Toyota Racing will be fielding two TS030 HYBRID cars in the elite LMP1 class of the upcoming Le Mans 24 Hours, scheduled to take place from June 13 to 17, 2012. Toyota Racing’s two TS030 HYBRID cars are fitted with Toyota’s new THS-R (Toyota Hybrid System – Racing) powertrain that is developed especially for motorsport. The team has been intensely preparing for the hybrid race, testing and refining its new technology to get ready for one of the most famous sporting events. The two TS030 HYBRID cars are fitted with a Denso rear hybrid motor within the gearbox casing. The cars feature regenerative braking, a system that allows the recovery and storage of energy in super capacitors located in the cockpit.
The stored energy could then be used to provide an extra boost when the car exits from corners, providing up to 500Kj of energy between braking zones, as dictated by competition rules.
Toyota Motorsport (TMG) developed and built the TS030 HYBRID chassis in Cologne, Germany while Toyota’s motorsport division produced the hybrid powertrain at Higashifuji in Japan. TMG also serves as the team’s home base and provides the on-track personnel.
The TS030 HYBRID has completed 18 test days at Paul Ricard in France, MotorLand Aragon in Spain, Magny-Cours in France and at Le Mans. The team suffered a setback while preparing for Le Mans after the loss of one of its chassis in a testing accident.
