Photo: Toyota
This year’s WEC (World Endurance Championship) rules specify that LMP 1 cars need to burn 25 percent less fuel than last year, but Toyota seems to have no problem with that. Their TS040 Hybrid prototype iteration is stronger than ever. Fact that granted the team pole position for the start of this weekend's 24 Hours of Le Mans.
It’s the first time in 15 years for Toyota to start the most known endurance race from the front of the pack, all thanks to their improved hybrid powertrain and driver Kazuki Nakajima who drove the beast round the track in 3 minutes 21.789 seconds to record for pole position.
The head-starting No.7 Toyota TS040 Hybrid is shared with Stephane Sarrazin and Alex Wurz throughout the race, while the No.8 car of Anthony Davidson, Nicolas Lapierre and Sebastien Buemi will start from the third place as the No.14 Porsche got stuck in between on the second place.
This year, the TS040 boasts two electric motors and a larger 3.7-liter V8 gasoline engine (300 cc bigger than last year). Along with having a 4x4 drivetrain, the total output of the prototype gained over 100 kW (136 hp), now reaching a peak of 735 kW (1,000 hp). This gives Toyota the power advantage over its competitors and it should win in theory, if nothing breaks down like last year.
So far in this year’s WEC, Toyota came victorious in both the opening races of the series. The big race starts tomorrow at 15:00 after the Le Mans Legend Group C race and Porsche Carrera Cup France. Godspeed to Toyota and every other participants!
The head-starting No.7 Toyota TS040 Hybrid is shared with Stephane Sarrazin and Alex Wurz throughout the race, while the No.8 car of Anthony Davidson, Nicolas Lapierre and Sebastien Buemi will start from the third place as the No.14 Porsche got stuck in between on the second place.
This year, the TS040 boasts two electric motors and a larger 3.7-liter V8 gasoline engine (300 cc bigger than last year). Along with having a 4x4 drivetrain, the total output of the prototype gained over 100 kW (136 hp), now reaching a peak of 735 kW (1,000 hp). This gives Toyota the power advantage over its competitors and it should win in theory, if nothing breaks down like last year.
So far in this year’s WEC, Toyota came victorious in both the opening races of the series. The big race starts tomorrow at 15:00 after the Le Mans Legend Group C race and Porsche Carrera Cup France. Godspeed to Toyota and every other participants!
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