Friday 20th January 2012

Toyota's Le Mans racer - first pics

Peugeot might have gone, But Toyota will fill its place

---

These are the first pics of Toyota's new LMP1 car, arriving on the interweb just in time to cheer up Le Mans fiends disappointed by Peugeot's departure from endurance racing earlier in the week.

The petrol-electric hybrid hit the test track at Paul-Ricard last week for its first shakedown, ahead of a partial assault on the new FIA World Endurance Championship (and Le Mans).

Alex Wurz, Nicolas Lapierre and Kazuki Nakajima, who will all race the single works Le Mans entry, all took spells behind the wheel.

 

[PaulMoor]

Looks just like a toyota gt-one with a big fin to me. Glad to see they are racing again however.

[NotNormal]

Good luck to them, any manafacture or outfit willing to take part in this race should be applauded and encouraged.

[Jag-D]

Ohhhhh maybe LM is about to get interesting?

[CampDavid]

Jag-D said:

Ohhhhh maybe LM is about to get interesting?

Maybe next year. 2012 Le Mans will be Audi walking to the flag

[PeXy]

PaulMoor said:

Looks just like a toyota gt-one with a big fin to me. Glad to see they are racing again however.

Thats what I thought , I like!!!!

[-crookedtail-]

Looks good if not as pretty as the gt-one! Look forward to seeing how they progress with this and take the fight to Audi next year.

[MrKipling43]

The ACO has just released a picture of the Audi's mandated 'equalisation' fuel tank for the 2012 race:



(to scale)

[PaulMoor]

MrKipling43 said:

The ACO has just released a picture of the Audi's mandated 'equalisation' fuel tank for the 2012 race:



(to scale)

Yet they still manage a 1-2-3.

[robmlufc]

PaulMoor said:

Yet they still manage a 1-2-3.

I bet you a stubbie they dont

[forzaminardi]

I do have a soft spot for Toyota, especially at Toyota where they have been one of the hardest-trying-but-least-succesful manufacturers. Those old SARD Toyotas and the GT1s were classics of their eras. Good to see them back. A GT3-spec GT86 would be nice...

[TobesH]

Battery acid in the cockpit at 200mph, put your masks on crew, we're going down

Edited by TobesH on Friday 20th January 14:38

[TankRS]

nothing to really get over excitied about tbh, appart from the Audi, it looks just like the other cars in its class.

good luck to them however and will be nice to have another team on the manufacturers list

[AlexRWD]

It looks a lot like the Peugeot that just withdrew, with a different paint job and some Halfords replacement headlights!

[nickfrog]

Will they be as successful as in F1 ?

[MrKipling43]

nickfrog said:

Will they be as embarrassing as they were in F1 ?

EFA.

Doubtful. Le Mans is bit easier than Formula One. Now, let me just climb into my flame-proof jacket...

[E38Ross]

MrKipling43 said:

nickfrog said:

Will they be as embarrassing as they were in F1 ?

EFA.

Doubtful. Le Mans is bit easier than Formula One. Now, let me just climb into my flame-proof jacket...

hmmm, i'm not entirely sure about that to be honest. the tech is just as advanced as F1 but with different regulations.

[Shurv]

Wasn't the Toyota F1 engine reputed to have the highest bhp on the grid when they were racing.They should have just built customer engines and enjoyed victories via that route.Akio Toyoda, Toyota boss, is a major league petrolhead,and has raced in Le Mans as a driver,so not surprised they're back.He's not going to be in it just to make up the numbers either.I wish them luck with their campaign.

[Thom]

That it's not a diesel is pleasing news indeed!

[robmlufc]

MrKipling43 said:

EFA.

Doubtful. Le Mans is bit easier than Formula One. Now, let me just climb into my flame-proof jacket...

It helps if you have the budget and resources Toyota do. Much like Red Bull and McLaren do in F1

[lazyitus]

Thom said:

That it's not a diesel is pleasing news indeed!

Very much so.