Toyota Unveils TS040 Hybrid P1 Race Car

A new season of motor racing is upon us and for a number of race events around the world, this means new vehicles are introduced that will take part. Yesterday, at the at the Paul Ricard test track in Le Castellet, France, Toyota introduced the new TS040 Hybrid P1 race car. This is an evolution of the TS030 Hybrid race car, which took part in the 2013 FIA World Endurance Championship (WEC).

The TS040 looks mostly similar to the TS030 aside from the new race car being 0.2 inches narrower to meet new regulations set by the FIA. The TS040 also features a new hybrid powertrain which begins with a larger 3.7L V8 engine producing 513 horsepower. Two electric motors and a Nisshinbo super-capacitor handle the electric part of the equation. Toyota says this system produces nearly 1,000 horsepower and uses 25 percent less fuel. This system also allows the TS040 to have all-wheel drive to get that power to the road.

"We are very much looking forward to our third season in the FIA World Endurance Championship when we will fight to achieve our dream of winning Le Mans and the World Championship. As well as challenging new regulations which make endurance racing the most road-relevant discipline in top-level motorsport, we also have a new competitor. We are looking forward to competing with Porsche, as well as our more familiar rivals Audi," said Yoshiaki Kinoshita, Team President of Toyota's WEC program.

Toyota will field two TS040 race cars for the 2014 WEC season. The No.7 car will be driven by Alex Wurz, Stéphane Sarrazin, and Kazuki Nakajima. The No.8 car will be in the hands of Anthony Davidson, Nicolas Lapierre, and Sébastien Buemi.

The 2014 WEC season kicks off in April with the Six Hours of Silverstone in Great Britain.