Toyota TS050 Hybrid

Lore & Background

The TS050 Hybrid was developed under Toyota's two-year cycle policy and first shaken down at Aragon in late February 2016, covering over 22,000 km in testing before its public unveiling. Compared to the TS040, the naturally aspirated 3.7-liter V8 was replaced by an all-new Toyota H8909 2.4-liter twin-turbocharged V6 engine for greater fuel efficiency. The capacitor hybrid energy storage system was replaced with a lithium-ion battery system, moving the car to the 8-megajoule LMP1 Hybrid sub-class. Initial photographs showed a double wishbone suspension with pushrod-actuated internal components and torsion bars, similar to the TS040, while the nose was raised to allow a large opening beneath for airflow tuning.

For the 2017 season, the TS050 underwent a substantial redesign. The monocoque was the only bodywork carried over; the nose was raised slightly, an undercut was made into the sidepod, coolers were relocated, and the rear suspension layout was slightly modified. New regulations raised the front splitter by 15 mm and narrowed the rear diffuser to reduce speeds. Only two aerodynamic configurations were introduced, down from three. A new 2.4L twin-turbocharged V6 engine replaced the previous year's design, while the 8-megajoule hybrid system was upgraded with smaller, lighter motor-generator units and a modified lithium-ion battery pack. The car underwent 30,000 km of testing, including five tests at circuits such as Paul Ricard, Aragon, and Algarve, four of which were 30-hour endurance tests.

In competition, the TS050 started the 2016 season with a second place at Silverstone and a strong performance at Spa-Francorchamps, though engine trouble hit both cars, later attributed to forces from the Eau Rouge corner. At the 2016 24 Hours of Le Mans, Toyota qualified 3rd and 4th behind the two Porsche 919 Hybrids. The #5 car led late in the race but suffered a severe loss of power on acceleration with 6:30 remaining; the gap to the #2 Porsche shrank from 1:14 to 37.580 seconds with 4:30 to go. The team kept the car on track, but the power gave out entirely with 3:25 left. The #5 car stopped just past the finish line, and the #2 Porsche passed it to claim victory. Nakajima held the car stationary until the 24-hour clock expired, then pushed it to complete the final lap, which took 11:53.815—above the six-minute maximum—so the car was not classified and earned no points.

Reader's Guide

The TS050 Hybrid is notable for its role in Toyota's pursuit of a first overall victory at the 24 Hours of Le Mans, following four previous second-place finishes in 1992, 1994, 1999, and 2013. Its 2016 Le Mans campaign ended in dramatic fashion when the leading #5 car lost power on the final lap, failing to be classified. The car's development reflected Toyota's shift from a naturally aspirated V8 to a twin-turbocharged V6 and from capacitor to lithium-ion hybrid storage, aligning with the 8-megajoule LMP1 Hybrid sub-class. In 2017, Toyota entered three cars at Le Mans for the first time since 2012, and Kamui Kobayashi set a lap record of 3:14.791 during qualifying—the fastest lap at Circuit de la Sarthe since chicanes were added to the Mulsanne Straight in 1990. The TS050 became the second Japanese car to win Le Mans overall after the Mazda 787B in 1991, scoring a 1–2 finish in 2018. It continued to compete through the 2019–20 season, facing Equivalence of Technology adjustments and success ballast that reduced its pace advantage, allowing privateer entries to challenge and occasionally beat it, as Rebellion did at Shanghai in 2019 and at the 2020 Lone Star Le Mans. The car secured multiple 1–2 finishes and contributed to Toyota's LMP1 World Endurance Championship titles.

Did You Know?

• The TS050 Hybrid replaced the naturally aspirated 3.7-liter V8 of its predecessor with a 2.4-liter twin-turbocharged V6.
• Kamui Kobayashi set a lap record of 3:14.791 during qualifying for the 2017 24 Hours of Le Mans, the fastest lap at the circuit since chicanes were added to the Mulsanne Straight in 1990.
• The #5 TS050 at the 2016 Le Mans took 11:53.815 to complete its final lap, exceeding the six-minute maximum, and was not classified.
• Toyota entered three TS050s at the 2017 Le Mans, the first time the team had fielded three cars since rejoining the race in 2012.