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

[Simmi]

I just figure it was hard enough placing three big names on the sidelines this year - let alone finding another three drivers for the same treatment next year.

The third car gives the opportunity for someone to make a name for themselves in sportscars, or for a guy like Pla to be allowed to take the drive if their regular team can find a replacement. Same thing that happened with Sarrazin.

[aneesh99]

Originally Posted by gwyllion

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

That would be a great pick up for Toyota if they could!

Am I the only one that finds it weird that mortal enemies Duval and Nakajima both drive for Lexus is SGT?

[kurski]

If Toyota Racing wants a German driver, the option could be Adrian Sutil.

[TF110]

I'm expecting Andrea Calderelli to be in one of their cars next year.

[Simmi]

Originally Posted by kurski

If Toyota Racing wants a German driver, the option could be Adrian Sutil.

I've also been wondering about Sutil. I don't see him getting back into F1 so going by the current trends he should either pop up in sportscars or the DTM.

Maybe another one on the Porsche radar?

[gwyllion]

Toyota will not go to Sebring next year.

Originally Posted by @johndagys

Just spoke to Toyota's Pascal Vasselon, who says there are no plans for Toyota to run Sebring next year. No testing at Sebring, either. #WEC

source: http://twitter.com/johndagys/status/256997890466119680

[DeathOrGlory]

Toyota would want an All-Japanese car though. Especially for Le Mans. Maybe in 2014.

[gwyllion]

John Hindhaugh casts some doubt that Toyota will have to budget to run two cars next year.

Originally Posted by @specutainment

@MyNameIsNigel not sure Toyota have the budget for WEC 2013 signed off yet never mind extra for races that not on Championship.

Originally Posted by @specutainment

@MyNameIsNigel @Toyota_Hybrid Listen to MWM next Wed at 8pm UK for a 2 hour special from TMG Cologne - VERY illuminating

Originally Posted by @specutainment

@johndagys @MartinHaven budget for Toyota - not certain two cars next year - listen to the show on Wednesday 8pm UK not an Audi-sized pot

Maybe a win tomorrow on their home track will convince the management to raise the budget.

[Simmi]

I'd be incredibly disappointed if Toyota didn't capitalise on their opportunity for '13.

But as has been discussed recently it seems you got a different answer depending on who you spoke to at the Toyota press day.

[gwyllion]

Originally Posted by gwyllion

Toyota will not go to Sebring next year.
source: http://twitter.com/johndagys/status/256997890466119680

John Hindhaugh has some good arguments why Toyota does not have to go to Sebring:

Originally Posted by @specutainment

@MyNameIsNigel @johndagys @MartinHaven they learn nothing about LM by going to Sebring... listen to the show wednesday 8pm UK

Originally Posted by @specutainment

@johndagys @MyNameIsNigel @MartinHaven it doesn't correlate to LM at all not the surface not the configuration - waste of budget

Originally Posted by @johndagys

@specutainment @MyNameIsNigel @MartinHaven Fair point, but it's used as a durability test for the car. 12H at Sebring = 24H Le Mans on wear

Originally Posted by @specutainment

@johndagys @MyNameIsNigel @MartinHaven Budget, Budget, Budget - if the choice might be 3 cars for LM or take 2 to a 'pointless' race

Originally Posted by @specutainment

@ZachCasto20 @johndagys @MyNameIsNigel @MartinHaven you've not seen TMG at Cologne - they have over 200 ultimate component stress tests

[gwyllion]

Originally Posted by gwyllion

Finally, I have found two pictures of the TS030 with the rear cover removed:


source: http://www.motortrend.com/features/c...30_hybrid.html

http://www.gurneyflap.com/GURNEY2/12fos.html has another picture of the TS030 engine bay:

[aneesh99]

Toyota should go to Sebring, or they'll turn up to Le Mans in 2013 without any long race experience. They had no reliability past 8 hours, I don't want it to end the same way next time.

Though at the end of the day, I guess they need the head honchos in Japan to sign off for extra budget to do so, obviously they thought it was unnecessary.

[gwyllion]

In the 2013 WEC schedule there are two races before Le Mans: Silverstone and Spa.

TMG has all the facilities to solve reliability issues on test rigs.

Since Le Mans they have zero technical issues except for the illuminated number that was provided by a third party supplier.

[CTD]

Originally Posted by gwyllion

In the 2013 WEC schedule there are two races before Le Mans: Silverstone and Spa.

TMG has all the facilities to solve reliability issues on test rigs.

Since Le Mans they have zero technical issues except for the illuminated number that was provided by a third party supplier.

Not to forget that with Oreca's experience, they also know which parts and designs which needs extra attention.
Something Peugeot lacked in their beginning.

[Simmi]

Plus there is nothing to stop them honing their 24-hour reliability at Ricard or wherever else they chose to test.

If it came down to a decision to contest Sebring or take a third car to Le Mans I'd hope they took a third car to LM. But maybe that's because I'm going to Le Mans.

[aneesh99]

Dunno, I've always thought that if it was a case of extensive testing at Paul Richard vs Sebring, Sebring would be the way to go, purely for the fact that a real race is far more representative of a cars reliability than testing.

Maybe that's because I love Sebring

[The Badger]

I agree , Sebring is the best test ever , suberb place . Im glad Ive been there , in 2003 .

[JAG__]

Sebring tests the durability of a car, there's no doubt about that.

The theory it was a necessary part of a Le Mans challenge only arose since the start of the ALMS, a time when Audi dominated both. You could argue it was a coincidence since Audi didn't face a great deal competition during this time. At the same time Dyson's MG's and Panoz had similar campaigns but never really nailed endurance reliability.

[Adam43]

Good point. Audi have done well at Le Mans and have always done Sebring. Or has Sebring often had the Le Mans winner there because Audi have entered?

The only actual logic you can take away from this is that entering Sebring doesn't stop you winning at Le Mans!

[Gingers4Justice]

Originally Posted by Adam43

Good point. Audi have done well at Le Mans and have always done Sebring. Or has Sebring often had the Le Mans winner there because Audi have entered?

The only actual logic you can take away from this is that entering Sebring doesn't stop you winning at Le Mans!

It's also logical that if you can shake a car for 12 hours on second world war concrete at racing speed, your car is probably going to withstand 24 hours on the comparatively smooth French public roads.

[deggis]

2013 budget: isn't this time of the year typically when the budgets are signed off? If it isn't signed off yet, then it simply isn't signed off yet. If that is the only fact there is without knowing when is the deadline for the budget signing, then drawing a conclusion that they might not be planning to run 2 cars is really premature. [/always a optimist]

[TF110]

They just won Fuji, I think 2 cars is a reasonable bet.

[Adam43]

Originally Posted by Gingers4Justice

It's also logical that if you can shake a car for 12 hours on second world war concrete at racing speed, your car is probably going to withstand 24 hours on the comparatively smooth French public roads.

Yes, as has been said for years, but the point remains. Perhaps it is not the only way? I'm not arguing it isn't a good thing to do, rather the stats could be demonstrating more than one thing.

[Gingers4Justice]

Originally Posted by Adam43

Yes, as has been said for years, but the point remains. Perhaps it is not the only way? I'm not arguing it isn't a good thing to do, rather the stats could be demonstrating more than one thing.

Of course it's not the only way, and I see your point. But still, if you're running a multi-million pound manufacturer Le Mans entry - either GT or LMP1 - you're always always going to consider Sebring.

Last decade, there wasn't just the bonus of testing your car in difficult, enduring race conditions, but you were also testing your car against Audi and the best competition from America that European teams would only face at Le Mans.

Toyota will be tempted, I'm sure.

[deggis]

Buemi & Davidson were given some PR work in Paris Motor Show:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=lykbFUz9hDs
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=A3fv8P7m7Yk
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=FeuRUnX-9ag

Interlagos win was also mentioned in the presentation:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?feature...ctNM3HE#t=120s