Yomiyuri Shimbun, a Japanese newspaper reported that Toyota is considering a return to the 24 hours Le Mans race in 2010, this time with a hybrid-racing car. It is not the first time Toyota will be competing in 24 hour races using hybrids. They have participated in and won the last two Tokachi 24-hour endurance races in Japan using a retired Supra Super GT car that was retrofitted with a hybrid system.
The Denso SARD Supra HV-R had a single motor for the rear wheels and a in-wheel motors up front, a definite technological marvel. Toyota is already competing in Formula 1 but with the recent 5-year freeze on engine development, Toyota is looking to pursue other Motorsports avenues considering it wants to use racing as a laboratory for street technology. Audi and Chevrolet have proven that sports car racing is a much better bet to develop technology for the street rather than Formula 1.
A Toyota win at Le Mans using hybrid power will elevate its green technology profile in Europe where it plays second fiddle to diesel. Toyota’s last factory-backed Le Mans effort happened in 1999, when one of its GT-1 racers finished second overall.
