Quote:
Originally Posted by Nordic
What is there for toyota to aim for at LM?
First japanesse car marker to win LM? already done
First japanesse driver to win LM? already done
First diesel car to win LM? already done
First hybrid to win? now that would appeal.
Like it or not the direction motorsport will take over the coming years is going to need to refect the changing market. Hybrids/fuel cell cars are going to be a large part of the market now that they attract tax savings and the supply costs are falling.
Being the first Hybrid to win LM will be a target worth aiming for and Motorsport has long been used to bring forward new ideas.
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Thats like saying why did Audi enter when German drivers and cars had won before.
The Japanese have
not won Le Mans, and you could even go so far as to say ORECA won it for them, with no Japanese drivers in the car.
If a Japanese car won with Japanese drivers in it, then I don't think the Japanese public could give a flying fish as to how they did it, hybrid or no hybrid.
If Toyota were to enter LM the best way to promote the brand would be to shove some Japanese drivers in a works Toyota on the top step of the podium at Le Sarthe. They can not fail
again. Money spent on developing a competitive hybrid system is money wasted which could have been spent on developing the outright performance of a bog-standard LMP petrol.