[WEC] Toyota LMP1 Discussion

[deltawing]

Originally Posted by Japanese Samurai

Toyota will exhibit 2014 WEC car (TS040?) in Toyota motor sports fan meeting on Jan 30 at Odaiba mega web
http://ms.toyota.co.jp/jp/event/toyo...ting-2014.html

Finally the last big puzzle for 2014 will show up!

[MagVanisher]

BTW, are they still going to use the TS030 this year? It would make sense to run that over the new car in 2013.

[Victor_RO]

Originally Posted by MagVanisher

BTW, are they still going to use the TS030 this year? It would make sense to run that over the new car in 2013.

TS030 is no longer legal this year.

[deggis]

Originally Posted by Victor_RO

TS030 is no longer legal this year.

Grandfathering rules? But real question would be why.

[NelisB]

Originally Posted by deggis

Grandfathering rules? But real question would be why.

There is no good reason to run a ts030. I really doubt the ACO would like to see a manufacturer running a old car just to save money. Especially with 2 manufacturers committing to new machinery. They would get balanced so they don't stand a chance i'd imagine.

[MitchZ06]

Why would they run the TS030 when they're building new cars anyway?

[deggis]

Originally Posted by NelisB

There is no good reason to run a ts030. I really doubt the ACO would like to see a manufacturer running a old car just to save money. Especially with 2 manufacturers committing to new machinery. They would get balanced so they don't stand a chance i'd imagine.

We agree.

[TF110]

The team already confirmed Bahrain was the TS030's final race.

They also confirmed Buemi (and co.) will be at every WEC race this year http://twitter.com/Toyota_Hybrid/sta...98503312191488

[NelisB]

Nvm, it's for a IndyCar test.

[Acid09]

Motorsport-Total confirms that the TS040 won't be unveiled to the public until the latest possible date, March 27, one day before the official WEC test.

http://www.motorsport-total.com/wec/...-14011704.html

The car is about to hit the track for the first time next week and Toyota seems determined to keep it under wraps as long as possible.

Interesting strategy for sure, will be interesting to see if it works out. So far, spy shots have emerged from pretty much all Porsche tests and the TS030 was first spotted at Ricard well before the official unveil as well.

[TheNo1F1Fan]

Originally Posted by Acid09

Motorsport-Total confirms that the TS040 won't be unveiled to the public until the latest possible date, March 27, one day before the official WEC test.

http://www.motorsport-total.com/wec/...-14011704.html

The car is about to hit the track for the first time next week and Toyota seems determined to keep it under wraps as long as possible.

Interesting strategy for sure, will be interesting to see if it works out. So far, spy shots have emerged from pretty much all Porsche tests and the TS030 was first spotted at Ricard well before the official unveil as well.

Now there's 2 months and 10 days left.

[deggis]

Originally Posted by NelisB

Nvm, it's for a IndyCar test.

Just wrong thread or

[NelisB]

I misread a tweet from Mike Conway. That got me confused. So nothing to bother u lot with

[TF110]

Originally Posted by Acid09

Motorsport-Total confirms that the TS040 won't be unveiled to the public until the latest possible date, March 27, one day before the official WEC test.

http://www.motorsport-total.com/wec/...-14011704.html

The car is about to hit the track for the first time next week and Toyota seems determined to keep it under wraps as long as possible.

Interesting strategy for sure, will be interesting to see if it works out. So far, spy shots have emerged from pretty much all Porsche tests and the TS030 was first spotted at Ricard well before the official unveil as well.

Thats not even new information. Well, the date is, but the official unveil being late March around the official test was already noted by their twitter feed. Now I guess its 'official'. I know Japanese Samurai linked to a Toyota motorsport event in Japan at the end of this month including their wec plans. I think we will see spy shots in a few days. I would guess Paul Ricard will be the test track they visit first.

[Acid09]

Originally Posted by TF110

Thats not even new information. Well, the date is, but the official unveil being late March around the official test was already noted by their twitter feed. Now I guess its 'official'. I know Japanese Samurai linked to a Toyota motorsport event in Japan at the end of this month including their wec plans. I think we will see spy shots in a few days. I would guess Paul Ricard will be the test track they visit first.

You can be sure that the car won't be shown off at the event in Japan, otherwise having the presentation so late would be entirely pointless. They probably show off some mockup or dress up the TS030 in the 2014 paint scheme.

[Adam43]

Originally Posted by MitchZ06

Why would they run the TS030 when they're building new cars anyway?

Try some bits. Get some data. Often down in F1, even with relatively big regulation changes. Ex-F1 team tries it in sportscar. To be fair tried in prototype racing before.

I guess that's what you are eluding too. What bits are they trying?

[TF110]

They confirmed the last 2013 wec race in Bahrain was also the last race for the TS030.

As for showing the car, it may just be a baseline car shown at the Toyota motorsport event in Japan and the finished car will be the revealed one confirmed for March 26. Its going to be tough to keep spy photos away if they start testing next week. At least I hope thats the case

[TheNo1F1Fan]

Originally Posted by TF110

They confirmed the last 2013 wec race in Bahrain was also the last race for the TS030.

As for showing the car, it may just be a baseline car shown at the Toyota motorsport event in Japan and the finished car will be the revealed one confirmed for March 26. Its going to be tough to keep spy photos away if they start testing next week. At least I hope thats the case

March 26? Wasn't that March 27?
Or if I'm wrong, March 26 in my local time might be March 27 in Japanese time.

[CTD]

Originally Posted by TheNo1F1Fan

March 26? Wasn't that March 27?
Or if I'm wrong, March 26 in my local time might be March 27 in Japanese time.

Unless they unveil the car before 09:00, then the date will be the same in Japan as in Denmark. (Usually scheduled date's aren't changed because of time zones, unless it's live tv in a Tv-guide)

[TheNo1F1Fan]

Originally Posted by CTD

Unless they unveil the car before 09:00, then the date will be the same in Japan as in Denmark. (Usually scheduled date's aren't changed because of time zones, unless it's live tv in a Tv-guide)

Oh, yeah.

[Victor_RO]

Autosport reporting that the TS040 has had its shakedown run at Ricard, then 3 days of testing with Wurz and Davidson driving, and according to the Toyota spokesperson, the car has had a "trouble-free" roll-out.

http://www.autosport.com/news/report.php/id/112247

[Acid09]

Well, it's most likely corporate talk but if the car really ran trouble free for three days instantly, that would be a good sign.

According to the article they have two other big tests planned, so they arrive to the car's debut much better prepared than with the TS030. With that being said, the car will obviously have a lot less testing mileage on it than its competitors.

[TF110]

They said it was the "best roll out yet". That means no issues is probably true. Taking a bit of time maybe worked in their favor. In 2013 they completed 3 or 4 tests before running the car at Spa. But now they are ahead of that it seems.

[JoestForEver]

Having the most reliable/mature system now(comparing to the sophistication of Audi and Porsche), Toyota surely won't have any teething problems.

[TF110]

More freedom on their supercapacitor as well. Letting that beast loose has to be much better for them and not just on the power side.