Bobby Nitro loves a new beast in the world of motorsports. Fresh off an excellent showing at Dakar, Toyota Gazoo Racing has announced a new era of endurance racing with the launch of its all-new GR010 Hybrid Le Mans Hypercar.
At Dakar, Toyota’s Nasser Al-Attiyah and Mathieu Baumel took second place overall in their Hilux after Mini’s Stéphane Peterhansel, after 4 400km of gruelling racing. Veteran Giniel de Villiers and his Spanish navigator, Alex Haro, sukkeled a bit with 24 punctures and some navigational troubles, but pushed their Hilux to the limit to finish eighth overall.
With the GR010 Hybrid, an outrageous version of the new hypercar, one can only assume Toyota is aiming for top podium at Le Mans with this all-wheel drive endurance beast. It will compete in the FIA World Endurance Championship of 2021, in six races over three continents.
The hybrid sports a 3.5-litre V6 twin turbo engine providing 500kW to the rear wheels and combining with a 200kW motor generator unit on the front axle. Total output is capped at 500kW, meaning the car’s electronics reduce engine power according to the amount of hybrid boost deployed.
And this is one striking looking machine, reflecting its inspiration by the GR Super Sport Hypercar. Those aerodynamics are state of the art, and are within the new rules that permit only one adjustable aerodynamic device, in this case downforce via the movable rear wing.
Team driver Brendon Hartley from New Zealand said the GR010 Hybrid previews a car that customers will soon see on the road.
"Endurance racing has always been a proving ground for new technology and now it is even more road-car relevant," he said.