Photo: Toyota/edited by autoevolution
Toyota just announced that it will bring all its four Le Mans racing prototypes at this year’s Goodwood Festival of Speed which will be held in June. The models in question are the TS010, TS020, TS030 and the not-unveiled-yet TS040.
Along with the four racecars, Toyota Racing driver Anthony Davidson will be there too, demonstrating the new TS040’s abilities on the tarmac during the three-day hill climb festival.
The first TS010 debuted at the 24 Hour of Le Mans in 1992 with a Formula One-style 3.5-liter V10 engine making around 600 hp. It didn’t got the victory, but it claimed a respectable second place finish, also giving Masanori Sekia the honor of being the first Japanese driver on the Le Mans podium.
In 1998, the TS020 made its first appearance at Le Mans, qualifying in second place. Also being named the GT-One, the prototype was specially developed to run in the famous 24-hour race, coming with one of the most advanced design in motorsport, all achieved using CAD systems. The two cars running at Le Mans that year had a strong go until the final hour, when the one in second place had to retire due to transmission failure. The other one finished 9th. However, both cars returned the next year and one of them finished second.
Then came a long pause, but Toyota managed to return again in 2012 with the TS030 Hybrid, to show how advanced hybrid power technology can be applied to motorsport. Still, being a bit experimental, the car had its issues and managed to post an overall second place in the 2013 WEC.
This year Toyota plans to come again, with an improved TS040 version which hasn’t been yet unveiled. All we know is that it will be 10 cm narrower, it will have updated aerodynamics and improved mechanics. The TS040 will be unveiled at a prologue test run at Paul Ricard on 28th March.
The first TS010 debuted at the 24 Hour of Le Mans in 1992 with a Formula One-style 3.5-liter V10 engine making around 600 hp. It didn’t got the victory, but it claimed a respectable second place finish, also giving Masanori Sekia the honor of being the first Japanese driver on the Le Mans podium.
In 1998, the TS020 made its first appearance at Le Mans, qualifying in second place. Also being named the GT-One, the prototype was specially developed to run in the famous 24-hour race, coming with one of the most advanced design in motorsport, all achieved using CAD systems. The two cars running at Le Mans that year had a strong go until the final hour, when the one in second place had to retire due to transmission failure. The other one finished 9th. However, both cars returned the next year and one of them finished second.
This year Toyota plans to come again, with an improved TS040 version which hasn’t been yet unveiled. All we know is that it will be 10 cm narrower, it will have updated aerodynamics and improved mechanics. The TS040 will be unveiled at a prologue test run at Paul Ricard on 28th March.
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