WEC – Toyota catches up with the TS030

If the duel between Toyota and Audi will have to wait until 24 Hours of Le Mans, the Japanese firm was still at Spa-Francorchamps this week to present the new TS030 package against the R18 e-tron quattro which it will face in Sarthe next month. Pascal Vasselon, the technical director of Toyota, returned to the developments visible on the prototype. “It’s a classic package. We moved away from the usual proto splitter to get closer to that of a F1 which acts like a fin. We have reduced drag and increased aero downforce. It's simply a better developed car. »

Toyota's technical director admits that the accident Nicolas lapierre (which was not at fault) caused the Japanese manufacturer to fall behind. The Frenchman completed 81 laps of the track yesterday at Magny-Cours with Alexander Wurz to continue the development of the TS030. “We were making good progress before the accident”, adds Pascal Vasselon. “We knew from the start of the program that we were taking a risk by using only one monohull. The accident happened a little too early because we had a second car built but it wasn't ready to run immediately and we lost two practice sessions. We are behind in our preparation, that’s a fact. But the times of regret are behind us and we must do our best to regain what was lost. We will catch up on these two sessions before Le Mans. »