TOYOTA GAZOO Racing will be ready with it’s GR010 HYBRID Hypercar for the opening round of the 2021 FIA World Endurance Championship (WEC) on 1st May. The first race will be the 6 Hours of Spa-Francorchamps in Belgium.
For the fourth season, World Champions Mike Conway, Kamui Kobayashi and Jose Maria Lopez share the #7 GR010 HYBRID, while last year’s Le Mans winners Sebastien Buemi, Kazuki Nakajima and Brendon Hartley are at the wheel of the #8 GR010 HYBRID.
The GR010 HYBRID features a front motor generator unit, delivering 272PS of hybrid power and four-wheel-drive traction at speeds over 120km/h. Combined with a 3.5litre V6 engine, the driver has 680PS at his disposal, with no restrictions on fuel usage. In contrast, the TS050 HYBRID weighed 162kg less and boasted 1000PS, although strict per-lap fuel restrictions effectively limited top speeds.
Aside from on-track performance, the whole team also has to adapt to new regulations which limit the size of the operational crew at the circuit to 43. This cost-saving measure requires significant reorganisation and flexibility from the mechanic and engineering crews to maintain their high standards of on-track support, with Spa being the first time the slimmed-down team will operate in a competitive environment.
TOYOTA GAZOO Racing has an excellent record at Spa-Francorchamps, with five victories since its first WEC race there in 2013. Though, despite a strong challenge expected from its competitors, TOYOTA GAZOO Racing’s is aiming to start the season with maximum points.