[WEC] Toyota LMP1 Discussion

[Japanese Samurai]

Go for win by any means.

Fuji Speedway, it's our home ground.
We can't be defeated by rivals here.
Le Mans 24h race, Tragedy of the 3 minutes to go.
We shall win for colleagues and fans who felt the chagrin that day.
We are ready. Hour of destiny will come soon.

WEC 7th round Fuji 6 hour race Oct 14-16.
http://toyotagazooracing.com/jp/wec/.../wec-fuji.html

[TF110]

Will Toyota try their other aero package(s)? I wonder if the Silverstone or LM package is suitable for Fuji.

[chernaudi]

Only one I've read that might do that was Porsche reverting to their Silverstone aero package. But that was a few months ago.

[Akrapovic]

Originally Posted by TF110

Will Toyota try their other aero package(s)? I wonder if the Silverstone or LM package is suitable for Fuji.

Were they not a bit further back at Silverstone? Would it be worth sticking with the COTA set given it proved competitive for a bit.

[TF110]

Originally Posted by Akrapovic

Were they not a bit further back at Silverstone? Would it be worth sticking with the COTA set given it proved competitive for a bit.

Silverstone is the highest downforce track according to Toyota. Fuji's probably closer to Spa where that aero package worked well. We'll see.

[Starfish Primer]

At Silverstone they had a nightmare QF with the traction control setup in rain conditions.

[Articus]

sergio perez has an unusual sense of humor....I'm sure Toyota are keen to higher him...

[Hiro]

This is an interesting article.

Summary

Toyota's Higashifuji center has more 130 engineers plus more from its affiliates for the WEC program.

Aero simulation is mainly done in Higashifuji using a super computer.

How Akio Toyoda was involved in LM is detailed.

[GasperG]

Interesting, If only Google would do a better job translating it.

Do I have a feeling that TMG is being left out more and more, I mean it reads as TMG is doing no development on the car. Even first PRs from TMG were reading as if they got those cars and they are still learning how they work.

Maybe now that cars are at Higashifuji center, they will get some fine tuning from the engineers that actually developed those cars.

I know I'm exaggerating but there may be something about that.

[Articus]

Good batteries can not be just us. Good material, good working method, we make have collaborated good solution, and everywhere. Looking at the kind of eyes, the power of the Japanese materials industry is not great. It's terrible I lithium-ion battery that is mounted on the car. Normally it's an effective battery to use the "small long power", "long a large power" can use the battery for this car could be developed. Toyota made and does not say. Everything I made in Japan. There is, I think that I am proud as Japan. So I do not want to lose.

Not sure I understand this

[bentley speed 8]

Japanese to English Google translations are always the best

[TF110]

Maybe our friend Japanese Samurai san can help us out?

[Articus]

Originally Posted by bentley speed 8

Japanese to English Google translations are always the best

yes

So the team out and is taking Japanese flag, the Porsche and Audi have fried the German flag

[chernaudi]

Use Bing. It's usually a ton better than Google is with most languages.

[TF110]

Toyota staying with their ultra high-downforce package according to their race preview

We have been able to show the increased competitiveness of the TS050 HYBRID’s ultra-high-downforce aerodynamic package in Mexico and Austin so we are looking forward to being in another close fight in Fuji.

Nice picture on Mike Conway's twitter, a team photo with the big boss!

[chernaudi]

Problem is that the pace hasn't been there in practice, qualifying, and usually the first third of the race. I'd almost say that it isn't so much an aero problem as it takes a while for the Toyota to get going in race trim. They're competitive once that happens, but that just means that they're fighting for scraps unless Audi and Porsche have problems.

In all fairness, thought, Toyota have outpaced the #2 Porsche in Mexico and COTA by a sizeable margin, especially the #6.

[TF110]

That doesn't mean every track will be the same. They're lower on downforce than the Audi and Porsche. We all know that. But they have made gains since the Nurburgring round. They're not finishing lap(s) behind. Qualifying is nearly pointless unless you get pole and the point for it, pun intended. On race pace the Toyota was near equal to Porsche in COTA. And that's a downforce track just like Mexico and Nurburgring. Fuji is a lot different, as is Shanghai and Bahrain.

[GasperG]

IMO, Toyota is doing a great job in pit stops. Pace will come if not those last races, then next year when they can make more thorough job on the peaces they can not change in the milde of season.

[TF110]

There should be a better chance to get the car at the front with only two aero packages next year. Their lower budget won't be stretched as thin at least.

[CTD]

Originally Posted by TF110

There should be a better chance to get the car at the front with only two aero packages next year. Their lower budget won't be stretched as thin at least.

Sadly it also means that Porsche and Audis budget will be focused on those two aero packages, so purely based on budget, they will still have the upper hand, albeit not as big as now.

[Starfish Primer]

If they have the money they are going to use it, if they can´t spend it in more aero packaged they´ll use it in another areas ( or put more money in CFD/wind Tunnel/testing to make sure the aero package works great ).

[TF110]

Maybe Akio Toyoda and company can come up with a few million for the program and get that 3rd car They're going to be redoing the aero next year anyway so let's see what they come up with.

[Spyderman]

I personally think the 2017 is going to be a "lost in the desert" year for Porsche. The car/design will essentially be 4 years old, and there's not much more that they can extract from it. They don't have a dedicated Technical Director, and so I suspect that the combination of all these factors will reflect negatively on their performance in 2017.
Toyota's big rival will be Audi. Both cars will be in their second year of development and so they should be on par.

[GasperG]

Originally Posted by TF110

Toyota staying with their ultra high-downforce package according to their race preview

That is not so obvious from that PR. Acording to this article they will be "in low drag guise".

Here is #5 in HD and #6 in LD:
https://twitter.com/fswpress
and here both in LD:
https://twitter.com/fiawec_fuji

There is hope we will have live onboard in third practice session:
http://toyotagazooracing.com/jp/wec/...oard-live.html

[roderick]

Originally Posted by GasperG

That is not so obvious from that PR. Acording to this article they will be "in low drag guise".

Here is #5 in HD and #6 in LD:
https://twitter.com/fswpress
and here both in LD:
https://twitter.com/fiawec_fuji

There is hope we will have live onboard in third practice session:
http://toyotagazooracing.com/jp/wec/...oard-live.html

These photos are Travel (Austin) kit, so there will be slight difference for Fuji.