Toyota GT-One
| Toyota | |
|---|---|
 |
|
| GT-One TS020 | |
| Production period: | 1998-1999 |
| Class : | race car |
| Body versions : | Coupe |
| Engines: |
Gasoline engine : 3.6 liters (463 kW) |
| Length: | 4840 mm |
| Width: | 2000 mm |
| Height: | 1125 mm |
| Wheelbase : | 2850 mm |
| Empty weight : | 920 kg |
| Previous model | Toyota TS010 |
| successor | Toyota TS030 Hybrid |
The Toyota GT-One TS020 was a racing car category GT1 and LM-GTP ( L e M ans- G rand T ourisme P rototype ) and drove among other things, in 1998 and 1999 at the 24 Hours of Le Mans . It was developed and set up by Toyota Team Europe (TTE) in Cologne on behalf of the Japanese company Toyota . The responsible designer was the former French endurance racing driver André de Cortanze . In addition to six cars built exclusively for racing, there was also a model that was street legal in Japan with the necessary modifications and additions for homologation reasons.
development
According to Toyota, the decision to participate in the GT-One in Le Mans was not made until 1996. Only 18 months were left for development. The result was a prototype weighing around 920 kg with the 8-cylinder V-engine called R36V with a displacement of 3.6 l and two Garrett turbochargers , which was installed as a mid-engine in front of the rear axle and, according to official information, developed up to 630 hp and 650 Nm torque developed; each at 6,000 min -1 . The power was transmitted to the rear wheels via an unsynchronized and sequential 6-speed gearbox developed by Toyota . The monocoque was designed as a sandwich panel with a honeycomb core made of aluminum and a CFRP top skin. The development and execution of the aerodynamic parts was carried out as a contract work by the Italian racing car manufacturer Dallara . The GT-One ushered in a new era for GT sports cars at Le Mans. In the previous years, either open sports prototypes (here Toyota started with the TS010 in Group C in 1992 and 1993 ) or closed GT vehicles (Toyota last used the Supra for this) were registered, but at least 25 of them were street legal had to exist. For the closed Toyota GT-One, the World Automobile Federation ( FIA) changed the required number to one.
The debut
In the first year of operation, after only a short test phase on June 6 and 7, 1998, three GT-One cars competed in the endurance race in Le Mans in the GT1 class . Due to the uncompromising construction, reminiscent of the old Group C , taking full advantage of the possibilities of the regulations, the Toyota were considered favorites for class and overall victory, but only partially fulfilled the expectations placed in them. The Japanese driver trio Ukyo Katayama , Toshio Suzuki and Keiichi Tsuchiya achieved 9th place overall and 7th place in the GT1 class as the best Toyota team . The other two cars retired in a promising position; Team Thierry Boutsen , Ralf Kelleners and Geoff Lees even had a chance to win, but had to give up while in the lead an hour before the end of the race after a gearbox defect. Brundle drove the second fastest qualifying lap (average: 226.172 km / h) and the fastest race lap before the retirement. The third car with Martin Brundle , Emmanuel Collard and Éric Hélary had an accident after 14 hours and could not finish the race either.
The second year of deployment
Before the next Le Mans race, another three GT-One were built, around 15 kg lighter and apparently with a little more engine power. Extensive tests on various routes should reduce the risk of failure. For the first time the Toyota started in the newly created GT-LMP class for closed prototypes. Despite stiff competition, the GT-One proved to be the fastest vehicles in the field on June 12th and 13th, 1999 with top speeds of up to 380 km / h. Martin Brundle drove the best qualifying time with an average of 233.306 km / h and was able to start the race from pole position with his team mates Emmanuel Collard and Vincenzo Sospiri . In addition, Ralf Kelleners, Allan McNish and Thierry Boutsen started the second-fastest qualifying round . The Japanese driver trio of Toshio Suzuki, Keiichi Tsuchiya and Ukyo Katayma, which started last year, only managed 8th place on the grid, but were again the most successful Toyota team. One lap behind a BMW V12 LMR that started in the LMP class (for open Le Mans prototypes) , their GT-One drove to 2nd place overall. Shortly before, victory was within reach. However, a blown tire in the last hour and the necessary additional pit stop prevented this. After all, second place also meant the GT-LMP class win, especially since none of the other competitors made it to the finish line. The other two Toyota were also unlucky : the Brundle GT One also had a puncture after 90 laps on the Hunaudières straight. Martin Brundle tried to drive the car into the pits, but had to finally park the vehicle after the Mulsanne section. Thierry Boutsen had a serious accident with the third car on lap 173 at the exit of the Tertre Rouge curve and had to be rescued from the car with a broken vertebra.
The end
After a new class division for the race in Le Mans without the GT-LMP class of closed prototypes was announced for the year 2000 , the short and winless era of the GT-One was almost over. In November 1999 , one of the cars drove the fastest lap in the 1,000-kilometer race at Fuji Speedway, Japan . After that, the GT-One prototypes could only be seen in museums, at exhibitions and at promotional events. This made it, up to the TS030 Hybrid, the last international sports car project from Toyota before entering Formula 1 in 2002.
literature
- Mark Cole, François Hurel, Wolf Töns: GT international - the cars 1993-1998 , Art Motor Verlag, Rösrath 1999, ISBN 3-929534-10-X
Web links
- GT-One-Info from Toyota Germany ( Memento from January 8, 2006 in the Internet Archive )
- Technical data and photos
- Detailed Le Mans results