Toyota Gazoo Racing has dominated the World Endurance Championship, but 2023 is shaping up to be a year to remember as Cadillac, Ferrari, and Porsche are throwing their hat into the ring.
That’s a lot of new blood and Toyota is preparing to meet them head-on with an updated GR010 Hybrid. The company didn’t go into many specifics, but said the car’s hybrid powertrain – which consists of a 697 hp (520 kW / 707 PS) twin-turbo 3.5-liter V6 engine and a 268 hp (200 kW / 272 PS) electric motor – benefits from “adjustments” that help to “reduce weight and improve reliability, exploiting the unique knowledge gained from more than a decade of experience with hybrid powertrains at Le Mans.”
The GR010 Hybrid will run on renewable biofuel made from wine residues and agricultural material. Toyota Gazoo Racing says this reduces CO2 emissions by at least 65% and contributes to ongoing efforts to increase sustainability in endurance racing.
Also: Toyota GR010 Hybrid Unveiled With Twin-Turbo 3.5-Liter V6 For Le Mans Hypercar Class
Putting the powertrain aside, the 2023 GR010 Hybrid wears revised bodywork and optimized aerodynamics. Among the changes are new dive planes, smaller rear wing end plates, and updated headlights. The model also sports new vents to improve brake cooling, while the racer has also lost weight to hit the 2,293 lbs (1,040 kg) minimum allowed by regulations.
Since the pre-heating of tires is no longer permitted, the model has been equipped with new Michelin rubber that is “designed to reach peak operating temperature quickly, whilst retaining durability and performance.”
This year’s driver lineup consists of Mike Conway, Kamui Kobayashi, and José María López in the #7 car, while Sébastien Buemi, Brendon Hartley, and Ryo Hirakawa will use the #8 GR010 Hybrid.
The season kicks off next month and team principal, Kamui Kobayashi, said “At Toyota Gazoo Racing, we never stand still and we are always pushing to make ever-better cars. So, just like last year, we have introduced some evolutions to our GR010 Hybrid for the 2023 season.” He added, “It’s amazing for the fans to see so many manufacturers competing in Hypercar, and as a team we are excited by the new competitors.”
