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

[ss_collins]

Toyota on track in the morning at Castellet - will have video up tomorrow. if Toyota opt for 4 wheel drive the front motor only kicks in above 120kph by regulation.

I'm also using one as my desktop background.

awesome.

My desktop background is a cutaway of the mooncraft shiden!

I'd fully expect the TS030 to match the R18H on pace

[gwyllion]

Originally Posted by evanPGH

I'm also using one as my desktop background, you took some great shots! (I love the one of the flow vis paint, it's not something seen very often)

That picture was not taken by Sam. It is one of the many pictures that Toyota has released: http://www.facebook.com/media/set/?s...3622911&type=1

[evanPGH]

Originally Posted by gwyllion

That picture was not taken by Sam. It is one of the many pictures that Toyota has released: http://www.facebook.com/media/set/?s...3622911&type=1

Oooops! My bad, I am using the same one as TF110 so at least that part is true. lol

Thanks for the link!

[TF110]

They are good shots. I used the one from Racecar engineering's site because it didn't have the LeMans.org watermark on the left.

[deggis]

From the press release it is obvious "Toyota Racing" will be the team name (pending major sponsor deal).

[gwyllion]

Originally Posted by ss_collins

Toyota on track in the morning at Castellet - will have video up tomorrow. if Toyota opt for 4 wheel drive the front motor only kicks in above 120kph by regulation.

Sam, can you check whether the new V8 engine uses direct injection?

I read in the technical specifications that the steering is hydraulically assisted. Can you ask whether the gearbox is also operated hydraulically? TMG has a lot of experience with hydraulics from their F1 time.

The specs also state that the gearbox casing is aluminium. Why is it not made in carbon fibre?

[kober]

Mods could freely change the thread's topic to "Toyota TS030 talk" or smth

[TF110]

Maybe aluminum (for the gearbox) is for reliability reasons? I'm not up to speed with the tech on the gearbox casings. I know Audi uses CF for it though.

[kurski]

Originally Posted by deggis

From the press release it is obvious "Toyota Racing" will be the team name (pending major sponsor deal).

Official team partner DENSO. Other sponsors ZENT, Aisin, Nippon Steel, Takata, Toyoda Gosei and Michelin.

Team name is mayde -> Denso Toyota Racing. Team has not yet established its own official WEC team home pages.

[gwyllion]

Originally Posted by TF110

They are good shots. I used the one from Racecar engineering's site because it didn't have the LeMans.org watermark on the left.

http://www.motorsport.com/wec/photos...=5&dl=a&r=5456 has a number of pictures that are not on the ACO website, including some pictures during night fall and one of a pit crew member wearing rubber gloves.

[GTfour]

Originally Posted by evanPGH

I got into motorsport when I was around eleven years old so I was fortunate enough to watch the GT-One in 1999. A bit too young for the TS010

I just remember falling in love with the TS020 immediately. The shape, the engine note, and that chevron livery just made it look so damn sexy!

Yeah cool it was. The way it spat them huge flames on the overrun, sounding like gunfire...

Myself missed the TS010's too, sadly.

[Articus]

Surprise, What do we know about this all new 3.4l v8 engine they are using?

Also the rear deck of that car is so low. Probably lower than on the Audi

[gwyllion]

Originally Posted by Articus

Surprise, What do we know about this all new 3.4l v8 engine they are using?

90° and 4 valves per cilinder. That is it

Originally Posted by Articus

Also the rear deck of that car is so low. Probably lower than on the Audi

Audi has the central exhaust which needs space.

[MihokS5]

So with the diesels being dialed down again, do you think this car can take advantage and maybe be the first petrol car to outpace a diesel?

[Articus]

Also...I think we can agree now that this is heavily F1 inspired . Seemed like earlier people were against that saying the operations where very different. The exhaust outlets, Pure F1. J-Damper? Check Sam Collins Race Car engineering for a nice analysis. Wheres Mulssane Mike when you need him haha !

[GTfour]

Originally Posted by MihokS5

So with the diesels being dialed down again, do you think this car can take advantage and maybe be the first petrol car to outpace a diesel?

When looking back at the first outings of the TS020 GT-One, I reckon this new car'll be a serious pain in the neck for the guys from Ingolstadt...

I wouldn't be surprised if Toyota's new motor will be able to match the Audi's on pure horsepower output...

[AGD]

Originally Posted by MihokS5

So with the diesels being dialed down again, do you think this car can take advantage and maybe be the first petrol car to outpace a diesel?

I'm sure Rebellion and the other privateers are hoping not! We'll see. I think the first test will be to see how it competes with the ARX-03a. After that, we'll see how it stacks up against the Audi. Of course, perhaps the good news for the privateers (at least initially) is that Audi may sandbag at Sebring and maybe even Spa just to avoid any sort of penalty before Le Mans.

Did Toyota confirm a schedule? I've not seen anything about that.

[Japanese Samurai]

Japanese Autosport web says that
-TS030 is scheduled to participate in Spa (one car participation?).
-LM24, Silverstone, and Fuji may be two-car participation.
-Japanese driver Hiroaki Ishiura had participated in the shakedown test at Paul Ricard.
http://as-web.jp/news/info.php?c_id=6&no=38715

[aneesh99]

Originally Posted by AGD

Did Toyota confirm a schedule? I've not seen anything about that.

I don't think they've officially confirmed anything but people are expected them to skip Sebring, run a single car at Spa, two a Le Mans and after that, well, all I've heard is one or two at FSW.

[TF110]

I hope it's two cars at every round they enter. I don't see why not. Double the mileage, double the exposure, double the results.

[deggis]

Originally Posted by Articus

J-Damper?

Illegal iirc.

[gwyllion]

Originally Posted by TF110

I hope it's two cars at every round they enter. I don't see why not. Double the mileage, double the exposure, double the results.

Double the spare parts, which is not beneficial when they are still developing the car.

[deggis]

Originally Posted by aneesh99

I don't think they've officially confirmed anything but people are expected them to skip Sebring, run a single car at Spa, two a Le Mans and after that, well, all I've heard is one or two at FSW.

Pretty clearly in the press release: 1xSpa, 2xLM, rest of the schedule TBA.

"will make its race debut on 5 May in the Six Hours of Spa-Francorchamps"

"intends to enter two TS030 HYBRID cars in the subsequent Le Mans 24 Hours (16-17 June. Participation in further rounds is yet to be confirmed"

"Intends" - probably because of the entry selection process...

[aneesh99]

Originally Posted by gwyllion

Double the spare parts, which is not beneficial when they are still developing the car.

Double the embarrassment if things go wrong... (*Cough* AMR-One *cough*)

Originally Posted by deggis

Pretty clearly in the press release: 1xSpa, 2xLM.

"will make its race debut on 5 May in the Six Hours of Spa-Francorchamps"

"intends to enter two TS030 HYBRID cars in the subsequent Le Mans 24 Hours (16-17 June. Participation in further rounds is yet to be confirme"

I missed that, nothing that wasn't expected though

[Articus]

Originally Posted by deggis

Illegal iirc.

Illegal in a different form(see renault's mass damper) in F1.

The suspension system on the car is double wishbone with pushrod actuated dampers, here too the F1 influence is clear though currently TMG are reluctant to reveal too much though an interter (J-Damper) is known to be part of the cars set up toolbox. - Sam Collins

Check out this great article in case you have not seen yet: http://www.racecar-engineering.com/n...brid-revealed/