Toyota's new Le Mans car - official pics and spec

[Rude-boy]

F1GTRUeno said:

Are these fins gonna be around long?

Completely ruin these cars.

I would say for a while.

They were brought in to stop the cars barrel rolling which the LMP's were starting to do at a rate of almost one per race. Cars would get out of shape, lift the unloaded wheels, air goes under, car goes over and you have a chuffing great mess. The fin is intended to keep it all on the ground when it goes squiffy and seems to have done the job.

I don't like the look of them myself but see the reasons.

[Nick M]

SystemParanoia said:

they may have swappable batteries at pit time ?

They're using capacitors, not batteries. Presumably with a way of swapping them in the event of a component problem.

[SystemParanoia]

when capacitors fail dont they go boom! ?

[robmlufc]

Electric motor down the pitlane and then the engine starts up.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?feature=player_embedd...

[robmlufc]

garypotter said:

A hybrid, will this be a similar idea to the Kers systems run in F1 or is this a battery supplying power to an axle for all 24hrs??

No its not like F1 KERS, its not a push to activate system that can be controlled by driver. I think its use gets mapped into the engine so will work at certain revs and throttle position. Also, I think, the car has to be able to drive the entire length of the pitlane under leckie power only.

[Rude-boy]

robmlufc said:

Also, I think, the car has to be able to drive the entire length of the pitlane under leckie power only.

There is a set distance the car must be able to cover on it's hy system alone.

The hy entered last year nearly lost it's spot as it failed the test first time round, but passed it on the monday or tuesday before the race iirc.

[playalistic]

Some in-car:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ViGR1Hw65e4&fea...

[Red Firecracker]

Nick1point9 said:

Article subtitle said:

Le Man's first hybrid is officially unveiled

Article main body said:

So there you have it, the first - and so far only - hybrid Le Mans car. Though rumour has it that Audi is working on its own hybrid competitor...

Except that Hope Racing ran an LMP1 hybrid last year.

Also the Audi that tested at Sebring earlier in the year and the still born Peugeot 908 Hybrid that has also tested.

F1GTRUeno said:

Are these fins gonna be around long?

Completely ruin these cars.

Although initially derided by everyone, they have gained favour after proving their worth last year.

[TheArchitect]

Quite excited about this years LeMans now! Just a shame AMR ONE wont be there.

[robmlufc]

TheArchitect said:

Quite excited about this years LeMans now! Just a shame AMR ONE wont be there.

Its a good thing that the AMR One isn't there! Except in Delta Wing form, which is also a bad thing.

[Red Firecracker]

TheArchitect said:

Quite excited about this years LeMans now! Just a shame AMR ONE wont be there.

In part it will, the No. 56 Deltawing is using the AMR-ONE tub.

[TheArchitect]

sorry to keep going OT, does anyone know if Aston are planning to return? Delta wing doesnt look too bad and said earlier, nice to have a bit of variety!

[robmlufc]

TheArchitect said:

sorry to keep going OT, does anyone know if Aston are planning to return? Delta wing doesnt look too bad and said earlier, nice to have a bit of variety!

Pretty sure they confirmed a GTE program.

[soad]

playalistic said:

Some in-car:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ViGR1Hw65e4&fea...

Cheers for that, looking good there

[VIPERLESS]

Anything to beat Audi is fine by me!

[chuntington101]

Anyone notice they aren't using coilsprings but torsion bars instead.... IS this common practice now?...

Chris.

[playalistic]

Some external video. Little 'moment' at the beginning. I personally welcome our Toyota overlords.

http://www.dailymotion.com/video/xo0f1d_roulage-de...

[playalistic]

chuntington101 said:

Anyone notice they aren't using coilsprings but torsion bars instead.... IS this common practice now?...

Chris.

Yep, for some time now.

[chevronb37]

Red Firecracker said:

Nick1point9 said:

Article subtitle said:

Le Man's first hybrid is officially unveiled

Article main body said:

So there you have it, the first - and so far only - hybrid Le Mans car. Though rumour has it that Audi is working on its own hybrid competitor...

Except that Hope Racing ran an LMP1 hybrid last year.

Also the Audi that tested at Sebring earlier in the year and the still born Peugeot 908 Hybrid that has also tested.

F1GTRUeno said:

Are these fins gonna be around long?

Completely ruin these cars.

Although initially derided by everyone, they have gained favour after proving their worth last year.

And the Panoz Q9 which attended the 1998 Le Mans test day and that year's Petit Le Mans.

[Man-At-Arms]

Vocal Minority said:

No, no, no, This is Pistonheads! Le Mans should be 30 Corvettes, 19 Aston V12s and 1 Panoz. - We don't like different, we don't like change.

and many Lambo's starting from the JLOC team, but never finishing !