Toyota Petrol Hybrid LMP1 to Lemans and WEC (Its Official)

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To be fair, the GT-One was very capable of winning the Le Mans in 1999, but their luck ran out, Peugeot style.

Too bad they don't award anything for almost winning, hence why people remember it more as a failure than an almost win or how clever they were in building the car.
 
Too bad they don't award anything for almost winning, hence why people remember it more as a failure than an almost win or how clever they were in building the car.

Which is strange because people remember the Gt-One as the the car of le mans 1999. Not the winning BMW.

If those tires haven't blown, that Toyota could have taken it.

Luck was just not on there side.

And Anthony Davidson was just being a racer and that Corvette was just unlucky. Besides he had to catch up to an Audi. Let bygones be bygones.
 
I don't think it will. The problem with the AMR-One was that it was basically a submarine on wheels. The TS030 doesn't appear to have that problem. And even if it did, debuting at Spa instead of Le Mans would not make any difference - there is no way Toyota would be about to sort out the critical flaws in the design in six weeks.

Apparently the aero of the Aston wasn't the problem - it was the new turbo engines which produced no where near enough horsepower and were very unreliable when they were turned up.

Technically the same thing could happen to the Toyota but its unlikely as TMG have far more expertise building race engines of different types than Prodrive do.

If the aero or mechanical side of the car was the problem, I doubt it would be used as a tub for the DeltaWing..
 
Its a shame that the funding fell through for Aston after that disaster of a season because I'm sure with the right amount development spent on that car, it could have been very good. It wouldn't have challenged outright pace wise with Audi, Peugeot or now Toyota but it wouldn't have been far off I think.

Oh well, at least they are now focusing on making a decent GT version of the Vantage as that car has needed a serious re-think for a while now.

The fact they've also produced a pretty good car for Mini in the WRC I think speaks volumes too.
 
Yes, according to Henri Pescarolo, the AMR-One tub is "superb". In fact it is so good he will use it as basis for the 2012 Pescarolo LMP1 car.

http://www.racecar-engineering.com/news/aston-martin-amr-one-revived-by-pescarolo/


It's funny, how two AMR-One tubs will be racing at Le Mans this year, none of the cars built around them will look like the AMR-One car, and they won't even look similar to each other.

Certainly means someone did a spectacular job on the tub.
 
I wasn't knocking the Toyota GT-One in all of this. Besides, it's one of my all-time favorite race cars. The sad and tough fact remains- Toyota didn't win Le Mans 1999. I am usually not the one to continually prey on faults of others, but I do tend to look at past failures hoping that Toyota can emerge. Whether or not Toyota can make something happen with this car remains to be seen.
 
Which is strange because people remember the Gt-One as the the car of le mans 1999. Not the winning BMW.

If those tires haven't blown, that Toyota could have taken it.

Luck was just not on there side.

And Anthony Davidson was just being a racer and that Corvette was just unlucky. Besides he had to catch up to an Audi. Let bygones be bygones.

Hence why I said how clever they were in building the car, you read the history on it and that was innovative. I remember the winner more so than Toyota, people seem to know the car more now days thanks to a certain game series not sure if I've ever heard of it though :sly:.

Hopefully you're not taking me serious on Davidson? I was mad that year over it but moved on when they came out and won last year. What that race did show me is how serious Corvette Racing are more so than many teams, they put that car back together and had it racing again and it was making ground till it blew up like the sister car earlier.

Anyways I still can't get behind Toyota, and I'll be cheering for Audi again. I'll cheer for the deltawing just to troll :sly:.

Certainly means someone did a spectacular job on the tub.

Too bad that's as far as the word superb can be used for that car.


*first dual sly comment I think for me.
 
Toyota's latest update on their new monocoque:

Twitter feed: https://twitter.com/#!/Toyota_Hybrid/status/197354956850864128/photo/1

Mulsanne's corner: http://www.mulsannescorner.com/newsmay12.html
ToyotaTS030April2012-1.jpg


Toyota's Twitter feed has released this shot of the further-developed TS030. Toyota is finally catching their breath following their testing accident last month. We're noting a number of changes: (1) revised rear fender leading edge shape, (2) increased endplate leading edge extension, (3) squarer rear fender exit and fuly open to top, (4) softer top edge to cheese wedge, (5) and legality fender holes, front and rear.

Looks like Audi R18 like. Hopefully the drivers shall not crash this brand new monocoque for Le Mans, plus I'm still eagerly to know if they'll bring two TS030's at Le Mans.
 
New pictures are up- a surprise visit for a cameo at Spa! http://www.facebook.com/media/set/?set=a.356309864425474.83881.256388114417650&type=1 this shot in particular gets me going!-

557567_356310177758776_256388114417650_1027588_636251787_n.jpg


Also, TMG is building the car, not Oreca. Oreca is helping with the team aspect. More like pit stops, race strategy etc. The engine and hybrid supercapacitor are built in Japan, and all of the car is assembled in Cologne. They'll be doing a performance functionality test today or tomorrow in France at Magny-Cours circuit!
 
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Wow, what a huge surprise. Seems like Toyota has been doing more then just rebuilding the chassis. I didn't mind the front end before, but I love how they made the headlights abit more aggressive.
 
My god that is a hideous pair of lights at the front end, the old ones were great, but this is just... Nooooooo. :P
 
I'd love to know how they'll be expected to do, will they be around the slower LMP1 teams for the first season or will they be out on their own between Audi and Pescarolo/Rebellion?
 
I'd love to know how they'll be expected to do, will they be around the slower LMP1 teams for the first season or will they be out on their own between Audi and Pescarolo/Rebellion?

Time will tell I suppose, however with what they seemed to have learned from Rebellion last year they may be quick. We will see, I do remember them saying something about how this was to be somewhat of a testing year or soemthing like that late last year. I mean they'll still run, but they're not expecting to go out and win everything outright.
 
New pictures are up- a surprise visit for a cameo at Spa! http://www.facebook.com/media/set/?set=a.356309864425474.83881.256388114417650&type=1 this shot in particular gets me going!-

557567_356310177758776_256388114417650_1027588_636251787_n.jpg


Also, TMG is building the car, not Oreca. Oreca is helping with the team aspect. More like pit stops, race strategy etc. The engine and hybrid supercapacitor are built in Japan, and all of the car is assembled in Cologne. They'll be doing a performance functionality test today or tomorrow in France at Magny-Cours circuit!

Oh my Gosh!!! Much better than the previous model that was tested on February. Improved aerodynamics, updated livery. :drool::drool::)

Looks more like a Peugeot 908/R18 wannabe.
 
An interesting feature I've noticed is the small vents on both sides of the nose which leads into the bodywork. I haven't seen this on neither the R18 or 908. I'm wondering where that air might lead to, or whether it even has a special purpose.

The new front end looks stunningly beautiful though, a lot of concentration and detailing into the aero parts.
 
An interesting feature I've noticed is the small vents on both sides of the nose which leads into the bodywork. I haven't seen this on neither the R18 or 908. I'm wondering where that air might lead to, or whether it even has a special purpose.

The new front end looks stunningly beautiful though, a lot of concentration and detailing into the aero parts.

If your talking about the hole above the front tires. I'm thinking maybe 2 things. Not an Aero specialists in any way though.

1. Potentially a F Duct style design (Highly highly doubt it though)
2. Channels air around the body similar to the design on the 458 Italia.

Probably wrong though. It looked properly quick in earlier practice sessions. One can hope they do well :)
 
Bram's not talking about that. The fender holes above the tyres (front and back) are a security measure enforced by the ACO to counter the "flipping" tendency of the car if air gets under it.
 
Bram's not talking about that. The fender holes above the tyres (front and back) are a security measure enforced by the ACO to counter the "flipping" tendency of the car if air gets under it.

What is he talking about then? I can't seem to spot it.
 
:lol: He's the one that can give you a certain reply to that question but I assume Bram was mentioning the holes you see in this picture, on the top of the bodywork between the wheels and the central section that goes from the nose to the cockpit.

479423_356311254425335_256388114417650_1027611_360093870_o.jpg



... but if it's something about the front section of the nose, I can't really understand all this picture shows, they sure have a lot of sculpturing detail over there in the TOYOTA.
 
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