LeMans 24h 2018 - Update: Toyota Wins!!!!

Will Toyota win the 2018 LeMans 24h?


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Nurburgring

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For any Toyota fans following endurance racing, it has been tough. A short recap:

The gorgeous GT-One (TS010) raced in ´98 and ´99. In ´99 it was the fastest car on the field, but suffered a tire failure while chasing for the lead in the final hours, ending 2nd. Toyota then decided to abandon LeMans to pursue F1 (and we all know how that went...). The GT-One kept the LeMans lap record for 7 years.

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Then they returned in 2012 with the first petrol-electric car, the TS030. It was a half-hearted attempt at the beginning, running only 2 cars. They managed a second place in the 2013 24h. They were 3rd in 2014, and also won the WEC drivers championship that year.

In 2016, they were posed to win. The new TS050 held 1st position for 23:55 out of 24h, but an electrical failure on the last 5 minutes killed their chances. It was insane. In 2017 a Toyota was leading again, but suffered a clutch failure and was forced to retire.


For 2018, both Porsche and Audi decided to retire blaming the impact of the diesel scandal. So the top category (LMP1) was modified to include both Hybrid and Non-hybrid cars. Toyota is left as the only factory effort. They´re targeting both the lap record and race distance record. But can the cars survive the 24h? We will know in less than a month: race starts June 16.
A cool note: Fernando Alonso will be driving one of the Toyotas.

The powertrain is a 2.4-liter turbocharged V-6 paired with an 8 megajoule hybrid system. The combined output is 986 horsepower.


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Hoss57

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I watch all tv coverage of this race and the last couple of years were extraordinarily rough on Toyota. I am very glad you laid out their history at the 24 Hours of Le Mans. They have worked so hard at it, I'd like to see them win one.

For this year since Audi and Porsche are not competing, Toyota is the only hybrid P1 team in the field. The WEC powers that be have encouraged other teams to step up to P1 with gas only powerplants and to balance out the cars with B.O.P.

This of course will be difficult because in the past there have been rules for the P1 Hybrid cars on how much juice they can use per lap, fuel cell restrictions, etc. I'm not sure how much they will handicap Toyota with the unified P1 field.

My guess is they will win this year if they don't punish the car and the electrical gremlins stay away. Drive at 8/10's and hit your marks.

I can't believe how last year the Jackie Chan P2 car almost won overall until the last few minutes the Porsche with Loterer got by. Those hybrid P1 cars spent a lot of time on jacks.
 
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Nurburgring

Nurburgring

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Exactly, these are very complex racing cars. In a 24h race with varying weather, different drivers, traffic, speed zones, etc. anything that can go wrong, will. Hopefully the BOP makes for an interesting race in LMP1. If not, the GT-series cars always give a great show.

A great technical analysis of the TS050 by Racecar Engineering:
http://www.racecar-engineering.com/cars/toyota-ts050/
 

Guff

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Spa gave me good hope for Le Mans. Of course, they're hardly the same when it comes to truly taxing the car, but the team looked to be doing well and Alonso looked comfortable in the car. Wish WEC had a COTA event this year as I really wanted to see the Toyota team in action, but perhaps one day I can get up close and personal in France :headbang:.
 

Spilner

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Spa gave me good hope for Le Mans. Of course, they're hardly the same when it comes to truly taxing the car, but the team looked to be doing well and Alonso looked comfortable in the car. Wish WEC had a COTA event this year as I really wanted to see the Toyota team in action, but perhaps one day I can get up close and personal in France :headbang:.
not to mention TS050 got a facelift this year
Screenshot_2018-05-17-10-24-19-1.png
 
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Nurburgring

Nurburgring

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Insane start... what is Lotterer doing!

 
 




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