Toyota TS030 Hybrid

Toyota TS030 Hybrid

Anthony Davidson in the TS030 at the 2013 24 Hours of Le Mans
Category	Le Mans Prototype 1 (LMP1)
Constructor	Toyota
Designer(s)	Pascal Vasselon[1]
Predecessor	Toyota GT-One
Successor	Toyota TS040 Hybrid
Technical specifications[2][3]
Chassis	Carbon fibre and aluminium honeycomb monocoque
Suspension (front)	Independent double wishbone pushrod system
Suspension (rear)	Independent double wishbone pushrod system
Length	4,650 mm (183.1 in)
Width	2,000 mm (78.7 in)
Height	1,030 mm (40.6 in)
Engine	Toyota RV8KLM[4] 3.4 L (3,400 cc) 90-degree V8 Normally aspirated mid, longitudinally mounted
Transmission	6-speed sequential manual Viscous mechanical locking differential
Fuel	Total petrol
Brakes	Dual circuit hydraulic braking system, mono-block light-alloy brake callipers front and rear, ventilated front and rear brake discs in carbon
Tyres	Michelin radial 36/71-18 front, 37/71-18 rear
Clutch	Multidisc
Competition history
Notable entrants	Toyota Racing
Notable drivers	Sébastien Buemi[5] Anthony Davidson[5] Kazuki Nakajima[6] Nicolas Lapierre[6] Alexander Wurz[6] Stéphane Sarrazin Andrea Caldarelli
Debut	2012 24 Hours of Le Mans
First win	2012 6 Hours of São Paulo
Last win	2013 6 Hours of Bahrain
Last event	2013 6 Hours of Bahrain
Races Wins Podiums Poles F/Laps 14 5 10 6 4
Constructors' Championships	0
Drivers' Championships	0

The Toyota TS030 Hybrid is a Le Mans Prototype 1 (LMP1) sports car built by Toyota Motorsport GmbH and used by the manufacturer in the FIA World Endurance Championship in 2012 and 2013. It was Toyota's first all new prototype since the GT-One last competed in 1999, and was the first petrol-hybrid engine car to participate in the World Endurance Championship. Work on designing the car began in late 2010 when early chassis designs were presented to Toyota Motorsport. The project was stopped briefly after the 2011 Tōhoku earthquake and tsunami, but the car's building was approved six months later. The TS030 Hybrid featured a Kinetic energy recovery system (KERS) regenerative braking device to charge a super capacitor. Its engine, a naturally aspirated petrol 3.4-litre (210 cu in) V8 power unit, was mounted at a 90-degree angle, produced 530 horsepower (400 kW; 540 PS), and was based on Toyota's Super GT project.

On 24 January 2012 the TS030 Hybrid was shown to the press for the first time at Circuit Paul Ricard and the team commenced testing at the track shortly after. Its planned debut at the 2012 6 Hours of Spa-Francorchamps was delayed while the car's chassis was rebuilt after a heavy testing crash. Two TS030 Hybrid cars were entered for Le Mans which saw the team fail to finish because of a sizeable accident by Anthony Davidson in the No. 8 vehicle, and an engine failure for the sister No. 7 entry. After the race, the company fielded a sole TS030 Hybrid for the rest of the season and attracted attention for an innovative rear wing extension. It was able to compete successfully against the two Audi R18 e-tron quattro cars, securing three victories with drivers Nicolas Lapierre and Alexander Wurz, ending the season second to their rivals in the World Manufacturers' Championship.

Further car development was undertaken to minimise the impact of the 2013 LMP1 technical regulations by focusing on engine fine-tuning for improvements in power, efficiency and reliability. Only one TS030 Hybrid was entered for the entire 2013 World Endurance Championship because Toyota had limited resources, though a second car was used in selected races. The 2012-specification chassis was used in the season's first two races with the updated 2013 chassis debuting at Spa-Francorchamps. The TS030 Hybrid cars won two of the eight rounds contested in the season with a second-place finish for the No. 8 vehicle at the 24 Hours of Le Mans. Toyota again finished second behind their rivals Audi in the Manufacturers' Championship. The 2014 LMP1 regulations rendered the TS030 Hybrid obsolete, and it was superseded by the TS040 Hybrid.