[WEC] Toyota LMP1 Discussion

[TF110]

He must have help from TMG or be using their facilities at least some of the time. They're too good not to take advantage of.

[Hiro]

Originally Posted by tyronnezx

I see the Yaris turn up to test sessions with new aero parts everytime.

Yeah its similar to what we have seen in WEC but i dont know which wind tunnel they use...

[tyronnezx]

Originally Posted by Hiro

Yeah its similar to what we have seen in WEC but i dont know which wind tunnel they use...

That's cool. I was thinking it's a Must seeing that Formula 1 a==, Wec and Indycars still use the TMG base

[TF110]

Motorsport.com has an interesting article on Toyota's 'risky targets' next year. Again, too, no decision on the third car but they seem keen on running it to support the series.

[XtC24]

Hello everyone. I am new, a Le Mans, WEC and racing fan so I eventually got here.

I just wanted to post a link to that above mentioned article about "risky targets" of Toyota.\

I don't like this, I mean risky targets for me are either big changes in car, many new elements i.e. lack of reliability again.
They (Vasselon) mentioned big goal of improvement in speed.
My feeling about is quick car x2 = failure in Le Mans which as we know is just third race of season.

Quick car x3 is 0 or at most 1 car finishing first for me. Remember Peugeot in 2010? Four very fast cars, none of them finished.
And given the bad luck of Toyota...

Maybe they will have a chance in chapionship at least...

Further, I think they are talking a little too much also.

[TF110]

Toyota don't talk much at all. In fact, here you can find that they're probably the least forthcoming of the lmp1 teams. I don't know what the risky part is in their plans, but this past season was pretty good for their new car aside the new engine reliability.

[kvenom]

I know Roderick said no 3rd car, but this is from Sportscar 365:

Pipo Derani returns to Daytona for the first time since his breakout win in the Rolex 24 with ESM last year. The Brazilian is confirmed for the Tequila Patron North American Endurance Cup races in ESM’s No. 2 entry, with an additional program set to be announced next month. “You guys are going to hear some good news pretty soon,” he told Sportscar365. “I can’t say where it is right now.”

***Derani impressed at the wheel of a Toyota TS050 Hybrid in November’s WEC Rookie Test in Bahrain. The Japanese manufacturer is set to announce its driver lineup on Feb. 2, including the likelihood of a third car for the 24 Hours of Le Mans and potentially the opening two rounds of the WEC season.

[roderick]

Originally Posted by kvenom

I know Roderick said no 3rd car, but this is from Sportscar 365:

Yea....The thing is, I know how many cars are going to run but at this point, I've said both sides of story one after the other so I think it's best to wait till the announcement.
PS: 3rd Third driver is still unknown...

[TF110]

Duval probably won't be able to do it if he is prioritizing dtm. So if there is a 3rd car, Hirakawa and Sarrazin with an unknown driver?

[Victor_RO]

Originally Posted by TF110

Duval probably won't be able to do it if he is prioritizing dtm. So if there is a 3rd car, Hirakawa and Sarrazin with an unknown driver?

I'd say Derani given that statement, given that Sarrazin (most likely) is getting replaced by JM Lopez in the full-season car.

[Japanese Samurai]

2017 spec TS050 wheel by Rays at Tokyo Auto Salon.

[Damian Baldi]

ohh very nice rim. It is a bit different than the old ones.

[TF110]

Can't tell any difference from last year aside from the additional holes near the lip.

Edit, they were there last year also-

[Damian Baldi]

Yeah, they look the same. I don't know why I remembered the rims different and darker

P.S. what a sad and horrible moment at the picture hahaha

[Maelochs]

If Toyota brings three slow cars, they leave the race in Porsche's hands ... if Porsche doesn't break, they win. If Toyota brings three cars, two fast and one slow, They can try to play both ends---win on speed by either beating Porsche or pushing Porsche to failure, or win on reliability if the Toyotas break while pushing the Porsches to break.

At this point, I think Toyota would be foolish not to go for the win at Le Mans and also for the championship. They have won and lost the title, have finished everywhere but where it matters at Le Mans. There is nothing more for Toyota to lose---after the heartbreak at Le Mans last year, what could possibly hurt worse?

Also, Toyota was soundly spanked in the championship chase last season. Again, what have they to lose?

To characterize their goals as "risky" is arbitrary. They could equally be called "ambitious." In any case, the idea seems to be that Toyota is tied of being the loser, the also-ran, the "other" team.

Toyota has decided that it understands its engine and hybrid system, and has seen what the competition can do, and feels like the car can run at least equal to what they expect Porsche to achieve. Coming from a company which has been as conservative as Toyota ... All they are really claiming is that they expect to be competitive next season.

[TzeiTzei]

Originally Posted by Japanese Samurai

2017 spec TS050 wheel by Rays at Tokyo Auto Salon.

They should sell similar ones for their road cars.

[TF110]

Originally Posted by Maelochs

If Toyota brings three slow cars, they leave the race in Porsche's hands ... if Porsche doesn't break, they win. If Toyota brings three cars, two fast and one slow, They can try to play both ends---win on speed by either beating Porsche or pushing Porsche to failure, or win on reliability if the Toyotas break while pushing the Porsches to break.

At this point, I think Toyota would be foolish not to go for the win at Le Mans and also for the championship. They have won and lost the title, have finished everywhere but where it matters at Le Mans. There is nothing more for Toyota to lose---after the heartbreak at Le Mans last year, what could possibly hurt worse?

Also, Toyota was soundly spanked in the championship chase last season. Again, what have they to lose?

To characterize their goals as "risky" is arbitrary. They could equally be called "ambitious." In any case, the idea seems to be that Toyota is tied of being the loser, the also-ran, the "other" team.

Toyota has decided that it understands its engine and hybrid system, and has seen what the competition can do, and feels like the car can run at least equal to what they expect Porsche to achieve. Coming from a company which has been as conservative as Toyota ... All they are really claiming is that they expect to be competitive next season.

With only two aero packages allowed this season, Toyota should be in a better place than last year. Plus that recent interview with motorsport.com seems they have some high targets for this season's car. Hope it goes to plan and they're able to do the sub 3:19's at Le Mans.

[Hiro]

According to Autosport magazine in Japan, Toyota "redesigned" the engine as well as the hybrid system.

[rich07]

Originally Posted by TzeiTzei

They should sell similar ones for their road cars.

That'd be pretty cool. Just imagining a set of these on a Camry. I'd almost buy one haha.

Hopefully the new Yaris hot hatch will be another exciting Toyota...with these wheels as an option.

[bentley speed 8]

Originally Posted by Hiro

According to Autosport magazine in Japan, Toyota "redesigned" the engine as well as the hybrid system.

Hope they sorted out those issues that cost them Spa and Le Mans last year

[tyronnezx]

I cant help but to think that with the recent podium for TGR WRC team will cause the management to evaluate and compare between TMG and the Finnish operations.

[TF110]

Originally Posted by tyronnezx

I cant help but to think that with the recent podium for TGR WRC team will cause the management to evaluate and compare between TMG and the Finnish operations.

But the engine in that Yaris is from TMG, so they deserve credit too It was a good result, but it was a fortunate one with the cars in front crashing. It takes different types of management for endurance and rally I would imagine.

[Hiro]

I think Yaris WRC has been developed by TMG, and assembled and maintained in Finland.

[silente]

Rumors say that the 2017 car will be much much better in both powertrain/Hybrid and Aero.

Of course the question is what Porsche will achieve, but Toyota looks promising.

[TF110]

DSC talks about the third Toyota in this news piece today!