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

[porsche91722]

Originally Posted by Bentley03

Fingers are very firmly crossed for your success in 2012. But, they are even more firmly crossed in the hope that this programme will have considerable longevity. What sportscar fans really want to see is stability over a number of years, from a manufacturer entry. Audi are the shining example in this respect. My gut feeling is that we shall lose them when Porsche return, a changing of the guard, so to speak. Hopefully, Toyota will still be around to take them on.....please, no splash and dash from Toyota this time!

Well said. Hopefully, we won't see Toyota take their bat and ball, and run home if things don't go according to plan. I see that in some quarters, Peugeot have been accused of that, but at least they were around long enough to have the runs on the board to prove otherwise.

[gwyllion]

Laurent Chauveau made some nice comparison picture of the TS030, R18 and 908:



source: http://www.86400.fr/articles/203-dec...e-2-et-details

[GTfour]

Originally Posted by Victor_RO

Don't forget that the 911 GT3-R hybrid worked on the same principle, and they got it to work in the end.

In the end? It pretty much worked very well from the word "go".

[gwyllion]

Originally Posted by gwyllion

source: http://www.86400.fr/articles/203-dec...e-2-et-details

On this picture it seems that the pilot is positioned much further back in the Toyota and that the car has a longer wheel base. That should be beneficial for the balance of the car.

The side pots are extremely low, especially compared to the Peugeot.

[CTD]

That car is generally very much like the Audi, with hints of Peugeot.
But both the Audi and Peugeot are really good machines, so why not get inspired?

[Livininthinair]

Just noticed how much better the side view for the driver is in the TS030, you can see the entire side window but can barely see in the window on the R18 especially the 908. May have been something Toyota took into accout due to the side visability issues last year...

In the TS030 the driver sits WAY back from the canopy and the "A-pillar" is huge...

[alexkiller8]

Originally Posted by CTD

That car is generally very much like the Audi, with hints of Peugeot.
But both the Audi and Peugeot are really good machines, so why not get inspired?

in my opinion the mid-rear sections of the t030 are a something more than "inspired"

[MulsanneMike]

Originally Posted by gwyllion

On this picture it seems that the pilot is positioned much further back in the Toyota and that the car has a longer wheel base. That should be beneficial for the balance of the car.

The side pots are extremely low, especially compared to the Peugeot.

The TS030 only has to cool a 3.4, NA, V8. Thus they can get away with smaller side pods as they need to grab less cooling air.

[MulsanneMike]

Originally Posted by CTD

That car is generally very much like the Audi, with hints of Peugeot.
But both the Audi and Peugeot are really good machines, so why not get inspired?

The TS030's airflow management is of the Peugeot school. The only similarities I see to the R18 is how the Toyota integrated it's engine inlet into the fin and the high outboard rear fender trailing edge. Other than those two small details it's pretty evident the Toyota aerodynamicisits were looking hard at the 908.

[Acid09]

Originally Posted by MulsanneMike

The TS030's airflow management is of the Peugeot school. The only similarities I see to the R18 is how the Toyota integrated it's engine inlet into the fin and the high outboard rear fender trailing edge. Other than those two small details it's pretty evident the Toyota aerodynamicisits were looking hard at the 908.

Which is kind of stunning considering that it's based on a late-2006 design basically. The longitivtiy of the initial 908 design really is quite amazing.

[Japanese Samurai]

Kazuki Nakajima interview by Japanese F1-Stinger website.
http://www.f1-stinger.com/f1-news/vo...25/017733.html
http://www.f1-stinger.com/f1-news/vo...27/017750.html

*Nakajima recorded 3:24-25 by the simulator.
*The feeling of the hybrid system resembles the turbo engine car.
*They are running only by rear assistance now. The hybrid system is full automatic. There is no display of a motor assist mode.
*The engine starter motor is equipped.
*The engine rev is about 10000 +alpha.
*Headlight must improve. Brightness is insufficient.
*The present aero parts are not the latest spec.
*The machine is understeering. However, the characteristic of this car is a cornering machine.

[Japanese Samurai]

Hisatake Murata (Chief of Toyota Hybrid system) interview by Japanese F1-Stinger website
http://www.f1-stinger.com/f1-news/vo...25/017732.html
http://www.f1-stinger.com/f1-news/vo...26/017737.html

*The difference between THS-R and other hybrid system is a power-weight ratio.
*Compared with HV-R of Tokachi spec, the weight saving is carried out several times. If it converts by HV-R of Tokachi spec, hybrid system is about 700kg (supposing the car weight is 900 kg).
*Gross car weight is under 900 kg. Engine weight is 100 kg or less.
*Cooling of a capacitor is water-cooling. Cooling of a motor is oil liquid-cooling.
*It is only a spilit that surpasses Audi.

[evanPGH]

Originally Posted by Japanese Samurai

Hisatake Murata (Chief of Toyota Hybrid system) interview by Japanese F1-Stinger website
http://www.f1-stinger.com/f1-news/vo...25/017732.html
http://www.f1-stinger.com/f1-news/vo...26/017737.html

*The difference between THS-R and other hybrid system is a power-weight ratio.
*Compared with HV-R of Tokachi spec, the weight saving is carried out several times. If it converts by HV-R of Tokachi spec, hybrid system is about 700kg (supposing the car weight is 900 kg).
*Gross car weight is under 900 kg. Engine weight is 100 kg or less.
*Cooling of a capacitor is water-cooling. Cooling of a motor is oil liquid-cooling.
*It is only a spilit that surpasses Audi.

Originally Posted by Japanese Samurai

Kazuki Nakajima interview by Japanese F1-Stinger website.
http://www.f1-stinger.com/f1-news/vo...25/017733.html
http://www.f1-stinger.com/f1-news/vo...27/017750.html

*Nakajima recorded 3:24-25 by the simulator.
*The feeling of the hybrid system resembles the turbo engine car.
*They are running only by rear assistance now. The hybrid system is full automatic. There is no display of a motor assist mode.
*The engine starter motor is equipped.
*The engine rev is about 10000 +alpha.
*Headlight must improve. Brightness is insufficient.
*The present aero parts are not the latest spec.
*The machine is understeering. However, the characteristic of this car is a cornering machine.

Thanks for the translations!!

The headlights sure are big enough to be sufficient.

Judging by what we've seen and heard this car is much further along than I think most people expected it to be, myself included.

[TF110]

I have a feeling they'll go with LED's in the aero update. As Samura-san has said it's interim package. When you go to their webpage and their twitter, the mock-up image has a strip of blue led's to the inner edge of the headlight assembly- http://twitter.com/#!/Toyota_Hybrid. Is there anyway to translate the whole interview's?

[deggis]

Originally Posted by gwyllion

A nice teaser from Toyota:
source: http://twitter.com/#!/Toyota_Hybrid/...95971946131456

I think that might be just some fan stuff (video/photos).

[deggis]

Originally Posted by TF110

Is there anyway to translate the whole interview's?

http://translate.google.com / http://www.microsofttranslator.com (paste the url)

[evanPGH]

Originally Posted by deggis

I think that might be just some fan stuff (video/photos).

I'm crossing my fingers that it's the driver lineup for the second car.

[tyronnezx]

Originally Posted by evanPGH

I'm crossing my fingers that it's the driver lineup for the second car.

Im hoping its the driver lineup and the new aero package with new headlights and possibly some new sponsors Panasonic anyone?

[TF110]

Their translations are vague and hard to understand. Samurai-san does a much better job! All i can get from it is that Nakajima is not used to the LeMans car, not used to the track, so he's been spending time in the simulator. He says his times from that are 3:24-3:25 range. This is good news if it relates to the track. If Nakajima can do 24's without much experience, I imagine that Wurz or Lapierre could be even faster?

[evanPGH]

Originally Posted by TF110

Their translations are vague and hard to understand. Samurai-san does a much better job! All i can get from it is that Nakajima is not used to the LeMans car, not used to the track, so he's been spending time in the simulator. He says his times from that are 3:24-3:25 range. This is good news if it relates to the track. If Nakajima can do 24's without much experience, I imagine that Wurz or Lapierre could be even faster?

I would think so. Both Wurz and Lapierre have a lot more prototype experience. Unless he ends up very fast in the TS030, Nakajima's role as a third driver will most likely be to keep pace and not do anything stupid. Wurz will almost certainly be double stinted during the 24hrs, Lapierre might be too.

[TF110]

How good is 3:25's anyway? If they can be consistent with those times, that's gotta be close to what Audi and Peugeot were doing. I don't have reference so I ask.

[deggis]

First you have to ask how good is the simulator or how accurate the track model is (i.e. is it laser scanned). Toyota knows the real life vs. sim offset, we don't.

[Articus]

Impressive simulator times nonetheless.

The more important thing is that Last Years Petrol LMP1's could not even muster a 3:30(barely). And theres no way the Toyota simulator is 5 seconds off of real world given the money put into it. It might be at most 1-2 seconds of? Toyota is so much faster than last years Petrols. Theres certainly going to be no more lobbying by the privateers. The petrol diesel equivalency wont be an effective exscuse aymore. (note added hybrid system however-whatever effect that has vs petrol lmp's of last year)

[TF110]

Whatever the simulator is off by in time, the developments to the car should make it up. I think it simulates everything from new additions to the car to the tire compound. I remember them saying this from their F1 days. It's probably as accurate as can be, for a simulator.

[gwyllion]

Originally Posted by deggis

I think that might be just some fan stuff (video/photos).

You are correct.

Originally Posted by @Toyota_Hybrid

Here is the surprise ;-) After his stint yesterday with #TOYOTA TS030H, @Nico_Lapierre decided to offer you his autographed helmet visor !

Tweet a "support message" to @Toyota_Hybrid and Nico wIll choose the best one...