Audi’s R18 e-Tron already looks menacing with the laser headlights especially with the red-on-black livery, and Porsche seems to be more than ready to conquer La Sarthe. Still a strong force in the game, Toyota also has a special surprise in store for the 2014 edition of the World Endurance Championship.
After returning to the highest level in the endurance racing scene with the TS030 Hybrid two years ago, Toyota is now in the process in developing a new race car, the TS040 Hybrid. Although they are still being tight-lipped about some details like the output of the car, we do know that it is powered by a gasoline-electric drivetrain and there will be an electric motor on the front axle.
Like the R18 e-Tron Quattro and the Porsche 919 Hybrid, the TS040 will also be a through-the-road hybrid. This will give the TS040 all-wheel traction unlike the rear-wheel drive TS030. The TS040 Hybrid however stands apart as it is powered by a V8 engine, compared to Audi’s turbodiesel V6 and Porsche’s V4.
An electric motor/generator from Aisin will power the front axle, while a DENSO unit will take responsibility at the rear. Under deceleration, the two motor/generator units apply braking force in tandem with the mechanical brakes to generate energy, which will then be transferred via a DENSO inverter to a Nissihinbo super-capacitor. During acceleration, the process reverse as the motor/generator acts as drive systems to deliver a significant amount of boost.
The TS040 will make its first public appearance at the WEC official test session on March 28 – 29 alongside the other prototypes from Audi and Porsche. Toyota will be fielding two cars in the WEC, with Alex Wurz, Nicolas Lapierre, Kazuki Nakajima, Anthony Davidson, Sebastien Buemi and Stephane Sarrazin all as returning drivers.
