Wednesday 10th June 2015

Toyota at Le Mans: Time For Tea?

'30 years of unfinished business' admits Toyota in a gritted teeth timeline of its attempts to win Le Mans

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You can be - literally - the biggest car maker in the world but victory at Le Mans is never a given until the flag falls on Sunday afternoon. And in this context Toyota remains in the most unusual position of being the plucky underdog, forever chasing victory against two seemingly indomitable powers. Namely fortune. And Audi.

Is 2015 its year though? You'd have to say it has an even tougher battle than before with an enlivened LMP1 category including a fiercely ambitious Porsche and radical rival from countrymen Nissan. Should be quite a race.

If there's a sense they've earned a change in fortune in the video there's also recognition it'll have to be earned properly. If it was easy it'd be boring though, right?

Video here.

[Source: blog.toyota.co.uk and YouTube]

[SevenR]

Toyota No 7 was way faster than the opposition last year. By the middle of the night they were so far out in front. Just watching the cars lap, to the naked eye No 7 looked faster into and out the turns.
I was gutted when it chucked it around 5AM due to an electrical fault.
I think they'll be right on it this year and was thinking they might just win it in 2015. But then along comes Nissan with their new concept........
I know one thing. It's going to be absolutely brilliant this year, and I'm so upset I couldn't make it.
If Ford are returning next year too though, I'm there no matter what.

I have the TV all lined up, along with lap tops and tablet for live coverage. Oh, and beer.....

[WojaWabbit]

Can't they just ask the big boys to take a year out?

[aww999]

Appalling sound editing on that video, around the 3:30 mark there was some sort of engine noise drowning out that 16 year-old's guitar practise.

Go Toyota!

[Happyjap]

This is what Japan does it best!!!

[morgs_]

SevenR said:

If Ford are returning next year too though, I'm there no matter what.

I was on a training course yesterday and the chief trainer told us there will be big news on Friday. Along the lines of 2016 will be a big year for Ford and that if we understand the significance to Ford, we should figure it out. Fingers crossed!

Went and saw the 6h Silverstone and it was fanatasic, can't wait for LeMans and can't wait to see the Nissan in action, was gutted they couldn't get it ready in time to run at Silverstone (although did get to sit in the car they had there ). Sadly I won't physically be at LeMans this year =(

[forzaminardi]

Some very beautiful racing cars in Toyota's LM back catalogue, quite a few classic cars notwithstanding their lack of ultimate success. They certainly do deserve a bit of luck after all that, and the amazing technology inside the current car.

[Happyjap]

forzaminardi said:

Some very beautiful racing cars in Toyota's LM back catalogue, quite a few classic cars notwithstanding their lack of ultimate success. They certainly do deserve a bit of luck after all that, and the amazing technology inside the current car.

Yes you are correct and wise with this posting my round eyed friend!