Toyota Gazoo Racing ready for new challenge

After a successful pre-season programme, which included 21,000km of running over four three-day tests, the team presented its 2018-19 car at Paul Ricard prior to the first World Endurance Championship (WEC) event of the season, the 30-hour Prologue test.

The 2018 TS050 Hybrid will take on the challenge of an eight-race WEC season with the clear target to finally overcome the challenge of the Le Mans 24 Hours, which has so far eluded Toyota.

Mike Conway, Kamui Kobayashi and Jose Maria Lopez will take on that challenge in the #7 TS050 Hybrid while Sebastien Buemi and Kazuki Nakajima are joined by newcomer Fernando Alonso in the #8 car. Anthony Davidson continues to contribute in his role as Reserve and Development Driver.

Toyota Gazoo Racing may be the only major manufacturer in the LMP1 class but it faces an unprecedented challenge to its hybrid electric technology; the TS050 Hybrids must fight for victory against LMP1 rivals who have 69 percent more fuel energy.

Toyota Gazoo Racing enthusiastically welcomes the challenge of proving the efficiency and performance of its hybrid electric powertrain in such tough conditions as part of Toyota's mission to make ever-better road cars.

That mission was highlighted by the GR Super Sport Concept, unveiled earlier this year. The concept car, which has been track tested, incorporates technology developed through the WEC project and is composed of many parts taken directly from the TS050 Hybrid, including the 986bhp hybrid electric powertrain and lean burn engine.

The TS050 Hybrid has already set new performance and efficiency standards, with last year's fastest-ever Le Mans lap achieved using 35 percent less fuel compared to the team's 2012 WEC debut. Advancements in powertrain technology contribute to race performance and production car technology.