Toyota Gazoo Racing has launched its GR010 HYBRID hypercar in readiness for the 2021 FIA World Endurance Championship.
The new car, developed over the last 18 months in Cologne in partnership with electric hybrid powertrain experts at Higashi-Fuji in Japan, has been built to conform to the new-for-2020 Hypercar regulations and incorporates a 3.5litre twin turbo engine providing 680PS to the rear wheels combined with a 272PS motor generator on the front axle.
World champions Mike Conway, Kamui Kobayashi and Jose Maria Lopez will pilot the #7 GR010 HYBRID for 2021 while Sebastien Buemi, Kazuki Nakajima and Brendon Hartley will share the driving duties in the #8 car.
Nick de Vries continues in his role as the team’s test and reserve driver.
The new regulations, focused, amongst other elements, on cost-cutting means that the GR010 HYBRID is 162kg heavier than its predecessor the TS1010 as well as having 32% less power. It is expected that lap times around the Circuit de la Sarthe will be around 10 seconds slower than the TS010.
Team President Hisatake Murata was excited to launch the new car.
“It is a fascinating time for endurance racing, with the new Le Mans Hypercar class, and also for TOYOTA GAZOO Racing, with the launch of the GR010 HYBRID,” said Hisatake Murata. “This car represents our next generation of racing hybrid. During our LMP1 era, since 2012, we worked tirelessly to improve and strengthen our hybrid technology for racing. We set new standards with the TS1010 HYBRID and our first loop of racing hybrid development is complete: this technology will be available to our future customers soon.
“Now the second stage will begin.”
The 2021 FIA World Endurance Championship gets underway with the pre-season test at Sebring on March 13 -14 followed by the opening race, the 1000 Miles of Sebring, on March 19.
