Toyota TS030 Hybrid
Toyota's first petrol-hybrid LMP1, raced 2012–2013.
The Toyota TS030 Hybrid is a Le Mans Prototype 1 (LMP1) sports car built by Toyota Motorsport GmbH. The manufacturer campaigned it in the FIA World Endurance Championship during the 2012 and 2013 seasons. It marked Toyota’s first entirely new prototype since the GT-One’s final appearance in 1999, and it became the first petrol-hybrid car to compete in the World Endurance Championship.
Design work began in late 2010, when early chassis designs were submitted to Toyota Motorsport. The project paused after the March 2011 Tōhoku earthquake and tsunami, but approval to build the car came six months later. The TS030 Hybrid used a Kinetic Energy Recovery System (KERS) regenerative braking device to charge a super capacitor. Its engine was a naturally aspirated 3.4-liter V8 petrol unit, mounted at a 90-degree angle, producing 530 horsepower, and based on Toyota’s Super GT program.
The car was first shown to the press on 24 January 2012 at Circuit Paul Ricard, with testing beginning shortly after. Its planned debut at the 2012 6 Hours of Spa-Francorchamps was postponed because the chassis needed rebuilding after a heavy testing crash. Two TS030 Hybrids entered the 24 Hours of Le Mans, but neither finished: Anthony Davidson crashed the No. 8 car heavily, and the sister No. 7 entry suffered an engine failure. For the rest of the season, Toyota fielded a single TS030 Hybrid, which drew attention for an innovative rear wing extension. It competed strongly against the two Audi R18 e-tron quattros, winning three races with drivers Nicolas Lapierre and Alexander Wurz, and finishing second to Audi in the World Manufacturers’ Championship.
For 2013, development focused on engine fine-tuning to improve power, efficiency, and reliability under new LMP1 technical regulations. Toyota entered only one TS030 Hybrid for the full season due to limited resources, though a second car appeared at selected races. The 2012-spec chassis ran in the first two rounds, with the updated 2013 chassis debuting at Spa-Francorchamps. The TS030 Hybrids won two of the season’s eight rounds, and the No. 8 car finished second at the 24 Hours of Le Mans. Toyota again placed second behind Audi in the Manufacturers’ Championship. The 2014 LMP1 regulations made the TS030 Hybrid obsolete, and it was replaced by the TS040 Hybrid.
- Engine
- Naturally aspirated petrol 3.4 L V8, 90-degree angle, 530 hp
- Hybrid system
- Kinetic energy recovery system (KERS) with super capacitor
- Transmission
- Six-speed sequential gearbox, transverse-mounted
- First shown to press
- 24 January 2012 at Circuit Paul Ricard
- Championship finish 2012
- Second in World Manufacturers' Championship
- Championship finish 2013
- Second in Manufacturers' Championship
- Successor
- TS040 Hybrid
Lore & Background
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 carbon fibre monocoque was constructed at Toyota Motorsport's headquarters in Cologne, which built 84% of the chassis. The engine was based on Toyota's Super GT project. The TS030 Hybrid featured a Kinetic energy recovery system (KERS) regenerative braking device to charge a super capacitor, with extra power directed to the rear wheels. Michelin was the team's tyre supplier.
The car was liveried in white with blue stripes, incorporating the colour scheme of Toyota's hybrid production cars. Its planned debut at the 2012 6 Hours of Spa-Francorchamps was delayed after a heavy testing crash at Paul Ricard damaged the chassis beyond repair. Two TS030 Hybrid cars were entered for Le Mans that year; the No. 8 car was involved in a sizeable accident by Anthony Davidson, and the sister No. 7 entry suffered an engine failure. After Le Mans, the company fielded a sole TS030 Hybrid for the rest of the season, securing three victories with drivers Nicolas Lapierre and Alexander Wurz.
Reader's Guide
The TS030 Hybrid marked Toyota's return to top-level sports car racing after a 13-year absence, and was the first petrol-hybrid car to compete in the World Endurance Championship. Its development was influenced by findings from outdated Dome chassis and impressions from contemporary Audi and Peugeot monocoques. The car attracted attention for an innovative rear wing extension introduced after the 2012 Le Mans race. In 2012, it competed successfully against the two Audi R18 e-tron quattro cars, ending the season second to its rivals in the World Manufacturers' Championship. For 2013, further development focused on engine fine-tuning for improvements in power, efficiency and reliability. Only one TS030 Hybrid was entered for the entire 2013 season due to limited resources, though a second car was used in selected races. The TS030 Hybrid won two of the eight rounds contested in 2013, with a second-place finish for the No. 8 vehicle at the 24 Hours of Le Mans. Toyota again finished second behind Audi in the Manufacturers' Championship. The 2014 LMP1 regulations rendered the TS030 Hybrid obsolete, and it was superseded by the TS040 Hybrid.
Did You Know?
- The TS030 Hybrid was Toyota's first all new prototype since the GT-One last competed in 1999.
- The car's KERS system used a super capacitor supplied by Nisshinbo, mounted in the passenger compartment.
- Toyota chose Aisin AW to build the front electric motor and Denso for the rear power unit.
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