Toyota to Le Mans announcement

[Smithy]

This from Reuters:

09:19 14Oct11 RTRS-Motor racing-Toyota announce return to Le Mans
    Oct 14 (Reuters) - Toyota will enter a works team in next
year's Le Mans 24 hours sportscar race for the first time since
they almost won in 1999, the Japanese company announced on
Friday. 
   Toyota Motorsport said in a statement that the entry would
be for a petrol hybrid car based on an LMP1 prototype chassis
from Germany-based Toyota Motorsport with the powertrain
produced in Japan. 
   Toyota said the official name of the team would be confirmed
in the coming weeks. 
   "By using our hybrid technology this time will be a
completely new challenge," said Toyota Motorsport chairman
Tadashi Yamashina in a statement. 
   "We want to write a new page in the history of the Le Mans
24 Hours, as well as in the FIA World Endurance Championship,
through our use of hybrid technology." 
   Toyota's last foray to Le Mans saw them qualify on pole
position and finish second to BMW. 
   The Japanese carmaker has been seeking a new challenge in
top level motorsport since they pulled out of Formula One at the
end of 2009. 
   Audi have won Le Mans 10 times in the last 12 years, with
this year's race a diesel-engined battle between them and
Peugeot. 
 

[Jon King]

Great to see Toyota giving those oil burners a run for there top spot at Le Mans. Just hope they don't use a Prius

[Lazy B'stard]

Brilliant news (although its been the worst kept secret in motor racing over the last few years). Not only can we look forward to someone giving the oil burners a fight, but we get a petrol engine (that makes a noise!) and on the strength of their previous sportscars we should get something very pleasing on the eye.

The GT-ONE and Toyota 7 are both in my top 20 favourite sportscars and the closed Dome from a few years back (which i guess the new Toyota will cock a hat to) was also a great looking car.

So come on Nissan, don't get left behind.

Happy

Si

[Smithy]

So, will it be Toyota v Porsche hybrids from 2014 then?

Seems as though the data collection done this season was more extensive that it first appeared, lets hope that there are more teams in the hunt for the overall win at LM rather than the diesal fest of recent years.

Will Peugeot hang about now the FIA have a hand in the rule making...they may not be able to rely on getting "the rub of the green" perhaps

[chop456]

http://www.lemans.org/en/news/Toyota_Motorsport_GmbH_to_participate_in_2012_Le_Mans_24_Hours_5425.html

[Lazy B'stard]

So, will it be Toyota v Porsche hybrids from 2014 then?

Seems as though the data collection done this season was more extensive that it first appeared, lets hope that there are more teams in the hunt for the overall win at LM rather than the diesal fest of recent years.

Will Peugeot hang about now the FIA have a hand in the rule making...they may not be able to rely on getting "the rub of the green" perhaps

I'm sure that the Lion won't be too hard done by considering the FIA is under the watchful eye of Jean Todt.

[Fran]

I have been taking my Toyotas to LM for the last 15 years or thereabouts, can't exactly remember (not counting the one year I went in a TVR).

[Lazy B'stard]

I have been taking my Toyotas to LM for the last 15 years or thereabouts, can't exactly remember (not counting the one year I went in a TVR).

Such a short memory Fran. Just Toyotas and a TVR?

I'm hurt.

[Fran]

Such a short memory Fran. Just Toyotas and a TVR?

I'm hurt.

Obviously I am only speaking of the "modern" Le Mans!

The Classic is a whole other thing - and your Alfa is forever etched in my heart - not to mention the scars on the backs of my legs where I was melted to the seat!!

Have you got a new pair of driving shoes for next year?

[Nordic]

Very good news, Honda keep dipping there toe in the water, hopefully this will spur them onto a proper program, Mazda also keep starting low key programs then pulling back.

The Toyota Hybrid drive train and car have been reported testing for many many months, so it should hit the ground running. There would be big PR points for the first Hybrid to win I think. The other teams cant be far behind and I am sure others will come out the wood work to Join Toyota and Porsche.

Hope there are a enough good drivers to go round!!

[Lord Pig-Pen]

Toyota were a very generous sponsor of the London Japan Matsuri event a few weeks back. I was involved as my cousin was one of the event directors and needed a site labourer for the day 
While setting up with a terrible hangover I casually asked one of the Toyota bods manning the main stage if there was any likely LM related activities in the future and he said " oh yes, cant say any more but there are plans", so looks like things could get a bit more interesting next June. Maybe I might see a couple of hours racing!

[Jon King]

 Would Allan McNish go back to his old Formula 1 outfit with Toyota or stay with Audi

[Lord Steve]

Would Allan McNish go back to his old Formula 1 outfit with Toyota or stay with Audi

Good question. Can't find anything on the Audi Motorsport site or allanmcnish.com which says how long he's contracted to Audi for. I dare say 2012 is all tied up with Audi for him though.

[Lazy B'stard]

Did anyone see the story on Mulsanne Mike's website about another possible far eastern manufacturer taking an interest?

He keeps a regular eye on IP adresses... Just behind the usual suspects like Audi, Pug, Wurth etc. Came a very large number of hits from...... Hyundai!

There have beenr umours of an ALMS programe as a toe in the water excercise for some time. Could they be joining the fight?

The new WSC looks to be a great way to get into top line motorsport without the costs of F1 and the tedium of the WRC.

Si

[lofty]

toyota.anyone know what ted irvine is doing next year?