The never ending Toyota return to Le Mans (LMP1) Saga

[vincegail]

Originally Posted by Bentley03

Ok, Trussers has been doing a bit of investigating........
Trussers also speculates that they may have simply forgotten to insert the flow optimiser into the outlet of the fuel storage tank....oops!

This is one of those mistakes (if true of course) that you only make once!

[TF110]

Crazy if true. Toyota must've kicked themselves if that happened in Britain.

[aneesh99]

Originally Posted by Bentley03

Ok, Trussers has been doing a bit of investigating........

Apparently, Toyota were surprised by how much time they lost in the pits at Silverstone and had found a way to improve fuel flow out of the storage tank and into the refuelling hose in time for Interlagos. Trussers also speculates that they may have simply forgotten to insert the flow optimiser into the outlet of the fuel storage tank....oops!

Seems far more likely, they made far too much time during stops to be accounted for by having the filler on the left side.

[gwyllion]

Endurance-info has an interview with Buemi: http://endurance-info.com/version2/a...nce-13555.html

Toyota does not know how many cars that they will run in 2013, but the goal is to have 2 cars in WEC and 3 cars at Le Mans

[Simmi]

Originally Posted by gwyllion

3 cars at Le Mans

Really hope this is true. Would not be the least bit surprised if Toyota stuck with two. If they want to win they need to get a third car in the mix.

[gwyllion]

It seems that Toyota has found some use for their collection of spare parts: http://www.endurance-info.com/versio....php?page=1116

[CTD]

Originally Posted by gwyllion

It seems that Toyota has found some use for their collection of spare parts: http://www.endurance-info.com/versio....php?page=1116

Nice.
The blue livery actually suits the "old" TS030

[deggis]

Originally Posted by gwyllion

It seems that Toyota has found some use for their collection of spare parts: http://www.endurance-info.com/versio....php?page=1116

They have found some use for Buemi too

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Oq0-nUlrUMI

[gregtummer]

I wonder if Toyota will enter next year's 12 Hours of Sebring.

They really haven't driven any more than 6 hours this year in a race (including Le Mans). So why not let Sebring beat the crap out of your car for 12 hours in race conditions in order to discover any vulnerabilities in the car before Le Mans?

[CTD]

Originally Posted by gregtummer

I wonder if Toyota will enter next year's 12 Hours of Sebring.

They really haven't driven any more than 6 hours this year in a race (including Le Mans). So why not let Sebring beat the crap out of your car for 12 hours in race conditions in order to discover any vulnerabilities in the car before Le Mans?

Going to Sebring just to do that, without Audi racing there is very expensive and low PR gain.
Besides, the 2013 WEC calendar might have a race close to Sebring, putting further stress on the team to travel around the world.

You have a point with testing the car there, but I think Toyota will feel their money (which apparently is rather limited) is better spent else where.

[Victor_RO]

Originally Posted by CTD

Besides, the 2013 WEC calendar might have a race close to Sebring, putting further stress on the team to travel around the world.

It doesn't. The first WEC race in 2013 (according to the provisional calendar) is a full month after Sebring, so teams who do the WEC but also want to race at Sebring can do so.

[CTD]

Originally Posted by Victor_RO

It doesn't. The first WEC race in 2013 (according to the provisional calendar) is a full month after Sebring, so teams who do the WEC but also want to race at Sebring can do so.

Good . But there still is the traveling aspect, to take into calculation. Time which is used on a traveling, which isn't used on testing/optimization.

[TF110]

Originally Posted by gregtummer

I wonder if Toyota will enter next year's 12 Hours of Sebring.

They really haven't driven any more than 6 hours this year in a race (including Le Mans). So why not let Sebring beat the crap out of your car for 12 hours in race conditions in order to discover any vulnerabilities in the car before Le Mans?

They lasted into the 9th hour at LeMans. Next year I bet the engine is brand new, and they'll surely test plenty before LeMans. And 3 cars won't hurt either. Red Blue White mirrors? #7 #8 #9? That's my guess. Who will drive for them though?

[gregtummer]

Originally Posted by TF110

They lasted into the 9th hour at LeMans. Next year I bet the engine is brand new, and they'll surely test plenty before LeMans. And 3 cars won't hurt either. Red Blue White mirrors? #7 #8 #9? That's my guess. Who will drive for them though?

With the lengthy safety car and all the time spent behind the wall, they really didn't race much longer than 6 hours on the track so I feel my point still stands.

[TF110]

Safety cars didn't last anywhere near 2 hours in total. When I said they raced into the 9th hour, that means over 8 hours of racing. No matter how you look at it, it wasn't the full race, but 6 hour races are no problem for their car. They lasted plenty past that distance at LeMans. Even taking out the safety car time periods.

[gregtummer]

All right, but I still think they'd benefit from running the 12 Hours of Sebring especially if Audi were there too.

[TF110]

I would love to see them there as well. I just know they'll be better prepared for LeMans next year.

[deggis]

Originally Posted by CTD

You have a point with testing the car there, but I think Toyota will feel their money (which apparently is rather limited) is better spent else where.

Limited this year, but we don't know about next year. For sure their budget has to get a considerable upgrade (=somewhat matching Audi's) for next year, so whatever it costs to go to Sebring it will be taken from next year's budget.

[Salamus]

And next year's Sebring will be the last one for LMP1 cars. (If what France and Panoz said are true that they are dropping P1 from the new series).

[tyronnezx]

Originally Posted by gregtummer

All right, but I still think they'd benefit from running the 12 Hours of Sebring especially if Audi were there too.

Personally i think Toyota will not engage in a group race with Audi before Le mans.

[Simmi]

Originally Posted by tyronnezx

Personally i think Toyota will not engage in a group race with Audi before Le mans.

What's their excuse for missing the first few rounds of the WEC next year?

[gwyllion]

Originally Posted by tyronnezx

Personally i think Toyota will not engage in a group race with Audi before Le mans.

They have expressed their desire to run two cars in WEC next year. See http://tentenths.com/forum/showthrea...12#post3142912

I assume that this means that they will enter in all WEC races. Otherwise, they stand no chance of winning the championship.

[kober]

Also, I don't expect the rule to count only the best six results of a manufacturer to stay for the next year. That rule was added only to allow Toyota to join the WC at LeMans and still have a theoretical chance of winning the championship. There won't be a need for it in 2013.

[gwyllion]

Yes, I also expect that they will go back to the original WEC classification system, where two cars score points and all races count.

[tyronnezx]

Originally Posted by Simmi

What's their excuse for missing the first few rounds of the WEC next year?

im gunna say that because Toyota probably doesn't want to play their full hand to Audi at the begging of the season till le mans. i could be wrong

meanwhile, here's a recap from Sao Paulo


http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=xut7d...ure=plpp_video