TOYOTA GAZOO Racing launched its all-new GR010 HYBRID Le Mans Hypercar, to compete in the 2021 FIA World Endurance Championship (WEC).
The reigning world champions and three-time Le Mans winners will defend their titles against new manufacturer competitors using the racing version of Toyota’s upcoming hypercar road car.
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Team President Hisatake Murata said, “The GR010 HYBRID is a preview of our road-going cars,” he said. “What we learn on the WEC racetracks will directly benefit our customers.”
Team driver Brendon Hartley from New Zealand said the GR010 is something customers would soon in road going cars. “Endurance racing has always been a proving ground for new technology and now it is even more road-car relevant,” he said.
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ABOVE: Toyota Gazoo’s All-New GR010 HYBRID Le Mans Hypercar
The GR010 HYBRID prototype racer was developed over the past 18 months by engineers at the team’s HQ in Cologne, Germany, alongside the electric hybrid powertrain team at Toyota’s Higashi-Fuji technical centre in Japan.
the system has a four-wheel-drive racing hybrid powertrain, with a 3.5-litre V6 twin turbo engine, pumping out 500kW to the rear, and a 200kW electric motor generator unit for the front. The latter was developed by AISIN AW and DENSO.
Total system output is capped at 500kW. The GR010 HYBRID’s electronics change engine output depending on how much the electric engine is called upon..
GR Super Sport hypercar’s looks were first seen at a public demonstration at the 2020 Le Mans 24 Hours.
TOYOTA GAZOO Racing gets a new livery that includes the GR lettering to indicate the strong link with the road cars.
TOYOTA GAZOO Racing’s ninth season in WEC includes the same driver line-up from the winning 2019-2020 campaign.
Drivers are: Mike Conway, Kamui Kobayashi and José María López who will drive the #7 GR010 HYBRID. Sébastien Buemi, Kazuki Nakajima and Brendon Hartley will take the #8 car. GR Racing will keep Nyck de Vries as test and reserve driver.
Cost cutting and other WEC regulations see GR010 HYBRID at 162kg heavier, and 32% less power than its TS050 HYBRID predecessor, and lap times expected to be up to 10 seconds slower.
It is larger too: 250mm longer, 100mm wider and 100mm higher.
For the first time since the beginning of its WEC project in 2012, TOYOTA GAZOO Racing will participate without a rear motor generator unit (MGU), with the single permitted MGU located on the front axle. This means a starter motor and fully hydraulic rear brakes must be fitted to the GR010 HYBRID.
The new racer features state-of-the-art aerodynamics, developed using Fluid Dynamics software and wind-tunnel testing.
The new technical regulations permit only a single homologated bodywork package, with only one adjustable aerodynamic device. The GR010 HYBRID will therefore compete in the same specification at both low and high downforce circuits, with an adjustable rear wing modifying the aerodynamic characteristics.
the six races will be held on three continents. The first is the 1000 Miles of Sebring on 19 March, the 6 Hours of Spa-Francorchamps on 1 May, and finally, the world famous 24 Hours of Le Mans on 12-13 June.
The first world championship endurance race in Monza since 1992 takes place on 18 July before trips to Fuji Speedway on 26 September and Bahrain on 20 November, all of which are six-hour contests.
GR010 HYBRID Technical Specifications
Bodywork | Carbon fibre composite |
Gearbox | Transversal with 7 gears sequential |
Driveshafts | Constant velocity tripod plunge-joint driveshafts |
Clutch | Multidisc |
Differential | Mechanical locking |
Suspension | Independent front and rear double wishbone, pushrod system |
Springs | Torsion bars |
Anti-roll bars | Front and rear |
Steering | Hydraulically assisted |
Brakes | Akebono mono-block alloy callipers with carbon ventilated discs |
Rims | RAYS magnesium alloy, 13 x 18 inch |
Tyres | Michelin radial (31/71-18) |
Length | 4900mm |
Width | 2000mm |
Height | 1150mm |
Weight | 1040kg |
Fuel capacity | 90 litres |
Engine | V6 direct injection twin-turbo |
Valves | 4 per cylinder |
Engine capacity | 3.5 litres |
Fuel | Petrol |
Engine power | 500kW |
Hybrid power | 200kW |
Battery | High-powered Toyota lithium-ion |
Front motor/Inverter | AISIN AW / DENSO |
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