Toyota prepping hybrid racer for Le Mans

Posted Sun Jan 20 2008 7:48 PM by Viknesh Vijayenthiran

Toyota has already proven the capability of its hybrid racing technology, winning the Tokachi 24-Hour Race last year in Japan with its Supra HV-R hybrid race car, so now the carmaker wants to take it up a notch by entering a new green machine in the international Le Mans 24 hour event. According to latest reports Toyota is currently developing a car for the race and is aiming to earn its first victory in the competition with the new car.

Officials want to boost the image of hybrid technology, especially in Europe where it’s still largely considered a gimmick for environmentalists, reports Japan’s Yomiuri Shimbun. "Audi proved the superiority of the next generation diesel engine at Le Mans. Toyota wants to do the same with the hybrid," an unnamed Toyota official told the newspaper. The biggest problem facing Toyota’s engineers is reducing the weight of the drivetrain and increasing efficiency.

Toyota hasn’t competed in the French event since 1999, when its GT1 race car (pictured) came close to coming in second but was forced to retire due to gearbox problems.

Reader Comments

Mon Jan 21 2008 9:08 AM
chris says

FINALLY! some one's putting serious money behind hybrid R&D.

now if only audi would do a competitive hybrid tech to further increase the fuel economy of their Lemans car. think about it. petrol hybrids are supposed to get the fuel econ of a diesel. what happens when you make a diesel hybrid?

Audi had a slower Lemans car but won the race cause they didnt have to stop for fuel nearly as much. How many more refuelings could they shave if they did some good diesel hybrid tech?

MotorAuthority