hours.
For 2015, Toyota’s two cars will feature refreshed driver lineups. In the #1 car, world champions Anthony Davidson and Sébastien Buemi will be joined by Kazuki Nakajima, who will compete in a full WEC season for the first time. In the #2 car, Alex Wurz and Stéphane Sarrazin will be joined by Mike Conway, who raced three times in 2014 in his role as test and reserve driver. Additionally, former Toyota F1 driver Kamui Kobayashi will be test and reserve driver.
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