The never ending Toyota return to Le Mans (LMP1) Saga - Page 47

Japanese Samurai · 23 Jan 2012, 12:12 (Ref:3015655)

Japanese Autosport web says that the Japanese driver(s?) who is/are not Kazuki Nakajima had participated in the Paul Ricard test.
http://as-web.jp/news/info.php?c_id=6&no=38698

evanPGH · 23 Jan 2012, 15:15 (Ref:3015716)

Hello all! First post, just joined this morning after being amazed by the community here. I've been following Toyota's return to Le Mans pretty closely and I'm excited about all of the attention it's getting and the constant updates posted on here.

From what I've heard, the car is officially being rolled out tomorrow. Can anyone confirm/deny this?

aneesh99 · 23 Jan 2012, 15:43 (Ref:3015730)

Quote:

Originally Posted by Japanese Samurai

Japanese Autosport web says that the Japanese driver(s?) who is/are not Kazuki Nakajima had participated in the Paul Ricard test.
http://as-web.jp/news/info.php?c_id=6&no=38698

Wakisaka maybe? He isn't confirmed for this year in SGT is he? May even Ito given that he's run at la Sarthe with Dome?

Quote:

Originally Posted by evanPGH

Hello all! First post, just joined this morning after being amazed by the community here. I've been following Toyota's return to Le Mans pretty closely and I'm excited about all of the attention it's getting and the constant updates posted on here.

From what I've heard, the car is officially being rolled out tomorrow. Can anyone confirm/deny this?

Welcome mate

I don't know though I'm sure someone will, my DSC subscription ran out a while ago!

evanPGH · 23 Jan 2012, 16:24 (Ref:3015753)

Quote:

Originally Posted by aneesh99

Wakisaka maybe? He isn't confirmed for this year in SGT is he? May even Ito given that he's run at la Sarthe with Dome?

My money would be on Wakisaka. From what I can see he's not SGT confirmed. He's a little more experienced, especially with Toyota and is a proven winner to some extent.

I'd imagine Toyota wants Japanese drivers to play a significant role in their campaign (as they did in '98 and '99), but there are a bunch of talented drivers that won't be behind the wheel of a Peugeot again this year. I would looooveee to see Lamy, Bourdais and Sarrazin wearing red and white this year.

tbz · 23 Jan 2012, 17:03 (Ref:3015771)

I assume, Seiji Ara and Juichi Wakisaka

**Bentley03** · 23 Jan 2012, 17:37 (Ref:3015780)

Quote:

Originally Posted by tbz

I assume, Seiji Ara and Juichi Wakisaka

Hope you're right about Seiji Ara, I'm a bit of a fan.

aneesh99 · 23 Jan 2012, 17:41 (Ref:3015782)

Quote:

Originally Posted by tbz

I assume, Seiji Ara and Juichi Wakisaka

I really hope to see Wakisaki, I'm a massive fan of 'J-Boy'

TF110 · 23 Jan 2012, 21:00 (Ref:3015867)

Akira Iida is a good driver as well, and he drove the LFA's at the N24 races. Wakisaka was one of my guesses as well as i said on the Rumors thread in response to the Buemi confirmation.

Japanese Samurai · 23 Jan 2012, 22:22 (Ref:3015923)

Not Juichi Wakisaka. He was in Guam then according to his official blog.
And Akira Iida is retired driver.

I bet on Hiroaki Ishiura.

Dead-Eye · 23 Jan 2012, 23:17 (Ref:3015945)

If I were Toyota I'd be on the phone now to a number of Peugeot drivers for the second car. I know the Japanese guys are good in SGT, but if you could get someone like Davidson with current works P1 experience it should be a no-brainer.

ronnie peterson · 23 Jan 2012, 23:20 (Ref:3015947)

Marino Franchitti is without a drive after "Pug situation"... I would have signed him the day Pug quit.

GTfour · 23 Jan 2012, 23:32 (Ref:3015954)

Quote:

Originally Posted by evanPGH

Hello all! First post, just joined this morning after being amazed by the community here. I've been following Toyota's return to Le Mans pretty closely and I'm excited about all of the attention it's getting and the constant updates posted on here.

From what I've heard, the car is officially being rolled out tomorrow. Can anyone confirm/deny this?

Welcome to the worlds best sportscarforum mate

'Have you seen the GT-Ones or TS010's run back then or are you a more recent fan?

TF110 · 24 Jan 2012, 00:42 (Ref:3015979)

How long until tomorrow already! Hope we get some info and more pictures.

Acid09 · 24 Jan 2012, 01:06 (Ref:3015986)

Hopefully some video too, I'm curious how it sounds

aneesh99 · 24 Jan 2012, 01:07 (Ref:3015987)

Quote:

Originally Posted by TF110

How long until tomorrow already! Hope we get some info and more pictures.

Tomorrow tomorrow or today tomorrow? I really have to quit my research job....

I'm hearing (though working in a lab at this time has my mind blow so I'm hearing all kinds of crap) that the second car is Buemi+2xJapanese drivers. I was kinda hoping that Toyota would have taken Kyle Busch over Buemi.....

Deleted · 24 Jan 2012, 01:24 (Ref:3015993)

Quote:

Originally Posted by aneesh99

I was kinda hoping that Toyota would have taken Kyle Busch over Buemi.....

Really now? I was hoping for mr Stallone but I guess he's occupied elsewhere.

TF110 · 24 Jan 2012, 01:25 (Ref:3015994)

Kyle Busch, he was going to test their F1 car before they pulled out. But he had a Nascar awards ceremony to go to for the Nationwide series I think. I don't think he'd be their first pick unless he showed some serious speed in their sports cars.

Articus · 24 Jan 2012, 02:21 (Ref:3016004)

Anthony Davidson is a no brainer for Toyota if they can get him!

That alone will put the Toyota on the pace of the Audi..

While the fule equivalency may or may not have been skewed I've always noticed that the Petrol teams seem to have the weaker drivers. All of if combines to slower lap times at Le Mans.

The Rebellion Lineup is no match Allan McNish etc...

Peugeot908 · 24 Jan 2012, 02:43 (Ref:3016012)

Quote:

If I were Toyota I'd be on the phone now to a number of Peugeot drivers for the second car. I know the Japanese guys are good in SGT, but if you could get someone like Davidson with current works P1 experience it should be a no-brainer.

That is what I am hoping for. Montagny used to test for Toyota in F1 so anything is possible. Montagny/Sarrazin/Davidson are too talented to not have a ride. I would put the 3 drivers (As well as Pagenaud and Bourdais) up against McNish or whoever Audi has anyday.

-Peugeot908

Acid09 · 24 Jan 2012, 03:08 (Ref:3016016)

Quote:

Originally Posted by TF110

Kyle Busch, he was going to test their F1 car before they pulled out. But he had a Nascar awards ceremony to go to for the Nationwide series I think. I don't think he'd be their first pick unless he showed some serious speed in their sports cars.

Seriously, I'd love to see it just for the fun of it. I can already see it, Kyle punting GT cars off track because they ****ed him off...

No, team racing surely isn't his thing. I was disappointed that F1 test never happened though, I think he has the speed to be an excellent road course racer..he seems to be that kind of driver that can be quick in anything with wheels.

If only his temper wasn't in the way, NASCAR is the only form of racing where such antics are tolerated.

cmk · 24 Jan 2012, 03:20 (Ref:3016020)

Quote:

Originally Posted by Articus

Anthony Davidson is a no brainer for Toyota if they can get him!

That alone will put the Toyota on the pace of the Audi..

Hyperbolic at best. The one and only thing in their control that will get Toyota to Audi's pace or beyond is engineering. A good driving staff is important, but ultimately more for consistency and traffic management during a race than outright pace. That consistency, combined with engineering feedback, also makes for a good development driver.

Quote:

Originally Posted by Articus

While the fule equivalency may or may not have been skewed I've always noticed that the Petrol teams seem to have the weaker drivers. All of if combines to slower lap times at Le Mans.

The Rebellion Lineup is no match Allan McNish etc...

Privateer teams can't match the pace of big-budget factories. What a shocker. At the same time, Guy Smith won LM in a factory car and drove for Rebellion. If you define top pilots as those currently in possession of factory rides, the situation becomes rather tautological. The biggest determinant of diesel vs. petrol pace recently outside of equivalency has been factory vs. privateer(esque) engineering budgets.

Articus · 24 Jan 2012, 04:10 (Ref:3016027)

Guy Smith is a top flight driver. As good as any of them! But that comparison is not effective because the lola chassis is at a large disadvantage compared to something Toyota could produce.

The Lola by default could be considered weak in that the engine is a non(or semi)stressed component(since its designed to fit so many engines). Presumably the engine in the Toyota is fully stressed much like in the Audi and Peugeot. This alone offers advantageous chassis rigidity that is important in the handling dynamics of a car.

In addition its more efficient in terms of weight to direct the suspension loads through the gearbox/engine casing because you get more stiffness while only having to stiffen the engine block by a smaller amount of weight than an engine frame that the Lola uses. Less weight/space meaning tighter rear end packaging for aero etc. It is all advantageous over the Lola which really suffers from being a "customer" chassis. If Lola could find a single engine partner it might make the car alot better. But as of right now the Toyota would probably have better handling.

DeathOrGlory · 24 Jan 2012, 06:28 (Ref:3016035)

Quote:

Originally Posted by Japanese Samurai

Not Juichi Wakisaka. He was in Guam then according to his official blog.
And Akira Iida is retired driver.

I bet on Hiroaki Ishiura.

Ishiura was a revelation last year in Super GT. Really quick guy.

deggis · 24 Jan 2012, 07:20 (Ref:3016037)

Anyone know what time the launch is supposed to be?

TF110 · 24 Jan 2012, 08:12 (Ref:3016046)

^I'm wondering that as well. Staying up late to hopefully catch a glimpse before tomorrow over here in the west coast of the U.S.

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