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Toyota TS040 Officially Hitting the Track This Weekend

After over 25,000 km of testing , Toyota Racing is ready to hit the 2014 FIA World Endurance Championship (WEC) in its newly-developed TS040 Hybrid this weekend at Silverstone.
Toyota TS040 Hybrid 1 photo
Photo: Toyota/edited by autoevolution
New regulations made possible for the TS040 Hybrid to produce a lot more power, thanks to an additional electric motor placed on the front axle aiding the 520 hp 3.7-liter V8 engine and the previous electric unit at the back. The powertrain now boasts 1,000 hp while using 25 percent less fuel than the one in the TS030.

Moreover, unlike the previous seasons, the TS040 can now recover and use electric energy at any point on the circuit. Which reminds us of some futuristic racing games where you need to collect certain power-ups on the track to gain boost.

The new TS040 also comes with improved aerodynamics, and Toyota said it will tune the car to provide more downforce on the Silverstone this weekend at the price of loosing a bit of the top speed.

“Silverstone is when we find out if all our work over the winter has been enough to put us where we want to be; at the front. We have completed a lot of laps and made some really good progress with the TS040 HYBRID,” said race driver Alex Wurz.

“The technology in this car, particularly the hybrid system, is awesome and it’s a real privilege to drive it. I think we are well prepared but I learnt long ago not to be over confident before the start of the season. We need to do everything right through the whole Silverstone weekend to give ourselves the best chance of starting the season with a victory.”

So far, Toyota Racing has finished on the podium in both races at Silverstone and it’s aiming to start the 2014 season with a victory. Drivers will test the new cars on Friday in two 90-minute practice sessions (11:55 and 15:55), Saturday is when the final practice will be held (9:00 - 10:00) after which the qualifying session is scheduled (12:35 - 13:00). The big race starts Sunday at 12:00.
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