24h Le Mans
Though one will have to wait a few more weeks for the debut of the new Toyota TS050 Hybrid, the TS040 Hybrid in the 2016 colours of the Toyota Gazoo Racing team reigns over the Japanese manufacturer's stand at the auto show in Osaka, Japan taking place through tomorrow.
Last week at Toyota's season kickoff press conference, the livery of the TS050 Hybrid was revealed, but on the body of its "big" sister, the 2014 World Endurance Champion. Indeed, the Japanese manufacturer's new car will be unveiled March 24th, the day before the Prologue, official test sessions of the World Endurance Champion (WEC) at the Circuit Paul Ricard in Le Castellet.
So as to standardize the name and colours of the Japanese manfacturer's outfits in all disciplines, the Toyota Racing team has been renamed Toyota Gazoo Racing (the change took place in 2015, but WEC regulations did not allow it to go into effect during the season) and the livery of the TS050 Hybrid will resemble the future Yaris which will make its debut in the World Rally Championship (WRC) in 2017.
Blue, red and white have changed to black, red and white, as seen in the photos taken by Kazuki Nakajima and posted on his Twitter feed. The Japanese driver and Kamui Kobayashi, newly promoted driver after the sporting retirement of Alexander Wurz, Grand Marshal of the 2016 24 Hours of Le Mans, presented their new car and 2016 program in Osaka today during a press conference.
Though the TS050 Hybrid's look remains under wraps, Toyota has announced the atmospheric engine has given way to a turbocharged engine and the ultracapacitors that store the braking energy have been replaced with lithium-ion batteries, a system already employed by Porsche, winner at the 24 Hours of Le Mans in 2015, and newly installed in the Audi R18 at the expense of the flywheel.
Like Audi and Porsche, Toyota has kicked off its testing campaign in preparation for the 2016 World Endurance Championship (WEC) season, but also and especially for the 24 Hours of Le Mans, 25 years after the one and only victory for a Japanese manufacturer (Mazda) at Le Mans...
Cécile Bonardel / ACO - Translation by Nikki Ehrhardt / ACO
PHOTO: OSAKA (OSAKA, JAPAN), OSAKA AUTO MESSE, FRIDAY FEBRUARY 12 2016. The Toyota TS040 Hybrid has lent its look to the TS050 Hybrid that will make its debut in 2016.
