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

[TF110]

Show their hand? Does it even matter? Audi needs to work harder than Toyota does IMO. But surely it wouldn't hurt to run Sebring. Unless it destroys a car, but by next year they shouldn't have an issue with spares.

[gwyllion]

Spares are always an issue at the beginning of a new season. Unless they would race with the 2012 specification of the car, like Audi often did at Sebring.

[TF110]

But remember what Vasselon said about the chassis possibly being used again for next year. So they may have plenty of spares being built up if they reuse the same design.

[gwyllion]

The tub might stay the same, but that does not mean that all the other components will not be updated. Manufacturers try to fix the final specification of the car as late as possible. The aero of the 2012 TS030 changed drastically between the Paul Ricard presentation and Le Mans, and then again for the post Le Mans races.

In order to participate in Sebring, they need a whole set of spare body parts, noses, rear wings, suspension components, etc.

[Coopz21 x]

I think Toyota should do what Peugeot and Audi usually do, take a year old car, thn if they crash, so what? Unless they are going to reuse the tub? but they would be silly to not have spares by then....

[TF110]

Originally Posted by gwyllion

The tub might stay the same, but that does not mean that all the other components will not be updated. Manufacturers try to fix the final specification of the car as late as possible. The aero of the 2012 TS030 changed drastically between the Paul Ricard presentation and Le Mans, and then again for the post Le Mans races.

In order to participate in Sebring, they need a whole set of spare body parts, noses, rear wings, suspension components, etc.

He said the chassis. No one was speaking of these new parts. Why not run this years car if it's that much of an issue? But my point is, by the time next year comes around I doubt it will be. They have all winter to make the changes they want and to build up cars if they so wish. This is Toyota ya know, not Lola. Even though their budget was limited this year they still have no issues with parts, why would they have those issues next year even in March? Especially if they expand their efforts.

[gwyllion]

Originally Posted by deggis

One of the recently added galleries at toyotahybridracing.com has this wind tunnel model photo (obviously an old one, but maybe worth posting):



http://www.toyotahybridracing.com/fa...y=51&nggpage=2

http://www.motorsport-total.com/wec/...2toyfeature&d= has some additional pictures from the wind tunnel model (LM aero):

[The Badger]

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.

Absolutly ..... big mistake not to , imo . Maybe De Chaunac can come up with some funds to run a 2nd car .

[isynge]

Originally Posted by The Badger

Absolutly ..... big mistake not to , imo . Maybe De Chaunac can come up with some funds to run a 2nd car .

As Tom Kjos said of Peugeot many years ago, and I paraphrase, 'they have a slim chance of winning Le Mans, without running Sebring, they have zero chance'.

Sebring 2013 has the scope to be a jaw-dropper in this light. Toyota in my mind have to run Sebring to learn the complexities of running 12 quick hours over a proven car breaker. By the same token, there's no sense in not bringing a two car WEC squad to Florida. There's no stigma about failing here, because let's face it, the real prize is in June.

[Simmi]

I suppose the testing programme of Toyota has to be taken into account - i.e. where they want to put the kilometres in.

It makes sense for Audi to race seen as the track is often a cornerstone of their testing. Maybe Toyota could go there out before the race like Peugeot were slated to do?

I'm not sure they would want to share track time at a big test like that. Would they? Not sure what the precedent is for that when it was Audi/Pug?

[TF110]

Toyota PR for Fuji is out- http://www.toyotahybridracing.com/ja...toyota-racing/ not just Toyota's home track (they own it) but very close to where the Hybrid system was made.

[gwyllion]

Originally Posted by gwyllion

http://www.motorsport-total.com/wec/...2toyfeature&d= has some additional pictures from the wind tunnel model (LM aero):

These pictures are part of an interesting series of feature articles on Motorsport-Total.com about the development of the TS030:

• A clean sheet with drive train
• Production of a LMP1 in Cologne
• Aerodynamic development
• Test environments

The articles are in German, but google translate does a reasonable job on them.

[gwyllion]

Part 5 and 6 are online as well:

• interview with Rob Leupen
• interview with Pascal Vasselon

In http://tentenths.com/forum/showthrea...23#post3149323 Acid09 gave a short summary in English of the interview with Leupen.

[TF110]

Is that to be next year their WEC lineup will be the same as LeMans from this year? Vasselon seems pleased with those drivers.

[Acid09]

Yes that what the article says, drivers stay the same for 2013.

They'll need three additional guys for Le Mans of course.

[TF110]

Good stuff. I guess Buemi isn't getting an F1 seat.

[gwyllion]

Things we didn’t know about Fuji Speedway before today #2 – Despite the fact that the cars hybrid system was developed and built here the Toyota TS030 had not run here until the test day on Wednesday.

source: http://www.dailysportscar.com/viewAr...537439F563C57F

No big surprise because Toyota did all its testing in Europe (mainly at Paul Ricard and Aragon).

[Acid09]

The chassis has probably never been to Japan before as well.

Toyota really is an interesting mix, Rob Leupen said in that interview that they partly consider themselves to be a German team.. very international outfit

[deggis]

Originally Posted by Acid09

They'll need three additional guys for Le Mans of course.

http://www.planet-f1.com/driver/1822...sorship-needed

[Victor_RO]

Originally Posted by deggis

http://www.planet-f1.com/driver/1822...sorship-needed

Yeah but they'd have to tone down his hotheadedness by doing the same they did with Nakajima, putting him in Super GT for a couple of years to learn his trade at multi-class racing.

[TF110]

I don't think he's hotheaded. He's an aggressive driver sometimes. But that hasn't really shown this year. Especially not at Suzuka this past weekend. He kept his cool with Button breathing down his neck. If he doesn't get another F1 drive Toyota would be good to pick him up. They did it with Buemi! He hasn't done SuperGT!

[Simmi]

Will be interesting to see how Toyota go about filling the third car. I don't see any 'big name' signings to be honest if they are keeping their current drivers too.

WEC running:
Wurz/Lapierre + Nakajima (when available)
Davidson/Sarrazin + Buemi (when available)

That doesn't leave a lot leftover unless Oreca do get gifted the running of a car for a few rounds.

I'd expect Andrea Caldarelli + one Japanese SGT driver + ???

[JAG__]

Di Grassi or Pla?

[gwyllion]

Maybe Duval will change his mind now that he has seen that the TS030 is a race winner.

[kurski]

Originally Posted by Simmi

Will be interesting to see how Toyota go about filling the third car.

If Kobayashi does not continue F1 series, so I hope that he moves to Toyota, and his addition to Jarno Trulli would be great to see the Toyota team. The third man could be Franck Montagny.